Process of Creating a Solo Show # 7

The original title of the show went from Reflections and Shadows, to Random Sharp Objects (you'd have to see the show for the reference). It was pretty cool the different reactions from people. For the most part people really enjoyed it and could relate. I had a couple of incidents where I felt I had to defend myself and my art and it is through those indcidents I am grateful for standing my ground on how I tell this story. It's my story and I don't have to alter it for anyone else to make them feel comfortable. That was a great lesson for me to learn. I'm also thankful to Larry Clarke who reminded me to just tell the story and tell the truth. That is what I always remember before I go on.

It was sad when we closed but we all needed a break. I decided to go back East and see my family. The whole time I was there something inside me would be reminded that my sister Sarah said she could see this play in New York. Other people said the same thing, which is a nice compliment, but how was I going to do that? I asked the universe that question. I asked Hali if she wanted to continue and she said she would be was unable to travel so I adjusted the script to have me just do my parts.
I submitted the show to various theaters in New York, and I had some bites, some discussions and people said I need to get into the NY Fringe Festival. I thought that would be a daunting task and almost pulled out of the notion of even going to New York. After the 3rd theater that passed on the project, I contacted Cheryl King the creative director of Stage Left Studios. Her theater specializes in solo repretory and I thought how perfect. I submitted my piece and shared my vision and Cheryl was on board. Sarah and Adam Cruz said they wanted to co-produce. Then Shari said, I need a roommate. Which by the way we live on the same street my mother and grandmother opened their first dress shop and a block away from where my dad had his record stores. I've come full circle. All the pieces where coming together, it was all right in front of me and as of the first week of December 2007, I decided to just say "Yes" to all open doors and see where they lead and that is how I'm in New York doing a production of Random Sharp Objects: The Story of How I Got the Past Out of My Ass

Process of Creating a Solo Show # 6

I'm rushing to get current with this blog called Process of Creating a Solo show because things have been moving so fast, it's hard for me to keep up.

So last I shared my writing process and about the angels that I have been graciously been blessed with. So I'm starting to feel confident and I was even getting to the point where I could see myself actually perform a show. I was not nearly ready but I could see it.

I asked my ace boon coon Jeana Rhinerson to host a reading of my solo show. Only my trusted friends and fellow peers where invited. I basically read it out loud for the very first time. I was so nervous, but I was in safe loving hands. I asked for feed back and oh boy they gave it. Some critical some supportive, but most importantly I took what I needed and I left the rest. Everything they had to say helped me tremendiously. I kept writing.

I also got involved with a lovely team of fellow writers called Naked Angeles. Hosted by Kathleen Dennehy and Larry Clarke. Because I had to wear two hats, the performer and the writer I asked the actors from this group to read my different characters. This helped me separate and focus on my writing. Then I went back in and performed what I wrote. I am forever grateful for that process. Thank you angels.


As I envisioned a venue, I remembered Frank Megna from Working Stage. The first theater I was able to perform in when I arrived to Los Angeles. It had been over 8 years since I worked with Frank. I looked him up and noticed that he had a writing/performing class. I thought I need to contact Frank and get into his class. It would really help me flush out all the stories I was compiling. I emailed Frank and said "Hey Frank, It's a Blast from the Past, remember me?" Frank is like, hell yeah I remember you. I sign up for Frank's class. Here was another commitment I would make. Once a week no matter what, I will write and I will attend this class and I will get up on my feet. Eveyone in class was awesome. When it was my turn Frank would have us improv the scenes that I wrote and new stuff and by doing this new angles came up and things I completely forgot about. Fellow actors filled in for members of my family. It was a good time doing this work.

Frank decided that the student would put together a showcase of what we were doing in class. I had to at least do 15 minutes of the show. I thought this was doable. So we started crackin it in rehersals. A turn of events took place between the other students schedules and it was now down to only Hali Morell and myself and Frank thought to combine both of the pieces we were working on because some how they were related. We did an improv on how our stories were related and Hali went home and wrote then brought in the opening scene for our show. We were trying to figure out a date to have a production and then how Hali tells the story I came in to rehersal and said we've got to do it May 24th no matter what. Why everyone asked. Because my sister and her husband are coming into town that week which is rare and I really wanted her to be there. We must do it that day. Frank said let's do it, which meant we'd have to open in 2 weeks. Talk about fire under our asses. Exciting times. The energy was in the air. We were living in the theater.

We did the show for an audience for the first time and it was a hit. Frank and co creative director of Working Stage Diana Ljungaeus said they felt we could pull off a couple of more nights, which we did. After 4 shows, Frank had some ideas to flush out the story some more so we went back into workshopping to find our way through. Then Frank and Diana told us one night that they thought we could pull off another 6 week run, would we be up for it. Hali and I just looked at each other and said sure.

After a 6 week run we got some reviews and great feedback and had a hell of a good time.

What's up with this Iris Bahr?

I kept asking myself self and then my friends, because her name keeps coming up on my journey of bringing my solo show Random Sharp Objects to New York.

Let's start with meeting Danny Robinson in June 2007. I had an opportunity to meet with Danny and in our meeting he mentioned that he works with Iris Bahr, who had a successful one woman show in New York, called "Dai". Iris was nominated for an Obie when her show was at the Culture Project and then her show moved to a off broadway theater for something like 18 weeks. Danny just mentioned it and suggested I check her out. I googled her and was like ok, if I get to New York I will definitely check her out. I noticed she worked with Craig Carlisle who also directed Fielding Edlow's solo show. Craig was cool because he gave me a quick 101 on how to think when writing a solo show. Thanks Craig. Coincidence, small world. What ever.

