Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: When is the right time to let go of a project?

Message

I've been working with a playwright this year on a new work and we had a staged reading and it had great success, but we have not found a producer and the actors are getting ancy.  The playwright wants to pull the rug from underneath it, but I keep telling her that there is still a chance and that we have to be patient.  She doesn't think it's as great as I think it is and we have not heard a lot of feedback.  The feedback we get is great, but my professor in school said that he didn't like the play.  He said it is either too militant or too much like stand-up comedy.  But the thing is he really doesn't like social plays and the play I am directing is a social-commentary that uses comedy to address very serious issues in our society today.  

It is not a "normal" play that would do well in a traditional theatre.  It will do better touring different progressive college's & universities in the U.S. and/or being performed at non-traditional/progressive theatres.  

I keep telling the playwright to be patient and that we never know when it is going to happen.  We have a lot of actors and I am the established director so that gives us a slender chance of getting a theatre company to put it on unless we find a producer outside that wants to support our goals/efforts.  The other thing is that the playwright and I are both full-time students so our time is very limited and the time I do get to put into submitting it is partial.

What kind of suggestions do you have?  Thank you. 
< id="gwProxy" ="">< ="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" ="">

Author	Message
direct-errr Walk-On Joined: 7/23/10 Online Status: Offline Posts: 7	Topic: When is the right time to let go of a project? Posted: 10/22/10 at 5:25pm
	I've been working with a playwright this year on a new work and we had a staged reading and it had great success, but we have not found a producer and the actors are getting ancy. The playwright wants to pull the rug from underneath it, but I keep telling her that there is still a chance and that we have to be patient. She doesn't think it's as great as I think it is and we have not heard a lot of feedback. The feedback we get is great, but my professor in school said that he didn't like the play. He said it is either too militant or too much like stand-up comedy. But the thing is he really doesn't like social plays and the play I am directing is a social-commentary that uses comedy to address very serious issues in our society today. It is not a "normal" play that would do well in a traditional theatre. It will do better touring different progressive college's & universities in the U.S. and/or being performed at non-traditional/progressive theatres. I keep telling the playwright to be patient and that we never know when it is going to happen. We have a lot of actors and I am the established director so that gives us a slender chance of getting a theatre company to put it on unless we find a producer outside that wants to support our goals/efforts. The other thing is that the playwright and I are both full-time students so our time is very limited and the time I do get to put into submitting it is partial. What kind of suggestions do you have? Thank you. < id="gwProxy" ="">< ="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" ="">

	IP Logged

Spectrum Celebrity Joined: 4/16/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 176	Posted: 10/23/10 at 8:13am
	My own personal philosophy is it is time to let go of a project in three distinct situations. ONE, you go "toes up" dead and take a permanent dirt nap. TWO, you have achieved your goal and you are satisfied (as if THAT ever happens). And THREE, you have explored every avenue AD NAUSEAM, and you become so sick of the project you resent dealing with it, or expending any more time on it. At that point you become rather UNproductive and it is better to cut it loose. Other than those three times, I won't let go of a project. ...Which probably accounts for the HUGE list of unfinished projects I juggle with everyday (and many nights)! Eventually, every now and again, a few of them cross the "finish line" and that is sooooo satisfying! Hang in there if you can.
	Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional.
	IP Logged

jayzehr Celebrity Joined: 8/11/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 537	Posted: 10/24/10 at 2:29pm
	Probably a slim chance of a producer materializing to take your show on a tour buy why not produce it yourself? Is there a theater at your college you could use? Maybe a local community theater that would let you use their space?
	IP Logged

JoeMc Celebrity Joined: 3/13/06 Location: Australia Online Status: Offline Posts: 832	Posted: 10/25/10 at 10:19am
	I agree with jay for a producer to seek the project out , there are only two chances 'None & Buckleys', thus yours won't be one of them. As suggested do it your selves, you don't need a producer, find the venue & put it on. Get everyone flogging seats & promoting it. even if you have to do it as a profit share with a comeatre group. Edited by JoeMc - 10/25/10 at 10:21am
	[western] Gondawandaland "Hear the light & see the sound! TOI TOI CHOOKAS {may you always play to a full house!}
	IP Logged

Amos Hart Lead Joined: 12/15/06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 36	Posted: 10/26/10 at 10:10pm
	Unless you rent a space and do it yourself right now, release the actors. You can't keep people hanging for a Maybe project. I'm not saying to give up. You and the playwright should keep trying to get something going, then when you do, hold auditions. Some of your actors you'll get back, some will have found other projects. But right now, you're at sea in a project rowboat. There's a lot less stress when there are only two people in the boat.
	IP Logged

direct-errr Walk-On Joined: 7/23/10 Online Status: Offline Posts: 7	Posted: 11/02/10 at 9:33pm
	Thank ya'll!!< id="gwProxy" ="">< ="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" ="">
	IP Logged

Directing
Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board :Producing Theater :Directing

Topic: When is the right time to let go of a project?( Topic Closed)