High on Gratitude

I just sent the following gushy post to Ronnie at DC Theater Reviews for their fringe artist's blog, but I wouldn't blame him at all if he can't publish it because it's long-winded and rambly and self-absorbed.

I, on the other hand, revel in being long-winded and rambly and self-absorbed, so here goes:

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Now That the (Saw)dust Has Settled

Wow, so, we’re done. The last five days were kind of a blur, exacerbated by the head cold I came down with on Sunday. Anything stupid I said or did in the past four days I’m blaming on the cold medicine. Or maybe it was the grand marnier shots. Or maybe it was the cold medicine mixed with the grand marnier shots. Anyway…

Let the world resound with a big old “I told you so”. That could come from any of the fringe festival folk to whom I said, “But do you really think DC can sustain such a big festival?” From the looks of it, it can and will. No one can explain the mechanics of “buzz” (actually I guess that guy who wrote the Tipping Point did, but I never read it) but to be on the positive end of this phenomenon was an incredible thing. I’ve worked on so many shows that failed to generate the audiences I’d hoped for – what a thrill to have every evening show over-sold out. I mean – someone posted an ad looking for tickets to LUNCH on Craigslist. Unbelievable.

It feels like it all happened so fast, yet in actuality Shawn and I have been working on LUNCH since January 2005 when it was staged as a ten-minute play at the Madcap Winter Carnival of New Plays. And for that I need to thank the first of several under-sung DC theater heroes: Shawn Helm and Chris Snipe. They are two of the most authentically nice people out there and Madcap deserves praise for providing opportunities for local directors, actors and writers like no other company can. See their fringe offering “Pretty Theft” at the Canadian Embassy – but be sure to buy your tickets ahead of time. Their photographer Isaac is also a gem, for taping our last performance and for never getting fed up with my numerous requests for LUNCH jpgs from the 2005 performance.

While sitting backstage at Winter Carnival, Shawn continued to write what would become the full length version of LUNCH. Once we had about 90 minutes or so, we had the opportunity to workshop it at the Kennedy Center through the assistance of the Kenan Foundation and under the guidance of the person who has been behind so many great things and people and opportunities that have come to DC – Gregg Henry. Gregg is a phenomenal human being, a talented director, a generous spirit and one of the greatest supporters of up-and-coming theater artists in this community. He introduced me to Shawn in the first place when Shawn was looking for a director for the Source production of Titus, the musical. I have so many things to thank him for. Words can’t express…

Thanks also to Damian for encouraging us to take part in the festival in the first place. The man had a vision. And he has pulled it off with flair. So many congratulations to him and Julianne and the rest of the fringe team. Thanks to Mrs. Henson – the DC Government worker who expedited the processing of our articles of incorporation. Thanks to Joseph for designing us a kick ass website on the fly. Thanks to Mark Wright for digging our chairs out of the rubble. Thanks to the guards at Pepco for letting us park the Uhaul in their driveway last night. Thanks to Caehlin for bringing some much needed business sense and professionalism to our operation. Thanks to DC Theater Reviews for their amazing coverage of the festival and to Trey for his entertaining and addictive fringe blog. Thanks to Amandia for being our brilliant and wonderful musical director again and again – despite the commute from Manassas and two and a half children. Thanks to Michael John for coming in last minute and making our fights safe and effective and entertaining. Thanks to Helen for corralling ten very spirited actors into dancing up a storm and for choreographing a table dance that brought down the house every night. Thanks to Katherine, our venue manager and Kelly, the Pepco Gallery representative for staying level headed and positive and for dealing with us (and by that I mean dealing with ME) every day for six days straight. Thanks to Lauren for stage managing a show that was probably much too ambitious for the circumstances. Thanks to Klyph for designing our lights and set on a shoestring and gathering props even though he hates props and for doing so many other things above and beyond the call of a designer. Thanks to everyone in the fringe and DC theater communities who took time out of their busy schedules to come and support us. Thanks to a phenomenal cast who surprised me in so many wonderful ways with their talent and spirit. Thanks to our band, who rock more than I could ever hope to rock myself, Jake, Nate, Andy and Bryant (Magic Box).

And finally, thanks to Shawn for writing a beautiful and funny and moving show that allows us all to relive our adolescent years from the other side – when we are older and (somewhat) wiser and hopefully have clearer skin.

I know I’m forgetting people. But I am a little high on gratitude right now. Or else that’s just the cold medicine…