What Have You Been Doing?

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This is an excellent question, and one I’ve been getting a lot of lately.

And why?

  • Perhaps it’s because I have looked consistently tired over the past several weeks?

  • Perhaps it’s because I’ve not been very social this past month.

  • Or perhaps it’s because the rabid fans of my blog are craving the more in-depth content that I have not had the time to deliver much of this fall! (ehn?)

I’m sure all of these are correct, at least to a degree.

But it’s a good question, nonetheless.

What have I been doing? What’s been keeping me so busy?

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Quelle Surprise!

The Dramatists Guild - the closest thing that playwrights and composers have to a union - has a program called Friday Night Footlights, which happens in 4 rounds throughout the year.

In each round, you may apply to the program with a show that you would like to do a full reading of, and you choose from a list of the offered 4-8 dates that work for your schedule. It’s a lottery system, so you never know who is going to be chosen, but it’s an excellent opportunity if you get a slot.

If you are chosen, the Dramatists Guild provides you with their lovely reading space at their headquarters in Times Square called The Mary Rodgers Room, which is beautiful and contains a grand piano owned by Richard Rodgers.

About 5 weeks ago - after approximately 4.5 years of applying to this program - I was alerted that I had been selected for a slot to perform a reading of The King’s Legacy on Saturday, November 16th!

And because I’m a glutton for self-inflicted deadlines and buttloads of work (a real measurement, by the way), I decided to make it a big ole industry reading by getting Broadway performers and inviting all sorts of industry professionals!

As Shaggy would say: “Zoinks!”

(And I think you can figure out to which Shaggy I am referring, lol.)

 

Buttloads To Do

I’m telling you, it’s a real measurement. Google it!

So, this kicked me into high gear to get a lot done in a very short period of time. Particularly because I have been acting as producer, general manager, and writer for this event - though with a lot of extraordinary help from amazing friends and colleagues like Jacque Carnahan, who will also be in the reading!

Basically, I’ve been:

  • Rewriting/Editing the script and score with changes from post-this summer’s production

  • Writing 2.5 new songs

  • Writing underscore for a few new script elements

  • Getting performers on board, which is tricky this time of year

  • Getting a director and musical director

  • Creating an industry invitation list

  • Sending save-the-dates and invitations, intermittently staggered by the calendar

  • Re-copying and compiling the script and score

  • Finding spaces for rehearsals

  • Compiling everyone’s availability into a workable schedule

  • Printing all of the necessities

  • And a lot of emailing and other little things that have popped up along the way

And the first 3 weeks of this was while we were still putting together/getting ready for TudorCon!

It’s been a truly crazy time.

And I don’t list this out for a sense of accomplishment - the actual event has yet to occur, or even start rehearsing! Instead, this is more about why I have sort of disappeared from the world recently, which is something I don’t love to do.

But sometimes, you just need to get things done for deadlines and throw yourself into projects that could potentially be some sort of boost. And that’s what I’ve been trying to do!

 

The Reading

Next Saturday is coming up quickly, but we’ve got a great team assembled, and I am thrilled! The cast and creative team are listed in the image above!

“Wait, that’s an amazing group! Michael, can I come?!”

Well, dear reader, according to the guidelines under which we are doing this reading, I cannot give an open invitation. Seats are also limited in the space. My apologies!

But! If you are in the industry and are interested in potentially attending this reading, please feel free to reach out to me personally to ask for an invitation.

And with any luck, this reading will lead to the next public presentation of The King’s Legacy, so keep your fingers crossed!

Until next time, friends!