First: Citadel News…since this is the Citadel Website!

As per the lovely and handsome Will Casey, rehearsals for Anton in Show Business are just the cat’s pajamas. His e-mail to me recently included the words “swimmingly, beautifully, very well-prepared with ideas and energy, off-book already, very professional, etc…” I’d cut and paste the entire glowing e-mail but I haven’t gotten his permission to do so and I want to get this blog posted….for my TWO blog subscribers! (MOM! Have Tori figure out how to subscribe to this for you! Geez. I’m your daughter!)

I’m meeting Scott Phelps, our fab Artistic Director at Holly’s American Bistro for a working lunch. www.hollysamericanbistro They are home to the Monday Night Play Reading Series this year. Terrific place. Go and dine there. The Chicken Caesar Salad and Pot Pie are awesome.

Time to subscribe. I mean…right now. Go. Click the BACK button and cough up the meager $59.00 bucks! For THREE professional shows. A deal?! Oh my gosh! Such a deal. It is. You know it is.

Second: Time for Madelyn to blather on and on and on……………

I started as an actress. (This was in the day, not so very long ago, that it was still “actress” and “actor,” not the current “female actor” and “male actor”) I was convinced, just as convinced as the thousand of other actresses slugging it out along side me, I would make it, that acting was what I was meant to do and that I had what it took..

We were all certain. “I’m the one that will make it.” You have to be.

But why are there so many of us? Why are the numbers so high for young women trying to break in, make a living, make a career out of being an actress? What is it? The numbers are radically different for men. Three times the roles with half the competition with age only improving their chances. So why do hundreds, probably thousands of young women pour out of acting classes, universities and colleges every year, ready to take the most unlikely road to success possible?

Because it isn’t unlikely at all. The most successful, high profile women with a talent for the arts in our society are actresses. So we start there. It feels “right.” But I believe that many of us are actually meant to pursue other fields in the performing arts. Writing. Directing. Producing. We are in the ballpark but playing the wrong position.

Women are raised (perhaps hardwired, although that’s a whole ‘nuther kettle of fish…or blog) to focus on the emotional and relationship-driven components of life. Acting appears to be a natural extension of that. And god knows, if you ignore the rotten knocks along the road to acting work, that fantasy of stardom/fame/glory sure is attractive. It looks fun. Glamorous. The gold ring glitters so much, seems to close, you are certain if you just make the right moves, no matter how uncomfortable you are, you’ll be able to snatch it.

But many of us are eyeing the WRONG RING. (BTW, as far as I can tell, getting that acting stardom ring for women pretty much sucks these days. You’ve got to be a skeletal, hunted clothes hanger with a career window of about 5 minutes. It just looks so painful) Everyone seems to be grasping at that one slim piece of acting pie…not that any of these actresses ever eat a piece of pie.

There are other rings. There is work in the creative/performing arts that fulfill that tremendous need for self expression and deeper connection to ideas bigger than oneself. The power of writing, directing, producing are not so readily obvious but I think, if we want our stories told, if we ache to make theatre/film/work that touches something true and profound, and if we want to make money doing it…those creative reins…and rings…must be seized.

The satisfaction I’ve gotten from writing and even producing (although this producing gig is quite a juggle that I am just figuring out) far surpasses any acting gig I ever landed.
You can create or select stories that speak to you on a deeply personal level.
You can eat desert occasionally.
People treat you with respect because you are bringing something to the creative table that is a must-have component.
The career life is much longer.
You can have a personal life too. Kids. Normal hours. A marriage.
You aren’t working every single weekend while everyone else is off partying and relaxing.

My favorite metaphor for switching from acting to writing is this:

Acting was like wearing a pair of very flashing stiletto heels. I got lots of attention and praise but there was no way I was going to make the long haul in ‘em and, truth be told, they were pretty damn painful anyway. But boy, does society like us gals to stagger around in them, to hell with the consequences to your body or stability.

Then I discovered a nice, comfortable pair of well-made loafers. No big flash factor but I could I ever live in these. And after wearing loafers for a few years…the thought of going back to the heels….even Jimmy Choo or Manulo’s ….no thank you!

            The performing arts need women. Desperately. The same old stories are being told again and again and the audience is petering out. Drifting off. Into computerland. The iPod. Reality TV. Their own little favorite corner of the entertainment world (And, wow! Aren’t TPTB getting nervous about that!)

But the interesting part is that with the availability of technology, great storehouses of information AND the means of production are in the hands of the people.

Musicians are sidestepping the recording companies, producing and marketing their own cds.

Artists with websites that allow them to live anywhere, freed from the need for gallery space.     

We can do this as well. Us. Us gals. Us theatre gals.

I believe we must seize the power.

I believe that we need to passionately pursue our art and tell our stories. We must be so superb, so skilled at our craft, so compelling in our vision, that we cannot be denied. And if we are “denied”…become the gatekeepers ourselves.

Actresses can seek out and develop projects to produce for themselves.

Writers tell the stories of us that aren’t being told, keeping in mind actresses and directors they respect and support as they write.

Producers commit to mounting works that are new, underserved or fresh and provocative. Not exploitive. Sharp and smart.

Now this might read to some of you as feminist blathering. It’s not. I just love men. Truly. Guys: You all are fabulous. But theatre is about conflict. Get it? CONFLICT. And if you want to experience a little conflict, talk to a woman, mother, sister for longer than 10 minutes. Dig under the surface.

Ask about what it’s like having a child. Negotiating work and family. TV sex vs.sensuality and connection. Looking pretty and feeling pretty. Aging. Growing old vs. growing up. Tickle the rage/exhaustion/confused/pissed off bone and out will pop enough drama to keep HBO hopping for years.

Honestly, I’m sort of bored right now. How many “4 Guys Singing” type of musicals do we need to see? 3 guys painted blue? Gangsters? Grown men conflicted about their daddy/coach/job? Sensitive guy running a crime lab/criminal investigation?

Yes, there is some grand work being done out there.

There can be more. There is so much more to say. The world is in flames and chaos. It is our obligation to speak up. Let’s challenge the desire to play it safe and give away our power.

There are no rules. Everyone is making it up as they go along. Let’s dive in and make some kickin’ cool, flawed and wild theatre.

Off to crank on my next rewrite of my new play (6W, 1M)

Madelyn