OMG. We have reached - AND SURPASSED our goal of 25,000 dollars! We are going to be able to put up The Devil You Know, a rhythm & blues story!!! Our team has worked their butts off to be online thanking, asking, imploring, begging and basically making it happen! I'm deeply appreciative of the work that's gone into the fundraising for this show. So...now we get to prove that the show is as good and cool and hot as we have always thought!!! 

Seriously. It's hard. We've had wonderful work done for us in the audition process. And our director is FANTASTIC with the actors; speaks respectfully and intelligently to them, and gives great adjustments. We've had some people hit it out of the ball park. We've had some people swing and a miss. We've had good people coming in with the best of intentions and just not quite get it. We've had the wrong take on something, the right take but the wrong person, oh, man....it's a Bitch people!

My wife - Carol Kritzer of U/D/K is casting. Big time. Wonderful. KNOWS HER STUFF! Unbelievable taste and a B.S. meter that can't be rigged. She is my hero. And she's brought along her associate who'd getting a casting credit for this as well - Rory. Man, we're lucky.

Fortunate to have a fellow Troubie - Kevin McCourt accompany people for us this week. A prince of a guy.Really followed and helped the actors in their performances... Just feel like we're getting good luck on this project. 

I won't say anything else for fear of Jinxing it!

Another milestone; we opened our bank account today. Yep. Feeling like it's really happening now...

Well...here we goooooooo! 

Our first day of casting was fantastic! Our casting director (and my wife) is a pro; she and her co-casting director, Rory, were prepared, polite, clearly making this process work for production and actors alike. I was so damn proud and happy to be with her in her element. And the talent; my GOD there are some brilliant actors out there; we had two choices already after the first session - I'm so excited to see who we get tomorrow night....

This is going to be a "process" as they say; we need to build a band from the ground up, with actors who feel like they belong together - like they grew up and grew apart and that you can "see" as people who KNOW each other in their bones...a delicate dance, indeed.

Have to give a big shout out to our Director, Darin, who is so good with actors. Just wonderful to watch him. So glad he's on board to guide this ship.

Onward!

Well. WOW. I'm exhausted. This has been an exciting couple of days: we had our first production meeting with Cate and Max and Darin and David and I. Everyone got along famously, and I have to say- we're in very good hands with Cate and Max. We then met with our casting director and, again, a delight. Smart and capable and excited about this project. Oh, and I'm married to her, so she better be!!! LOL. So, the breakdown goes out, the auditions get set up and we GO! 
In addition we launched out indiegogo campaign - lots of work to get it up and going...and that work will continue for the next 30days...yikes...! But without moola we can't do the showa...
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Well, let me tell ya; this isn't easy! Any of you kids planning on putting up your own show - take my advice and seriously consider how much time you have to devote and what you're willing to do to make it happen - 'cause it's gonna take just about all your time and you're gonna have to be willing to do just about anything to 'be in the room where it happens'...to quote our fave musical. Seriously, I became an actor so I wouldn't have to work a 9-5 job...and here I am putting up a show (that I won't be IN)  working on it 8am to Midnight! LOL!
But the truth? I LOVE IT! Being fully invested in something - emotionally, financially, artistically - is absolutely the best. 
So IF you have that passion project, that thing you MUST do, then do it! 
The rewards are amazing.
Okay...back to the salt mine!
​Indiegogo launches in 10 days!

I never knew how hard it was to ASK for things before this project. Sure, as an actor, you're always asking about things:"Hey, is there a part for me? How did it go? What time is my call? Where's the coffee?"
But, as a producer on this show - the number of "asks" is incredible. And let's face it, on a small scale show like this it's begging not asking. It's "I know you're offering me a great discount...can it be for free?
And traveling hat-in-hand as it were is not a comfortable position for me...
Yet, here i am. And making great strides. Today was a huge win! Was able to secure a greatly discounted item (like wholesale) from a major music manufacturer! And, no, I can't reveal the item or name of the company, but needless to say - they'll be getting a big ad in the program and a number of comps....

I've worked production contracts, Stock, Dinner Theatre, workshop, HAT, 29 hour readings and 99 seat code. THE BEST TIMES have been in 99 seat. The most artistically fulfilling and the most fun. I'm so glad that after a circuitous route we've found our way back to a 99 seat house for the world premiere of this show. I'm hopeful that we'll become another incubator success that launches out of the L.A. Intimate Theatre world. Spread the word as we start this journey, K? Let's make this another successful launch!

Wow. The amount of work involved in getting this train rolling is amazing! The last few days have been a constant barrage of reaching out to designers, stage managers, producers and such! Lot's of phone calls and emails. And - I know I said this before - but what a wonderful response from everyone! Supportive and kind and enthusiastic!  What a GREAT theatre community we have here in L.A.! Tomorrow we start our series of meetings with Music Directors! And we seem to have locked up our Casting Person...ahem...
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So, now that we've secured our amazing director, we need to start filling out the other creative positions. And that process begins with finding a Music Director. This is the person who takes the raw material that I've written, and buffs and shines it into a workable, sustainable piece of music...So obviously I'm very concerned about who we get. Will they "get" me? And my music? Will they be good collaborators? Can they act as good task masters for the Actor/Musicians we hope to line up? So much on the line with this...And I keep realizing; It's my baby, but someone else will have to rock it - I'll have to step back and let this person make choices that enrich the show ...LOL... It's daunting. BUT - wow, what wonderful people we're meeting with! It's truly and embarrassment of riches. Talented, smart, creative and successful - and interested in doing our show! And by next week or so, we'll have made a choice that David, Darin and I are all excited about - and that will lift our show one step farther up this mountain!