Clara's Spitting Mad but a Quick Update

Updates:

We're going to get a new look for our website. We're not going to go crazy and reinvent the wheel, but we're getting a face lift. Sarah Stec will be getting some designs to me within the next couple of weeks and we'll see what's what.

We had an adapter meeting for Storming Heaven which went really well. Bilal Dardai, Bob Fisher, David Alan Moore and GZ's own Chris Riter will be picking what section of the book they want to work on by Halloween and then will start working on their scripts. My hope is to get first draft copies of the sections to Denise Giardina by the end of January/ beginning of February 2010 to get her final approval.

Betsy Morgan gave a board presentation at our last company meeting and rocked and rolled with her information. We have a long way to go before we get the perfect board assembled but we now know the steps we need to take in forming a better one. Can I just say how I'm so happy Betsy is joining us to do shtuff? She's super cool.

We're also getting in gear for our fundraising campaign. I'll talk more about our ideas in another post. We'll be filling most of 2010 with our efforts along those fronts and I'm hoping that they're both fun and successful. If you'd like to volunteer in anyway, please let us know.

Clara isn't a happy camper at the moment so I need to bid you an adieu but I just wanted to get these few things down for y'all to see. I hope you're doing well.

Ze Code ... Ze Code, Boss

As I stated in the last post ... the code of ethics for Chicago Storefront Theatre was thrown out into the brainstorming session at the recent Summit meeting and needs a lot more development and thought from the group of experts and participants who were at the meeting and those who are looking to get involved.

First off, I run a nonprofit business. I create art but I run a business. That's just that. There's no running away from it. If you accept donations that are tax deductible, if you have registered with the state, if you are on the radar, you should have standards and you should have ethics. Bottom line. I hate the term "bottom line", but, hell, I'm talking in business speak. Why? I founded a business. Our audiences are our consumers and those who want to work with us are our employees. A Code of Ethics is a way of gaining trust from our workers and our audience. I'm sure you all run a trustworthy business, but what's the harm in having a list of words to agree to confirming and holding us to that fact?

I agree that having the code won't stop people from doing whatever the hell they want to do and it might be "lip service", but, again ... what's the harm? If we break off into committees and one of those committees is in charge of coming up with an initial draft ... what's the harm? Seriously ... I'd like to know. If you don't want to sign it or get behind it, that's your right. But, if a group of theatres do, that's their right, too. Again, most businesses follow one and let their people know about it.

So ... we can create one. Or not. I, honestly, am fine if the Summit group wants to move forward with other ideas. But, if people are interested in developing one, I'll be on board with it and will help to spread the word about it. I would, however, like to know ... if you're cringing about the idea, what are you really, deep down, cringing about? If we break off into committees and one of the committees works on this and another works on resource sharing and another works on real estate, etc, what's the harm? We can't all be stirring the same pot or else we won't accomplish anything.

Here's some Reading Material I found on the nets that I found both informative and entertaining:

How to Write a Code of Ethics for your business or group

Why have a Code of Ethics?

A Person Who Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth

U/RTA's Code of Ethics (Example of a group of universities and regional theatre's putting a standard list together that all participating members can agree to abide by.)

And, for fun ...

A Blogger's Code of Ethics

Good day to you all.

Stupid Is As Stupid Does ... Stupid.

The Summit meeting happened.

The grumbling about the meeting has commenced.

I don't have anything to grumble about other than grumbling about the grumblers. Or one grumbler, to be exact. I hate grumbling. Especially before anything has happened. I also hate the spin that accompanies it. I hate that this one blowhard is shaping the night in a completely different way than the other attendees would. He sat in his little corner and looked like he was about ready to fall asleep as others addressed the group towards the end of the meeting. Took off his glasses. Rubbed his forehead. Acted like my stepdad when he has to come see a play. Gave all indications that he was having the Worst. Time. Ever.

