Directing: When is the right time to let go of a project?

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When is the right time to let go of a project?

Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Directing
Forum Discription: For questions about handling shows, actors, crew, board members, children ...or do we repeat ourselves?
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4848
Printed Date: 11/23/24 at 1:25pm
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Topic: When is the right time to let go of a project?

Posted By: direct-errr
Subject: When is the right time to let go of a project?
Date 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.
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Replies:

Posted By: Spectrum
Date 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.

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Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional.

Posted By: jayzehr
Date 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?

Posted By: JoeMc
Date 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.

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[western] Gondawandaland
"Hear the light & see the sound!
TOI TOI CHOOKAS
{may you always play to a full house!}

Posted By: Amos Hart
Date 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.

Posted By: direct-errr
Date Posted: 11/02/10 at 9:33pm

Thank ya'll!!< id="gwProxy" ="">< ="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" ="">