a quickie

literally..

i'm sitting in the york theatre box office waiting for their current production the Road to Qatar to come to an end and i think

it

just

did

oh how the world shrinks.

So the other day whilst out in the world I ran into eight people that new. EIGHT people from completely different circles, only two of them were somehow connected.

I met with two interns from the Looking Glass Theatre, one former work colleague, an actor from my Fringe show, an actress from a summer stint at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, and there were more, three more and I can't remember them right now, but I was completely blown away by just how small the world becomes the longer your in it. Especially a city like New York. I mean it's one thing to be born into a small town where genetically you already know everybody but to walk into a massive city like New York and find yourself walking into people that you know at every corner, crazy.

So that was the other day.

I just signed up for a writing workshop at Primary Stages. It's called Seductive Storytelling. It's a two day workshop at the end of March and I must say I am equally excited and nervous. I think it's going to be really fun though. I'm also looking at taking a clown class because I love clowning. I'm back into voice lessons with the magnificent Kevin Michael Murphy. If you're in need of a wonderful voice teacher please let me know and I will put you in contact with him, he's just great.

lots of other really wonderful things are happening. I'm still working at the Irish Arts Center and we're gearing up for some really big things. First, we have a wonderful production, Mimic, coming from Ireland. It's in previews from March 2ND through March 5Th, opens on the 6Th and runs through March 20Th. If you purchase tickets for the preview performances you can get two-for-one tickets, that's just $13.50 each! Definitely check it out.

We're also preparing for our first ever St. Patrick's Book Day event. We're looking to hand out 10,000 free books by Irish and Irish-American authors in 6 different locations through the 5 boroughs of New York City. It's going to be an exciting all day event!!

If anybody wants more info on any of those please visit www.irisartscenter.org! Or if you think you want to volunteer for Book Day email me at volunteer@irishartscenter.org.

What else, what else, I'm working with Rebellious Subjects Theatre again developing their Educational Outreach Programs which will coincide with their new production of Hamlet at The Tank this spring. It's been a lot of fun so far working the handsome and talented Joie Bauer. I've also really enjoyed putting my own ideas about education down on paper hopefully they'll go over well.

Speaking of Rebellious Subjects I just finished collaborating with RST artistic director Lauren Ferebee on a new movement piece she's developing called maps . I was very please to also be working with Ben Rezendes on this project. Ben and I have crossed paths at various times over the past few years but this is the first time we've ever had the chance to work together. It was a very enjoyable experience. We filmed an expert last Sunday and will be shopping it around to various residency programs so keep yours eyes peeled!

So the other rather terrible but really wonderful thing that I've decided is that I'm no longer allowed to watch TV in the morning. TV is actually a horrible addiction that I struggle with, I really really do. Huge chunks of my life have been wasted staring at television. Anyway, so I've decided no more, at least not in the mornings, why just the mornings you ask, well Ronan and I live in a studio apartment, so if he wants to watch TV at night after work I'd have to hide in the bathroom in order avoid watching it, so I allow myself to watch at night, but only if Ronan is already watching it.

Ronan is my boyfriend for those of you who don't know.

And that's it I think. I've nothing more to say except be in awe of this incredible shrinking world.

yours.

The Final Countdown

Greetings!

So once again I have neglected the old blog but here I am again attempting to make it right.

Still lost to the cause that is FringeNYC 2010. FOR THE BIRDS is just about to enter its final week of rehearsal which is scary considering we're still working on parts of the script.

It has been a tremendous process and a painful but necessary learning experience. It's also been fun. We've had a lot of fun.

Siobhan and I have gotten quite good at balancing the other's emotions when I'm down she's up and when she's down I'm up. It has been a roller coaster to say the least.

We have been blessed with an amazing cast and crew. They are all well stocked on patience and of course talent.

