A blog by John D. Nugent - Composer, Playwright, and Artistic Director of the Tennessee Independent Theatre Company

Sunday, August 31, 2003

 
Starting Without Gas

I know. It has been a long time again. This is for two very distinct reasons. First of all, I have been very busy. And second, I would like to get my archives to work. If anyone knows how to do this, please email me and tell me.

Held two weekends of auditions for Deemer's Half Life Conspiracy and nobody showed. Of all the local newspapers in which I ran the ad, only one printed it. Another even more local newspaper decided to do a front page story, which made me incredibly happy, but they decided to do it AFTER the auditions.

So, Half-Life is on the back burner for now. I WILL bring that show to this area, but I will probably need to do something else first in order to generate interest in the Company. Some area actors were interested in this particular show, but they were all doing other things. So, perhaps if I wait, I can get them involved.

So, what to open with instead?

First of all, for the sake of publicity, I am co-producing and co-writing a murder mystery with Roger Ball, who is President of the Community Theatre of the Tri Cities. That opens at one of the area hotels (never can remember which) on October 19. And I get to write a song, which will appear at the end of the First Act (and I get to sing it myself). There will be an ad in the program for anyone interested in acting. Especially in Half-Life.

I also got a lot of interest from teenagers. Charles, if you read this, have you ever thought of writing for kids? I am also wishing that I knew how to write for kids, or that Dan Kehde would give me permission to do American Paradise.

On another hand, I DO have a potential cast for the premiere of my Diamonds and Roses. Especially since Diamonds is out-and-out fluff. Problem is, I have been out of writing on this piece since '99, and I haven't really gotten even the First Act where I want it, and Act Two isn't even started. This is not the type of show I want to do with TITC. I had hoped, actually, to get CTTC to produce it. However, first I have to finish it.

Received a letter of inquiry over some monologues. If the price is right, I might go ahead and do that and use the publicity from that to try and get a cast for Half Life.

Anyway, even if I don't have a show in November, I know two things:

1) I WILL HAVE A SHOW!
2) I WILL DO HALF-LIFE SOONER OR LATER (preferably much much sooner)

Also, starting orchestrations on Dark Mission while I wait on more of the libretto. And I have started my first Social Action Drama (as much as I hate the form). It is called The Devil's Playground, and it is an autobiographical play with a few changes for the sake of drama.

Well, I am going to go now and see if I can get my archives to work. If I can, then I'll be posting a lot more often.

Until then!!!!!