As an artist, I'm sure I'm not the only one who's ever found myself wondering when I'm finally going to feel like I'm succeeding. Occasionally we all probably think to ourselves, "Man, I wish I was getting paid [more] for this."
But I'm trying to convince myself this week that it's all about baby steps. And personal improvement. And just getting out there and doing good work, whatever it takes. That's why a lot of my energy this past week (since Cat On a Hot Tin Roof is now closed) has been focused on the mini-season I want to produce. Yes, Cameron Clarke, the professional goofball, is going to try his hand at producing! I've got a shortlist of plays that includes Gruesome Playground Injuries, Danny and the Deep Blue Sea, Zoo Story, True West, and a lot of other heavy hitters. I'm also actively reading more and more small-cast plays, trying to find a minimum of two and a maximum of three that I'd like to see done and done well.
Gruesome Playground Injuries is pretty assuredly going to happen. It's one of my favorite plays in the world, and I'll probably direct it myself. The second show I would probably perform in, and #3 would be the one where I'd sit back and keep my producer's hat snugly upon my head (okay, okay...if you're going to twist my arm, I might act in that one too).
I'm really excited about this. I've never produced my own season before. I'm going to do it under the banner of Company of Fools, a theatrical and media company that myself and some close friends of mine (we refer to ourselves collectively as The A-Team) have been starting to toy with on and off for a few years now. And through this period of self-production, self-promotion, and self-improvement, I hope to come out on the other end of it a much happier, more enriched, more creatively invigorated artist.
Wish me luck. It's kind of all up to me now. But you're more than welcome to help me out!