Hittin’ it Out of the Park
Scott has been workin’ hard to get our name and work out there. He’s just begun, but yesterday, he hit one out of the park.
Check out our story in Broadway World.com and USA Today!
–Sue
Add comment July 3rd, 2009
Developmental Stages
Last night we spent a lot of time talking about the script… Why things are the way they are for these people, in this world, at this time. We also spoke of some of the general themes that are woven into the structure of the story.
The process not only gives the cast and crew an entrance into the story, it gives the playwright a graceful way of letting go of it.
I’ve been carrying this play around for years… in my heart, head, and sometimes hands… It’s a lot for one person to do alone. And though I’d never call it a burden, it is a major responsibility.
Last night, I started to feel the weight of that responsibility lift a bit, knowing I won’t be the only one shouldering it now. In a matter of hours, the script started becoming whole…
It was like hearing a baby’s first words… and soon, I’ll get to see this script on its feet — baby’s first steps.
I could barely contain my happiness, and at a certain point I said aloud to everyone in the room, “I’m having so much fun!”
Development is a beautiful thing.
–Sue
Add comment July 2nd, 2009
A Wonderful Gift
Last night was our first night of rehearsal for “Disillusioned.” It was a good chance to get to know one another in a relaxed and intimate setting, and hear the script read through for the first time with the entire cast assembled.
As we were reading, I noticed our stage manager wiping her eyes… Then by the last scene, I noticed our actress crying, and one of our actors welling up as well.
It’s a bittersweet ending, and oftentimes when I read it, I get emotional too, but I wasn’t expecting that from everyone else…
And then, Georgie, our firecracker actress said, “You make it so easy for me to go there because you already wrote it into the script.”
Needless to say, I was ready to cry all over again, for those were some of the best words an actor could utter to a playwright.
It was a wonderful gift, and we’re off to a wonderful start.
–Sue
Add comment July 1st, 2009
Chrysalis Tickets On Sale Now
Chrysalis (featured in the Strawberry One-Act Festival)
In the winter of their life together, George and Millie realize they never got to know one another. Husband and wife consider the vows they’d made so long ago…
Tickets for Chrysalis are now on sale here or by calling 646.623.3488.
This is a competition, and the way we advance to the next round is with your votes. We’d love to have many family, friends, and fans support us.
In addition to some prize money, the Riant Theatre will produce a full length play by the winning playwright — which would be an amazing next step for me and Two From the Aisle Productions.
–Sue
Add comment June 30th, 2009
I Know What I “No.”
- From “1000 Times No” by Tom Warburton
Sometimes, we know how far we’ve come not when we can say “yes” to something, but when we can clearly, and easily, say “no.”
I remember a screenwriting class I took in grad school in 2000. I got so many “helpful” suggestions from my classmates and instructor that I turned my screenplay into a psychological thriller.
Here’s the thing: I don’t like psychological thrillers, and I don’t watch them.
But I wasn’t sure of myself, or my work, so I took in everything everyone said and kept changing it to satisfy them and make it “better.”
I never did finish that script.
So now, nine years later, when an actor asked me to change my entire script (which was already accepted to the festival as is, and beat out a bunch of other scripts to get into that festival), I easily said no.
One word can say so much.
–Sue
Add comment June 29th, 2009
With a Straight Face
On the way into the city for auditions today, I wondered what it will be like to get my first mediocre review.
I got it at the audition.
The actor looked at me, and said the monologue we gave him to read wasn’t “the most interesting thing he’s ever read.” Then he went on to lock eyes with me for the entire audition, not looking at my director or co-producer.
And I sat there with a straight face the entire time.
When he left, we all just looked at each other, remarking on how odd that was.
The universe works faster than I thought, but I’m glad to have gotten that out of the way… Now we can move onto bigger and better things.
–Sue
Add comment June 27th, 2009
The Perfect Stress Release
I’m blessed. I have a beautiful niece whom I adore, and I got to see her and play with her on Tuesday. I relayed a story to her dad, about an in car sing-along, and as I did, I heard us singing all over again.
Here’s the song we sang (it’s one I’m sure you all know):
Words and Music by Joe Raposo
Sing, sing a song
Sing out loud
Sing out strong
Sing of good things, not bad
Sing of happy, not sad.
Sing, sing a song
Make it simple
To last your whole life long
Don’t worry that it’s not good enough
for anyone else to hear
Just sing, sing a song.
Sing, sing a song
Let the world sing along
Sing of love there could be
Sing for you and for me.
Sing, sing a song
Make it simple
To last your whole life long
Don’t worry that it’s not good enough
for anyone else to hear
Just sing, sing a song.
By song’s end, my niece, sister, and parents were all singing along. It made us all happy, and for a moment, we were all kids again.
Sometimes, it’s good to just be a kid again…
–Sue
Add comment June 25th, 2009
Making An Opening
A wonderful actress I know, Rachel McKinney, and my hubby, both told me about the same Times article today. At its essence, it basically states that men aren’t the ones standing in the way of female playwrights, it’s other women.
I can’t and won’t name names or point fingers. That’s just not my way, and I don’t find it a constructive use of mine or anyone else’s time.
What I will do is say that I’ve encountered other women standing in my way. Many times. And I wish it weren’t true, but it is.
But I don’t think the answer is slapping a woman’s hand, or telling women to blame other women — or worse yet, hate them.
At the heart of the problem here is a feeling of lack… That there isn’t enough opportunity or abundance to go around.
And when we keep living into that notion, we make that notion a reality.
There’s more than enough to go around… But sometimes, it takes making that opening when the door slams in your face.
If you can find the strength to do that, you’ll make it in this business or any business.
–Sue
Add comment June 24th, 2009
Global Appeal?
As of today, I’ve begun getting spam for this site in another language, Cyrillic.
Does this mean I have global appeal?
–Sue
Add comment June 24th, 2009
Summer Kick-Off
Summer’s officially here, and Two From the Aisle Productions is celebrating the season, and our first season. Hope you can join us!
–Sue
Add comment June 22nd, 2009
