I’ve been reading an interesting book, Luck Factor: The Four Essential Principles. I always knew I was lucky, and this book is reinforcing it. What makes the book interesting is the fact that there are techniques for improving one’s luck… and even a program to follow.
Try your luck, and give it a try!
–Sue
Add comment January 29th, 2010
Though it may sound slovenly, or just plain lazy, I’m going to advocate for something unconventional here… Procrastination.
I’ve been procrastinating a bit, and it mainly has to do with my fear of going at this script again, tearing it apart, and it still not coming out right.
The time away is actually doing something positive: It’s making me hungry again…
The difference between doing something out of obligation or doing it because you want to do it is the difference between night and day. Desire always trumps duty.
Procrastinating a bit is not only helping me feel hungry because of the space and distance… but it’s helping me get more comfortable with the new ideas I’ve come up with — helping to alleviate the initial fear, and most importantly, helping me get more clear on the ideas (and why they might just work).
So while I’m all for getting behind a work to give it the push that it needs, sometimes a break can be a very good thing indeed.
–Sue
Add comment January 28th, 2010
It sounds funny from someone who blogs daily advocating this… but sometimes, it’s nice to take some time away from the computer.
I was forced to do this most of today, due to some technical difficulties. And I have to admit, at first, I didn’t know what to do with myself. I was surely suffering from withdrawal.
But then, I did something amazing, something wonderful — I read a book — with real pages.
If you do feel you have to spend most of the day on the internet, spend some time here.
–Sue
Add comment January 27th, 2010
This weekend I was at a get together, and was chatting with someone about being a playwright. Once that conversation was done, someone else asked, “So you’re a playwright?” I turned to acknowledge the eavesdropper, and his two young daughters. The older one was said to have wanted to be a writer, though she is currently interested in being a scientist. I said to her:
Well, if you do become a writer one day, you get to be a scientist — or anything else you’ve ever wanted to be because you end up doing research for your characters… I wrote about an astronomy professor and went to the planetarium to learn about the stars. I wrote about a magician and taught myself magic tricks to write in the script. I’ve always been curious about those things and got to learn about them as a writer.
She looked up at me, amazed, and smiled a huge smile — the smile of possibility. I think I might have inspired one of the next generation…
–Sue
Add comment January 26th, 2010
There’s a great theatre review this week in New York Magazine. The last few lines say it best:
This A View From the Bridge may be everything a playwright, living or dead, could want: People who care enough not just to keep your language and your ideas alive, but to watch your back.
It’s so easy to let so much get in the way… but when everyone is working towards one goal, serving the work, they are partners… all playing their parts… and being a part of something so much bigger than themselves to make something that maybe sounds good on the page great in ‘real life.’
I’ve had the pleasure of working with many wonderful partners, and look forward to working with many more.
–Sue
Add comment January 25th, 2010
When you’ve written long enough, your characters can sometimes tell you what you need to hear.
It’s time to go back in the room, for the third time, with “Business”. I got the feedback, and even workshopped it with Scott (one of the perks of being married to your creative partner)…
More than discipline, it’s a matter of facing the fear and then letting it go… as I thought about letting go (what is life really, but a series of embracing things and letting other things go?), I heard Joshua (the lead from “Another Place In Time“) sing in my ear: Flying without a net isn’t safe, but safety never got me anywhere…
And slowly, I feel my fingers release.
One, by one, by one…
–Sue
Add comment January 22nd, 2010
The Off-Broadway Alliance is at it again, with their special 20 at 20 offer. As their logo at the top of this blog post states, 20 bucks (per ticket) 20 minutes before (curtain). Couldn’t be simpler!
Continually extended shows like Dear Edwina (a family musical) and celebrity-filled shows like Love Loss and What I Wore are featured along with audience favorites like the Awesome 80’s Prom.
If you go, go fast… because it’s for two weeks only:Monday January 25 through Sunday February 7
–Sue
Add comment January 21st, 2010
I heard a critic talking about a show he particularly care for — especially because of the lead actor’s portrayal of the protagonist.
He said, “It’s a shame, because you’re investing all that time, it’s three hours long, and it really depends on you liking the main character.”
And though I’ve never thought about the audience’s time as an investment, hearing that today really made me think about it in a whole new way. (We usually think of the money paid for the tickets as the investment. But if you think of it in terms of time as well (as the old saying goes, ‘time is money’), audiences are really banking on an experience worth their time, money, and attention — we all know they could make those investments in so many places nowadays.)
The problem is, does that mean every character has to be likeable? I don’t think that’s possible in life, or drama.
I’m not sure what the answer is… but it’s something I’m taking into consideration.
–Sue
Add comment January 20th, 2010
It’s true, writing can be a lonely profession, but thankfully, it doesn’t need to be done in isolation.
I’ve come to learn the value of having a group to bounce ideas off of. The trick is to work with like-minded individuals, with whom you share a mutual respect… for they will cheer your triumphs and support you through the challenging times.
I’m lucky to have such a group with family and friends, but I’m casting a wider net… to include theatre professionals as well… to make my theatre family.
–Sue
Add comment January 19th, 2010
Though we know how these shows ultimately fared, it’s great to see how things have evolved a few years down the line… For a glimpse of the 2003-2004 Broadway season (just a few short years ago), check out Show Business: The Road to Broadway.
In addition to some gems from the four highlighted shows (check out the special features section), it’s amazing to feel the raw energy and see how much blood, sweat, and tears it really takes. Interspersed with the backstage footage from each of the four shows, there are informal critic ’round tables’ where they contemplate the fates of each show. (Critics sharing a meal and their opinions are the format for these discussions.)
And indeed, these informal critical discussions are the most fascinating part. It’s amazing how much criticism has changed since that season… Well, maybe it’s that the criticism hasn’t changed much, but audiences have.
We don’t rely on newspapers like we did (even just a few short years ago) — and they’re crumbling at an alarming rate. Due to their shrinking readership and revenue from ad sales, chances are (especially at smaller media outlets) that critics aren’t even “theatre people” now, but just people who got assigned to cover certain shows.
We all know that the internet is partially responsible. Audiences want to explore for themselves, instead of being told what is ‘good’ and what isn’t. They want to find their own way and form their own opinions. With a plethora of open discussion boards and social media networks popping up, it’s easy for every man and woman to have his/her say.
Broadway is finally tapping into that — understanding that a strong internet presence and presales can help shows generate buzz so they have time to get their feet under them until word of mouth follows. (Unfortunately, it’s driving marketing/advertising/PR budgets higher and higher, everyone clamoring to get their voices heard, but it’s also forcing these professionals to be just as creative as the creatives — which is never a bad thing.)
Just like no one could have seen Avenue Q transferring off Broadway again, or the juggernaut Wicked would become, it’s clear they didn’t really see the internet upheaval of criticism of the great white way — or else the critics wouldn’t have been featured as prominently as they were.
I value criticism, and it has a place at the table, but I’m glad we’re making more room at the table for the audiences (for whom the shows are ultimately written) as well.
–Sue
Add comment January 18th, 2010
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