Director:
Halina Ujda

Actors:
Arash Mokhtar, John O'Dowd, James Logan Hall

Design Team:
Set Design: Jeb Knight, Light Design: Lois Catanzarro, Costume Design: Catherine Fisher, Sound Design: Alan Meaney

Production Staff:
Stage Manager: Kyle Crose, Assistant Stage Manager: Zola Bodden, ACR: Rachael Gilkey

We still have a lot to do as far as set and props, costumes, etc but I really believe that everything is going to come together.

So cross your fingers for us or better yet check out the show at the NYFringe!!

Visit the Blue Wren Collective website http://www.bluewrencollective.com/fringenyc.html for ticket info or there's always the www.fringenyc.org!!

That's all for now!!

Until next time!

Goodnight

Jen

for the what?

For the Birds UPDATE!!

So we now have a director Halina Ujda!

We have a full cast! Hooray!

Our team is coming together!

Set Designer? Check.
Lighting Designer? Check.

We still need a Stage Manager and a costume designer. we'll get one though!

You bet!

Jen

a quickie

Hi.

Everything about this post will be quick. As i have 5 mins. Again I promise to keep everything up to date in a more timely fashion. Highlights from the world of For the Birds, the play I'm working on with Siobhan Donnellan.

Re-cap:

We're still working on the script
We're still set to premiere our first attempt at FringeNYC this summer
We still need funds!!

Where we're at now:

Siobhan was over about a week ago for 10 days. We worked the script with David Sullivan, director and professor at Rowan University.

We have set designer, Jeb Knight.

We do not have a director yet though we have a few people in mind.

We have a venue, the Studio at Cherry Lane Theatre at 38 Commerce Street.

We do not have performance dates/times.

We've purchased an ad, flights for two of our actors, but we don't have a place for them to live, yet.

We created a company name, Blue Wren Collective. The wren is the king of birds and has it's own theme song.

We've purchased insurance and we'll be sending out 200 press releases next week.

We still need funds.

We have a lot of work to do.

We're in good spirits.

We don't like being separated by an ocean.

International collaboration is really hard.

Enjoy your weekend folks!

Best

Jen

We've got a beautiful field...

So I just finished a wee chat with Siobhan she at her kitchen table in Clare me on my couch on the Lower East Side. Unfortunately, today our conversation centered around money. Nobody wants to have to think about money when you're making art but unfortunately when you're working sans a producer you have to talk about money. Needless to say it is all a bit stressful but we're going to make it happen. Siobhan's family bought a field in their town a number of years ago. They started with 38 pence and somehow came up with the money to buy the land etc. Siobhan said they never thought about the money they needed they just dreamt about what they would do with that field. So while I'm not going to completely put the budget out of my mind from now on I'm going to focus more on what we're going to do with this play, this big open field, we got a lot of potential.

That said don't forget about our first fundraiser Ma Familia... next Saturday May 8th! It's a fun afternoon of storytelling. Check us out on Facebook as well!!

all the best,

Jen

In Memory Of

Roughly 1 year ago I was just arriving in Belfast. Holy cow! I'd left New York and was on a big old adventure. Since returning to New York I have missed my new Irish family tremendously! Honestly, Ireland just feels like home to me like no other place I've ever been. I would to dedicate this day to all of my comrades in stripes living across Ireland can't wait to work with all of you again one day!

I've actually been quite lucky to be working with one of my dear friends Miss Siobhan Donnellan on a new play we've written together, For the Birds, which will have is world premiere at this summer's New York International Fringe Festival! It has been terribly interesting working across the sea on this and amazingly rewarding!

We got some wonderful feedback at our first public reading this past January in Limerick at the Belltable's Unfringe Festival.

Recently I was awarded fiscal sponsorship with Fractured Atlas a magical company that makes is so much easier for me to fundraise, yes I am in the middle of fundraising for the play.

My kick-off fundraising event, Ma Familia..., will be on May 8th at the Donaghy Theatre at 553 W. 51st Street starting at 1pm! It's a celebration of family and your chance to learn all about For the Birds and this fantastic collaboration and project. Please feel free to contact me for details if you're 'friends' on the old facebook you'll be getting an invite shortly!

All the best,

Jen

ps remember that all of your contributions above $20 are tax deductible! hooray!