I'm going to be 27 next month.

I have determined that this is an acceptable age for me and my chosen career. Directors who are 34 are considered very young, and by the time I'm 34 I should have my master's, lots of experience, and be making my living in theater and film. Right now, I've got my bachelor's, a steady stream of good gigs coming in, and I'm having fun.

Currently, I'm in rehearsals for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest for a local community theater (ACT). Doesn't pay much, but even $100 is money changing hands which is better than nothing. The show is going up in a little warehouse. For years, this has been ACT's rehearsal/classroom space, but under new Artistic Direction, the company seems to be taking a more experimental turn. So, they're putting in seating around the edges of the room, creating an arena style stage that seats 50. Electricals will be going in soon.

I get so nervous any time I direct a show, as if I'm scared someone will realize that I don't really know what I'm doing and they'll just take it all away from me.

I'm fooling everyone!

I read the play, I see the play, I just try to get the actors and designers to make the play on stage look and sound like what happened in my head when I read the play. It's the easiest thing to do in the world. And its the most fun.

Just last Wednesday, we were rehearsing one of the group therapy scenes and I had to get the actors playing the loonies to attack each other verbally. They were just playing nice with the text. One line, following orderly after the next. I had to do something, my simply explainations of what I need weren't working. So, I got in their faces and insulted, screamed, cursed, and verbally attacked each character. (Not the actors, that wouldn't be cool) We ran the scene again, and I found myself running around the circle lobbing insults and cutting laughter into the mix. They started picking up the pace, lines came flowing out much more naturally, and finally, McMurphy was able to really feel bad for the guy they were attacking. We ran the scene again, and I was able to step back and just watch. Finished, called for a break, and everyone was buzzing. I was beaming, and I had won the trust of all the actors. They knew the play was going to work.

I dream of the day when I make my living doing this thing that I love more than anything in the world.

Comments..? email me.