Finance

This past week's big event was a workshop on Finance for the Arts at ITC. The workshops at ITC are always extremely informative and I highly recommend their program to theatre-makers in the UK. The workshop was run by an accountant who both teaches at a local University and does accounting for arts organizations.

The day was spent learning the vocabulary and examining the various spreadsheets and documentation that go along with financial reporting. This is useful information for producers and managers to keep things running smoothly with their project or company. In addition, financial reports are required by the government for quarterly or yearly taxes. Most company boards also require financial reports so they may be assured the company is properly managed.

There are standard procedures and practices enforced by laws that require documents be calculated and presented in certain formats. Both the US and UK have these standards. Managers at arts organizations can see to the daily bookkeeping but it is recommended that a certified accountant is consulted for the major reports and tax submissions. These professionals are up to date on the laws and can make sure all is arranged according to the requirements.

I hope to return next month for more workshops at ITC. They cover a wide range of topics of interest to those in management positions.

Coming up this week, I re-visit Angry Birds. This is a new musical I worked with last winter for the BEAM festival. They are presenting a sample of the production to industry personnel and I have been asked to assist in the logistics of the event. I'll let you know how it goes.

Until next week...
Take care!
-m

Finally, Back to the Theatre

Leave it to my good friend Remi to finally pull me back into a theatre seat. I have been so preoccupied with projects and plans that it has been far too long. Remi called me yesterday morning and said he was in the queue for tickets to Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and would I like to join him for the show? Well, yes. So we met that evening to see the modern American classic by Edward Albee and I am so glad we did.

Remi had bought rush tickets. Rush tickets are tickets that are sold the day of the show. Usually, they are at a discounted price to encourage students, artists and others looking for a lower ticket price to come to the show. Sometimes they are "leftovers" but often producers offer Rush tickets to give a chance to see the show to those who can't get a ticket because it is a sold out or the regular ticket price is a bit steep. This often requires joining a line first thing in the morning or just before the show, depending on the rules of that particular Rush. Remi was an early bird on this occasion.

The play was at the Harold Pinter Theatre which is a West End venue. I had been there before to see the musical Sunday Afternoon. It is a lovely theatre. The tickets Remi scored were box seats. Although box seats sound very posh, I don't usually care for them because the angle means the full visual of the stage picture is cut off. But with the architecture of the Harold Pinter and the staging of this single set, small cast play, the sightlines weren't too bad. We really didn't miss anything. If it had been a big musical the sightlines might not have worked so well. The box did provide some lovely perks. We were in comfortable, movable chairs as opposed to fixed theatre seats. This meant we could adjust and get in and out of our seats without climbing over other patrons. And we had lots of leg room and space for coats and bags. In fact, there was a coat tree in the box. The box also had access, through a second door, to a private lounge area complete with a private washroom. Unfortunately, I didn't discover this until after the play and spent both of the two intervals running downstairs to the ladies' loo. Oh well, good leg stretch. After the show, however, we explored and admired the private lounge.

The play itself was very good. It starred the amazing Imelda Staunton, Conleth Hill, Imogen Poots and Luke Treadaway. It was directed by James MacDonald. Set and costume design by Tom Pye and lighting design by Charles Balfour. Virginia Wolf is a domestic drama, set in a New England University town and takes place over one evening. Martha (Staunton) is the Unversity President's middle-aged daughter and she is married to George (Hill). After a formal welcome party hosted by the University, George and Martha return home to await the arrival of Nick (Treadaway), a new Biology professor and his wife, Honey (Poots). George and Matha want to personally welcome the young couple to the community. As the night progresses, secrets and conflicts within the couples and between the couples start to arise.

Many might remember the film version of the play starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. It is a very intense play and I am in awe of the energy these actors must harness to get through the show every night. They did a fantastic job and as an American, I give the all-British cast a special shout out for doing beautiful American accents. Staunton and Hill were very well paired as George and Martha and truly captured all the complexities and layers of the characters and their relationship to each other. The set too was spot on, designed to be an American Craftsman style New Englan home.

I am so glad Remi called. It was a brilliant night at the theatre.
Coming up this week, I have some meetings and a workshop to attend at ITC.
I'll let you know how it goes.
Take care!
-m

Hiatus

The blog is on hiatus this week. I'll be back soon!
Take care!
-m

Commuting for Class

This past week brought around a rare class meeting. This second year of our MFA is a very independent one. So, attending class is rare. It was nice to see everyone. In class, we discussed our experience with the first case study and did some planning for the second one. The class was held at Central's temporary classroom space called Bankside. The location is near London Bridge, quiet the other side of London from Central's main campus at Swiss Cottage. Central is in the process of building a new building at Swiss Cottage because the school is growing fast. In the meantime, there is Bankside to handle the overflow. Our group had never had class at Bankside before. It was interesting to get the change of scenery. The location is right in the middle of a very vibrant area near the busy Borough Market and Shakespeare's Globe Theatre.