Things are coming together, all things RSO are in effect to go to New York. Jump to landing in New York. My roommate and dear friend Shari and I are rockin and rollin in NYC. I tell Shari about how I met Danny in LA and he suggested I go see "Dai". Shari's is like "hold up! Danny use to rep me and the guy that use to live in this apartment co-produced the show "Dai". We were like that's weird!

So it's down to the wire because "Dai" will be closing in one week. I'm strapped for cash until I start earning from doing my own show and I'm trying to figure out how I can go see the show. I contact Iris and ask her if I can stand in the back and watch the show. She invites me to see her perform. I am estatic and grateful. She was amazing. She did like 12 characters and told a touching moving story through the lives of people in a Tel Aviv cafe just before it gets bombed. Intense shit. I waited around to try and see her to thank her again, but the staff asked me to move out of the lobby. When I got home I thanked her again.

The next day Shari tells me I won't guess who she ran into today. Who? Iris Bahr, says Shari. That's crazy, I say. She's like yeah I know, Iris was talking about her show and then I told her how you are my roommate and you just saw the show last night and about my friend Paul who co-produced. That's crazy!, we're both yelling out loud in our fab apartment.

So opening night of my own show in New York I go to lunch with J. Keith van Straaten who is in New York hosting his own show What's My Line?
I'm telling J. Keith about how I got to go see Iris Bahr in "Dai" and how trippy it is that her name keeps coming up. J.Keith looks at me from across the table and says I know Iris. We're friends. "No way!" I say. I'm going to text her right now, he says. I told him to text her that she is invited to opening night, I keep inviting her. She couldn't make. We still have not met but when we do it will be superfabulucious.

Process of Creating a Solo Show #5

So last I left off I was talking about how I started to write my story and when I got stuck I asked for help. Over 8 years ago, I told my acting teacher Michelle Shay - who most recently played a character Aunt Ester in August Wilson's play Gem. She already won a Tony for Seven Guitars. I'm doing my best to follow in her foot steps. Anyway I told her how I wanted to do a solo show. She suggested I meet with Elana Golden -
Elana invited people to share with her their most intimate and difficult moments. Realizing the cathartic experience inherent in the artistic expression of one's "wound", as well as ecstasy, she began to teach writing, using her own life journey as inspiration. Elana re introduced me to the story of Persephone -
I would be inspired to find my own story after ready about Persephone, but I was also scared of my own story so I put my pen down. Why bother I thought. I have nothing to say. I siked myself out real good.

A year went by and I came across Mark Travis. Mark has a process of developing and directing one person shows that has generated numerous notable productions including, Time Flies When You're Alive, and A Bronx Tale. Mark was taking on new clients and I had an opportunity to sit with him and discuss how I could start creating a show. Mark taped that conversation for me so I could hear what I was trying to say. I was confused and scared and just didn't really know what my story was, in a way I wanted him to tell me. The whole process felt daunting to me so I said forget it and walked away. I never called Mark back.

Cut to another 3 more years gone by. A story was itching in me and I was attracted to other people who had solo shows so I went to see more theater. One of the first was Fielding Edlow - writer and performer of Coke Free JAP. Loved it. I was intrigued with her intellect and smart writing, related to her angst, and saw a soul sister before me. Watching Fielding being a warrior and how she operated inspired courage in me. Love you Field.

So I thought maybe to get back in the game again. As I got out to see theater more I also came across Jamie M. Fox, writer and performer of Independence -
Jamie had mad skill in telling a story and I reached out to her for guidance. She was so generous to share with me her experiences and passed along resources and I started to feel like maybe I could do this.

As I was putting my intention to write a solo show out into the universe I came across Ruth Otero - another very talented actress. Ruth a professional solo performer was putting together workshops that help you create and produce your solo show. Two things I definitely needed to do. So I took Ruth's 2 day workshop and I walked out of there with a templete for a show. I was willing to write and see where it took me. Ruth gave us self contracts to sign and set the date for us to get our rough drafts done and to get a signature of a witness. I asked Jamie M. Fox to sign mine. It was dated 6/27/06 and I finished my draft 8/26/06. Thanks ladies. Ruth is awesome, sign up for her future workshops.

I started writing my ass off and then I remembered that a lot of my stories had to do with my ass and how that related to the past, so my working title became How I Got the Past Out of My Ass. I didn't know if that would actually be the title but if I could get away with it that is what it was going to be.

So I had my rough draft. I was so proud of myself to make it this far. That was enough for me. I could put it down now. But something inside myself said if you put it down it might take another 3 years to move forward. So as I was struggling to get myself do some rewrites my boyfriend broke up with me. I was shocked and then I realized I had choices. I could sulk and go to bed real early and cry for a couple of months or I can put everything I have into this creative project. I chose the creative project. Every piece of energy, resource went into the completion of my script. Everything!!!! I wanted to really experience moving forward and making it to the other side. There where so many people before me that have done it and I want to be next.

Once again putting that energy out into the universe, I started being lead to the next indicated step. At a social gathering I ran into Mark Travis again. I didn't think he would remember me, so I introduced myself to him again. I told him I still had the recorded tape of our meeting and a completed draft of my script. I asked if he would work with me this time around. I knew Mark was before me that I was given a second chance and I was taking it. Mark agreed to work with me and I made the commitment to work with him once a week no matter what. Mark challenged me during this process and we got to the nitty gritty of the story. Mark was then given numerous opportunities to promote his book and teach all over the world so our time together came to an end. I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to work with Mark. Big smiles and hugs Mark