The Unexpected Rigors of a Choose Your Own Adventure Show

I've never had difficulty memorizing text. I'm not the world's best or wittiest improvisor, but I can do it in a pinch. I do love doing it, regardless of my shortcomings at it. But "Adventures in Mating" by Joseph Scrimshaw (see the plug to the right) has provided some interesting challenges for me.

Adventures in Mating (as it is currently being performed- there is an extended version debuting next month in Minneapolis) has over 30 different scene combinations. I can handle the flow. I understand how all the scenes work individually and can make the appropriate justifications to make them fit together. However, I am finding it challenging to justify individual moments with what has come previously because, on any given night we may have run a few different scene combinations before the actual show just to stay sharp. Sometimes it is hard remembering which scenes we've done in front of the audience! I caught myself on Monday night responding to a choice that had been made in an earlier scene during rehearsals that afternoon instead of to the choice that had been made during the actual show. The audience didn't seem to notice and I had corrected myself as much as possible without denying the reality I had just created but it was a cautionary moment for me. I must be well rested to do this show! I need to have extra brain cells firing!

This show is different from any other show. In a regular play you simply fall back on the often linear text and if you derail you and your fellow cast members usually find your way back to the text as it should be. In improv you are not beholden to any text so you do what you can to get yourself out of a jam and move on. Here you are still required to be faithful to the text but if you aren't paying attention you will end up doing an entirely different scene. On Tuesday night I found myself wondering if I was doing the right ending. Luckily I was, but for a good minute or two I had my doubts. Not that the audience would have been any the wiser and I certainly trust Ben and Steve to catch me if I fall (excellent chaps to work with, no doubt) but that was a heady couple of minutes. I'm sickened to say that it was thrilling and that I can't wait to wonder if I'm screwing up again. What sick, sick fun!

I will have to wait until Monday for the pleasure, but until then I will pour over my script and prepare for that horrible day when one of my ex-teachers shows up to show their support. Nothing can mess you up more than trying to prove to a teacher that you still remember all that they taught you. I suppose it is best not to prove anything at all.

Adventures in Mating by Joseph Scrimshaw

We're begining the countdown to January 8th when we open Adventures in Mating (by Joseph Scrimshaw) at No. 43 Stage at Jimmy's in the East Village. Promoting this show has been more strenuous than any other promotion I've ever done. The best part is, unlike any other promotion I've ever done, this one has been fun. Stressful, but that fun kind of stressful when you feel like you've been drinking all night long but really you're just exhausted and stupid from lack of sleep.

I love that.

I guess what I've enjoyed most is that the individuals and groups we have approached for partnerships have been really supportive and excited. This makes me feel a lot less nervous and awful about asking for help and it also boosts my confidence about our ability to pull this off.

There will be more information in the days and weeks to come, but my focus has to be with the show right now. I'd flood this blog with other contributors, however most everyone is heading for their holiday vacations and are not particularly interested in starting things up until after the New Year. So, I suppose you'll have to deal with my silence. Sorry. But if you're in NYC in January you can find out all about the thing that has been stealing all of my time and attention. Things are looking pretty good for this show. I'm pleased.

Now, if I could just memorize my lines.

Brief Hiatus

I will be away from my desk from Nov. 15th until Nov. 20th while I enjoy a good friend's wedding celebration. When I return, my calendar includes interviews, new information about upcoming projects and some reviews as well as a welcome for at least one new contributor!

We'll see you then.

Excuse Our Appearance While Site Is Under Construction

New content and new contributors coming soon! I am, as we speak, scheduling my first interview for QWIP and once the phone tag ends and the talking begins, you will be the first to know.

In other news, Ben and I are inches closer to rounding out our cast for Joe Scrimshaw's "Adventures in Mating". I'd like to thank everyone who took the time to come out and read with us. We still have a few more people to see, but we should have a cast by the end of this week.

Ads will be coming soon as will more links to resources and artists that are mutually supportive. If you have any input about resources you are looking for or services you have to offer in the New York area, please drop me a line here and let me know a little about yourself.

Stay tuned.

Coming Soon

In the coming weeks I will be adding new features to this site including interviews, content provided by other artists, more NYC resources, and, yes, ads.

The ads are a difficult choice, but I will need them to give me something to offer my contributors. I don't want this to be a site just about my struggles as an artist, although that will play a role in the construction of the site because I create on a very personal level. I promise to do my best not be too self involved here, but I AM an actor and that is not an easy task!

I appreciate your patronage and your patience as I figure out how this thing is going to look. If you are interested in contributing ideas or content, please drop me a line here. I will get back to you as soon as is humanly possible.

Thanks.