After our morning class, I high-tailed it back to Swiss Cottage to crash the marketing seminar being offered to the first year producers. We are often invited to attend the first year seminars and I have taken full advantage. Most of the ones I have attended have been new additions to the course. New guest speakers and workshops that we didn't have when we passed through our first year.  This marketing seminar is one we did have last year but I wanted a refresher.

Coming up this week are some meetings. Work will continue on all my projects and assignments. I will also try to get to the theatre because it has been a few weeks. I'll keep you posted!

Take care!
-m

Oscar Night

Well, tonight is the big night in Hollywood. The Academy Awards excitement is on! Alas, I will not stay up to watch this year as the awards are on in the middle of the night here in the UK. I will have to catch up with the results tomorrow morning.

I have always enjoyed awards shows. Even though the nominees only represent a small fraction of the amazing work and talented artists producing incredible material, it is lovely to celebrate the industry and the art. Many of the speeches are inspirational and can give a nice boost to those of us watching at home, hoping one day to be a part of a successful and recognized body of work.

I think it is safe to say that most of us don't go into this field for the fame, but if our work is recognized and successful it means we can reach more people with our stories and messages, and ultimately that is what we want to do. We want to reach people. We want to connect. We want to be a part of a greater communication and hopefully, evolution.

So to all those attending the Oscars, all those tuning in, and all those who dream, I wish you a very good night!

Until next week...
Take care!
-m

Class in Session

This week we had a class! Well, technically the first year MA/MFAs had a class and the second years were invited to crash. It was a session on starting a production company. I have taken workshops like this a couple of times before, but this time there was a slightly different angle. In the past, I have learned about all the laws and official procedures and requirements of setting a company but Friday's session spoke to why we would want to set up a company. This was a great way to really ponder what drives us as producers. What is it that attracts us and what are we passionate about? We also looked at what we need to learn before we are ready to start a company. Where are the gaps in our knowledge? What resources are available to help us fill those gaps? This way of thinking was fantastic. We often get so busy in the doing of things, we can forget the why. And we often skip the strategy that can ultimately make us a success. I enjoyed the session and it was wonderful to see some old classmates and spend some time with the new producer class.

The rest of the week was taken up by meetings and research. I'm discussing my next case study and looking into viable topics. I also had the course committee meeting. I am my class representative for the committee that discusses the pros and cons of the courses and the school as a whole.  It is always interesting to go to these meetings and hear what is going on with other courses and what students from all departments would like to see happen at Central.

This week I expect more meetings and more research! After all, I am in school.
I'll keep you posted!

Take care!
-m

Art

Art. That is the name of this past week's theatre offering. I was able to catch the Wednesday matinee of this modern masterpiece at the Old Vic Theatre. Art by French playwright Yasmina Reza first opened in Paris in 1994. A couple of years, later playwright Christopher Hampton adapted the text into an English language version and the paly was a hit both on Broadway and in the West End. The revival at the Old Vic is directed by Matthew Warchus and stars Tim Key, Paul Ritter and Rufus Sewell. 

I was thrilled to get to see Art on stage after hearing about it for the past couple of decades. The play is a comedy with some moving moments sprinkled in. It centers on three men who have been friends for about fifteen years. Indeed, friendship is the theme and I think particularly male friendship. It is called Art because one character buys a piece of modern art that he adores and the other two don't feel the same. The art is the catalyst that opens up truths about their friendships and what they really think of each other and why they have been friends for so long.

The chemistry between the three actors was excellent. The actors played well together, volleying back and forth with perfect timing. The design was simple and neutral, suggesting the starkness of an art gallery and allowing the action to move between locations with ease. Three chairs graced the set, each in a different style to represent the three characters. Very smart choices by the design team and the director. 

I was also happy to finally get to the Old Vic. The Old Vic is one of London premier theatres, first opening in 1818. Many of the world's most famous actors have trod the boards at the Old Vic. It is a beautiful space. 

This coming week I have work to do on some of my assignments for school and maybe another trip to the theatre. I'll keep you posted.

Take care!

-m