Inkslingers: Guest Post by Dana Pellebon
I’m afraid my internet connection punked out on me at the end of the Blog-Off, and I didn’t make all 24 posts in 24 hours. But I had a lot of help from guest bloggers, and here is one article by Dana Pellebon, an actor, writer, and producer from Madison, WI.
Writer’s groups are a dime a dozen these days and very few distinguish themselves. Inkslingers, based out of Madison, WI, is one of the very few who do and manage to have their work produced. I have been lucky enough to act for them on and off throughout the past three years at their staged readings. However this year, I was asked to direct two of their short plays to be produced in a small theater in Madison. The kicker with Inkslingers is that the playwrights are the producers of the show. So the pressure was on.
Four directors had about four weeks to find actors and direct a show of twelve short plays. The diversity of voices in the works had us scrambling for actresses over 50 and other types of actors you normally don’t have to worry about in mainstream theater. However, the quality of the work written gave the directors in particular a myriad of was to go with their production. The writer’s were faced with finally letting go of their work and allowing someone else to bring their voice to fruition. Which I have to say they all handled very gracefully (more so than I would have). The actors were given an opportunity to do original work, written and produced in their home town.
My actors met for once a week, due to schedules and not having a whole cast until a week before the show. We did two plays one by Jan Levine Thal “Identity” and one by George Farah “Tech Support”. Luckily, I had actors that could do both so I didn’t have to worry about separate casts. I also had the fortune to work with actors ranging in age from late 30’s to mid 70’s. One of the writers was at first skeptical of casting decision but once that writer came to rehearsal, all fears were allayed. The other writer was did not come to rehearsal but was very open to suggestions about wording and other ideas on the play in general. There were four performances and I am happy to say they were sold out each time.
Madison is fortunate to have a glut of artists that live in town and show their work here. I am pleased that I have had the opportunity to work with one of the gems in this artistic community and bring quality writing and acting to life.
--
Dana Pellebon is also known as “Ms. Behavin’” with Foxy Veronica’s Peach Pies Caburlesque Show
and also blogs about her son, Cobain, at www.loveformyson.blogspot.com
Related Stories
POSTED IN: Acting, Backstage & Behind-the-Scenes, Performing Arts, Playwrights, Stagecraft, Theater, Theatre
0 opinions for Inkslingers: Guest Post by Dana Pellebon
No one has left a comment yet. You know what this means, right? You could be first!
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: