Schmoozing Peeps and Losing Sleeps

So as I was leaving work last night, I told Galeynn that I would be lighting the other end of my proverbial candle to see how far I could burn it.

I mean, the cold is gone, replaced by a mild sinus infection (par for the course, really.) But I still haven’t caught up on my sleep from being sick and supporting roommates in slightly dysfunctional relationships. And here I was, going to see Playwrights’ Roundtable’s (PRT) 2005 Launch.

It was not the type of activity I ever look forward to. I’m dead tired. And again, this “event” is a bunch of short pieces on a small, bare stage. And every blackout makes me want to curl up and take a nap. There were about 12 other people there, so my snoring wasn’t bothering a lot of people.

And by the way, “What a launch!”

BUT

But I do believe that PRT is the strongest possibility to get Sons of The Revolution produced. (Barring some local college giving the play a tumble for the money, there aren’t a lot of possibilities to produce our mammoth epic…) So, there at Theatre Downtown was David Womble and John Goring and Amy Brackel and Chuck Dent, and there I was painting my nose brown and singing “You Are My Sunshine.”

David Almeida was NOT in attendance, because he hates this stuff. I -- on the other very sleepy hand -- really want to support other local playwrights to the best ability of my busy schedule. I don’t want to just spring in, say “produce my play,” and then not be there for others struggling to get the same opportunity.

So, I’ll lose a little shut-eye to be a gracious, supporting fellow author.

Of course, none of them are nearly as talented as I am. And that’s with one droopy eyelid tied behind my back.

I talked to Frank Hilgenberg as I downed seventeen Diet Cokes. And I started to hear that old glint in Frank’s voice that said if I had a money-making play and a guaranteed audience, he’d sure like to talk further. Hehe – what bringing money in will do for artistic relationships! The bad news is I didn’t really talk with his wife, Fran, whom I think is cooler than The World’s Fair.

Also, acting were Scott Hodges (whom I simply adore), Nikki Darden (whom I want to work with), the Carsons, Marilyn McGinnis (whom really wants to be in one of my plays – she’s gone past being subtle about it, which is supremely flattering), and the lovely John Hill, (whom, sadly, I barely know.)

I mean John Hill is so pretty, he makes ME tongue-tied. That’s a feat, especially since my tongue was dead asleep in my slack-jawed, drooling mouth!

And then I sat around and chatted with Scott. I still would love to see him as the soldier in Sons (note to self: send Scott a copy of the script. Or better yet, drop it off at the theatre tonight so I can get another glimpse of John and choke up and sweat a lot). Scott also said of my directing in Whipping Wally Wonker that I could be more of a puppet master.

Wow, and I thought I was a complete ass during the process!

Finally, in the middle of the performance and my little mini-naps, I got a voice mail from my personal Hebrew scholar, Tracey Ritter, asking a lot of questions about the lines I quoted from the Bible for Sons. Shyeah, like I know… So, as I passed from merely sleep-deprived to downright punch-drunk, there I was at midnight at home reading God’s Bestseller!

And that tome of wisdom, people, put me right to sleep until morning!