The reality of the situation is ... I think everyone really enjoyed themselves and is looking forward to what's next. There was a great energy in the room. Smiles abounded. Good times. I, for one, think we need to stop listening to the negative crap spewing from his corner. It's all show, see. I'm not sure if he's able to back up that mouth of his. He's not in charge. He shouldn't be bullying people off of the head pulpit. He's a part of this collective, as am I, as is anyone planning on attending in the future. He does not represent the majority.

I actually enjoyed myself a great deal at the Summit meeting and thought Andrew Hobgood and company did an excellent job getting everyone together in a room and coming up with a way to allow everyone to brainstorm and get their ideas out on paper, good and bad. Speaking of brainstorming ... head on over to this site. It talks about the rules for Brainstorming and I'd like to remind the attendees and those who didn't attend that we're not past this point in the process yet. Action hasn't been taken on anything and everything is in the gestational idea, so, to the pissers and moaners, there's no need to stomp your feet and throw a tantrum because you've not a fan of the "stupid" ideas. There's time for that later but I think it was awesome that the ideas were flowing and that people were talking.

My table (TABLE TWO!) had fantastic energy if not the most popular ideas ... yes, we talked about the Code of Fucking Ethics and a Yelp-like website for theatre practitioners and goers. Again, these ideas are in the gestational stage and require further discussion and development. If the Summit decides not to move forward with them, that's fine, but behaving like my one-year-old does when she doesn't want to eat her peas is a bit ridiculous. (What does my one-year-old do? She spits and cries and throws things and creates a big uproar ... it ends up being quite funny, which I don't think is her intent.) If you don't like the idea, cool. Let's talk about it at the next Summit meeting. I'll bring diapers for any fecal matter that might get sprayed.

The Code of Fucking Ethics needs a lot of fleshing out and I will try to do so in another blog post and will also address some of the concerns as well as question those concerns. Why so fidgety about the word "ethics"? Are you missing them? Again, 'twas just an idea not a definite. Calm your asses down. You know what I liked best about some of our "stupid" ideas? We could actually accomplish them without spending any money. They might not change the world, but ... baby steps.

I expected to do a lot of sitting and listening to the pissers and moaners argue so I was glad that we were broken up into smaller groups. I was able to speak one on one with Deb Clapp of the League which was really nice. I still don't think I want GreyZelda to join but I appreciate the work she's doing. The League has lots of opportunities and answers available to most of the questions and concerns that were brought up but they're spread so thin that I think having a specific group just concerned with the Storefront theatre is an excellent venture. James Palmer led the discussion and did a lovely job. Ms. Betsy Morgan (an actress/director who has worked with Backstage, Point of Contention, etc and is now helping GreyZelda out with getting board information together and has run a Viewpoints workshop for us) and Oriana of the neo-futurists were also at our table. We all had fabulous jackets on, as well, so ... basically what I'm trying to say is ... we were pretty darn swell and I'm proud of the ideas we threw out there. Again, who knows where they'll go, if anywhere, but ... it was energizing to get the thoughts flowing.

I'm looking forward to the next meeting. I was happy to be there and I'm happy to help.

I've got one hell of a headache right now so please excuse the tone if it offends you.

Before the Frenzy

I've been meaning to write an update for eons now and have finally found a few minutes while Clara sleeps, Chris does his workout, the sun is shining and insects are calling.

We've been loyal to our GreyZelda monthly meetings and have started to get projected goals accomplished. For example, at our July company meeting (the first company meeting in well over a year), we discussed the type of personality and image GreyZelda should try to project to Chicago and its visitors. We wanted to make sure we were committing ourselves to that image in the shows we choose in the future, fundraisers, general look/aesthetic, etc. It all came down to the idea of American Gothic and all that term encompasses. We've been doing that brand of theatre for years, but never put a definite description to it, so decided it should be done. Long ago and far away, I twittered something about wanting to be a theatre company that was the love child of Tom Waits and 16 Horsepower and I'm positive that we can accomplish that.

So ... after much discussion at that first meeting, I threw out that I was currently reading a book that I've always wanted to adapt and the folks at the meeting picked up copies of said book, read it, fell in love with it. We're going to move forward with this book and will put it in production at the BoHo Theatre space beginning January 2011. I'm not quite ready to announce all the details just yet because the adaptation hasn't even started but once we start moving on it with all the pieces (aka adapters) in place, I'll be giving you more of the nitty gritty.

2011 seems far away, but, in the meantime, we'll be adapting, fund-raising, getting the new look/mission together, creating a new website, starting rehearsals, etc. 2010 is going to be a busy year for all involved ... and, speaking of, if you'd like to be involved with GreyZelda in big ways, tiny ways, etc, we'd love your help and are always looking to work with inspired, energetic, positive, collaborative folks. Let me know by emailing me and we'll see what's what.

At the end of our August meeting, I wanted to follow Adam Thurman's advice and ask people why they wanted to work and continue to be involved with The GreyZelda Theatre Group. Here are a few of our folks' motivations for working with GZ:

We create a safe environment and safe haven for creativity.

We just don't say, we do.
"If the story's good, the acting's good and the directing's good, you should be able to do a show anywhere."

We're hitting our stride and have a set identity.

We offer refreshing, clear ideas.

We want to work with you.

We're kind.

We're literate.

We have a diverse play selection.

We give people a shot and take chances on new people.

We're exploratory.

We get down to business.

We like looking for the skeleton of things.

We create a healthy, drama-free environment and leave the crappy stuff behind in our wake.

We do work that our members believe in and we believe in our members.

As A. Thurman mentioned, it's good to "take the time to make sure everyone has the same goals." While we're not in the "frenzy" of rehearsals and production, it was really great to have this discussion with everyone and I highly recommend you doing so with your own companies. It was a very honest talk and I plan on referring back to that list from time to time if I ever need reminding of why we're doing what we're doing.

I hope everyone's September is going marvelously. I hope to write more soon with more announcements and updates.

Change Your Head Picture

i remember that on the set of “sing” i was so fucking WORRIED about everything that my neck went out, untouched. it just went into extreme spasm. if you look at the shots in the sing video
where brian and i are playing in the theater, you will notice that i look sort of odd. that is because i couldn’t move my head. i didn’t want to be that person anymore. and in fact, i am not.

i’d also learned something about simply letting go and letting the videos be what they wanted to be instead of trying to make them look the way they were in my head.
if you are ever making a video, or a film for that matter, but especially a low-budget video, i warn you against falling prey to the “but it’s not like i imagined it” syndrome.

this actually applies to any and all art. it will be one way in your head. then it will look different on the canvas. you deal, you adjust, you change your head-picture, you adjust.
the ability to deal is the talent, not the perfection in your head. nobody will ever see the perfection in your head. sorry.

this is why some artists kill themselves.

So says Amanda Palmer on her blog talking about the release of the Who Killed Amanda Palmer DVD. Check out the whole thing HERE and DO NOT buy the DVD off of Amazon or anyplace that Amanda Palmer hasn't mentioned because she won't see any of the money if you do end up just buying it willy nilly.

Let's Go to Work

I've been reading about and looking forward to the upcoming Summit meeting proposed by Andrew Hobgood of The New Colony and a few thoughts have been whirling around in me ol' noggin as I've been checking out the various blogs starting to crop up. I, too, have concerns and it's more about how the *tone* (gasp!) of the first meeting is going to be and how I fear that if it turns into a bunch of people railing about how it didn't work before, then we're never going to get the horse out of the gate, yet again, because it will squeeze hope, energy and good cheer right out of the room. I'm sure those three words make those looking to fuck shit up cringe against the wall as a vampire gasps when facing garlic and a cross, but, seriously, you can't get anything going without a little inspired spark and good faith. How did you start your respective theatre companies? Or your blogs, for that matter?

I don't know why Andrew has to earn the trust of the Calloused. I don't know the guy yet. I haven't heard all that he has to say. I don't even know what the chap look like. I'm not going to cast my judgments until the meeting is over. I'm going to try to not cast judgment at all, if I can help it. I'm looking to make good on what is proposed, talked about, and acted upon. You realize that you, too, have to earn his trust. None of us really know how we work, how we handle projects, how we handle tasks, how we handle working together as a group. Unless you've worked together. And, even then ... think about it. I don't know how everyone works, because I've never worked, personally, as an artistic director with anyone planning on attending this meeting. Why should I trust anyone? Why should I trust you? Why should you trust those you've known for years? How do you know they're not undermining you at every turn? To be quite honest, I give everyone the benefit of the doubt until they fuck me or mine over and then, bam, that trust is gone. It might be earned back, but ... it definitely takes time. And, I probably won't work professionally with those people ever again. So, right now, I trust Hobgood. Until he shows me otherwise or proves that trust wrong. I'm going to hope for the best and take that little leap of faith I mentioned earlier.

Truth be told, I'm excited to hear about Alternatives. Alternatives to the League. Alternatives to the Jeffs. Alternatives to why this deal will work when the others haven't gotten off the ground. I like that this might be a Summit for just the Storefront scene. I want to collaborate with my Storefront brethren. We've got major collaborations in the works for 2011, in fact, so I'm interested in seeing what we might put on the table together.

I like a lot of the ideas already proposed online. Danielle's Physical Resource Sharing. Scott Barsotti's Critical Recordings and Volunteer Co-op. Tony's Rental Sharing and Theatre Crawl. All of those ideas were found in the comments here. I love how Nick Keenan and Dan Granata are slowly but surely taking action to share online resources and buoy the general spirit of our Chicago theatre practitioners.

As far as my attendance at the meeting goes, I plan on being present in every way possible, listening and going with whatever is proposed if it works for my sensibilities and the good of my theatre company. If the ideas don't have the potential to hold water or, to be honest, I don't want to work with the people attending the summit because they're showing that they don't want to work with anybody but their own kind or I and others can't get a word in edgewise because you're blowing your hot steam, loudly, in all directions, I don't plan on making a stink about it. I'm just going to accept that it ain't my scene. I'm going to keep on doing what we've been doing all along. No harm. No foul. I'll wish everyone luck in their enterprises and hope that the Summit will accomplish something. Anything.

I just want to see what happens. I'm hoping for the best. I don't want to have a meeting that reminds me of Reservoir Dogs where everyone's blazing their guns and their ideals and looking sexy lying in their own pool of blood at the end of the day, sweaty hair plastered to their foreheads. If that happens, however, I'd like to go on the record and say that I'm a Mr. Pink kind of girl. He's the only guy who got out of the place alive with his professionalism in tact and he's the guy I'd get behind in the end. Even if he doesn't tip. Mr. Blonde might bite instead of bark but he's a crazy motherfucker. Mr. White's too goddamn loyal and trustworthy for his own good. And, of course, we know about Mr. Orange. Even if he is awfully cute when he's fuckin' dying, Larry...

So, I propose, before the meeting has a date, that we all get our grievances out on the blog table, so we can join the Summit with all that crap left at the door. I want to move forward. I want to accomplish ... something. Again ... I know it can happen.

I'll see you at the Summit.

I've Things to Say ...

... but I can't find the time to write them at the moment. I'll have some free time to myself on Saturday evening, so I plan on writing my thoughts in regards to the upcoming Summit meeting that's being planned by The New Colony's Andrew Hobgood. Ah, motherhood and entertaining a house guest. They don't allow for a lot of blog writing time.

So ... stay tuned. I'm also going to talk a little bit about where GZ is these days. She's in a good place, I think.

Super cool.

R to the Z