Listening to Tool:
Jerk Off
Opiate
Third Eye (live)

I've been talking with Richard about theatre and he let me in on a lead for a black box in Hollywood that I could rent for cheap and deal directly with the owner.

Talking it over we discussed likely issues and what I would like to see produced in the night or two that I have. My immediate concern was for money, but I think I'll do my taxes this weekend and then I'll know where I stand. I owe myself a lot of money, but I'll easily put that on hold or even forget about it (I've siphoned off over two grand from my savings, don't tell Molasses, to make sure some of my bills get paid, and of course the car is a money sink). I always told myself that I'd drop everything for a chance to put something artistic together and this is my chance.

Thinking about it I find myself grinning and biting my lip in anticipation. I haven't even settled down to think of the practicalities involved - looking over the space to determine what it comes with (a piano and curtain across the back and movable seats was all I was told about), figuring out what I want to actually see on the stage (one acts? unpublished stuff? stuff in the public domain? my stuff? friends' stuff? full length copywrited plays? I'm not sure), how much production do I want to put into it, do I want to get sound/light people, how much in the way of props would I want (or would it be a theatre of the mind as much as anything?), what about costuming, and how hard do I want to search for actors and crew?

Every aspect of this costs money and is not to be tried lightly. And even once that's settled the issues of rehearsal space and free time are difficult to grapple.

But the chance to create again is not to be scoffed and certainly not to be dropped in the face of certain difficult odds.

But it's going to be tough. I don't even know where to start looking for buying rights. I have a few ideas on stuff that I like seeing, but I really have to focus it all into one idea. Back in school some of the stuff the profs would nail me for was my papers were occasionally to scattered to make a strong point anywhere. Then a full length or a showcase? Shorts? One Acts? depends on what I find and what I can afford, but the size of cast then becomes an issue. I'm not even sure how to go out looking. I can advertise at schools, but I don't know where they all are. The non-acting part is also problematic. If I could I'd ask someone to stage manage cause I've got next to no experience in it. arg... so many things to think about and no where good to start.

Well:
1) Money. Must figure out where it is, where it's going. Budget like I've never budgetted before. Do the taxes, durn it.
2) Theme. What do I want to say? Ask around, input, possible written candidates.
3) Homework. And lots of it. Gotta figure out the costs of things, timing, location (storage, rehearsal).

I'm thinking that if it turns out I can afford the bulk of the project I'll run towards it with both arms wide open. If I weren't so given to practicality I'd be signing away the entirety of my savings (of course, if I weren't so practical I wouldn't have any savings). It's easy to sign on actors with a promise of a cut of the take - there are plenty of actors who'd do it for free - but crews aren't so...generous. So then it comes to how much to charge.

Not that making no money would make it not worthwhile. It'll be worthwhile when the lights go down and the audience sucks in its breath and sits in wrapt attention for two and half hours at something I put my heart and soul into. I was thinking prices akin to movie tickets, but they're odd numbers. Figures are easier when their in round denominations like five or ten, not 8.50. *shrug* but that's *WAY* down the line.

But for now I'm just gonna sit here and be excited and work kinda distractedly. *grins*