Re: RAT Readings// referencing scrdchao@nni.com (brad rothbart)

[brad rothbart <scrdchao@nni.com>]

>Although I haven't said it before, I commend Brad Rothbart for the part of
>his reading series which exposes NEW, UNPRODUCED and UNPUBLISHED playwrights
>to his scene, and/or to any regional scene.

Thank you for the credit. However,  I think you give me altogether too
much, besides putting words into my mouth. I said " underheard"
playwrights- which I amdit is a subjective standard.
Here's my litmus test: walk down a Main street in a large city. Ask people
to name 5 living Americasn Playrights. If they can ,  ( which is doubtful)
those consistejntly NOT named are the "undeheard playwrights for yourlocale.
>
>I really would like to see more of a chance taken by ALL reading groups --
>and production groups. A GIRL'S GUIDE has already been produced, as you say.

 BVy the Boston Womens Center,  in 1996. Once, in its history.  >t's got a
good chance of getting into print.  It is in print- PAJ Books,  Plays for
the end of the 20th C	entur, Ed. Bonnie Marraca- Great book ofplays- but
not many peopler know about it.. .. Reza Abdoh, Adrienne Kennedy, Rachel
Rosenthyal, Maria Irene Fornes, Erik Ehn, The Wooster Group, Richard
Foreman. In fact, here's the web addy- support your  small presses.
http://www.press.jhu.edu/cgi-bin/bipshow.cgi?type=series&qry=Performance%3A+PAJ

Steven Tomlinson's play had a
>world premiere, already. Same thing.

 Yes, but it was in Austin.  In Phildelphia- Austin might as well be Manila.

 If you're into the Music scene,  and live in Phoilly , perhaps you know
about  the Music festival/conference- SW___???

If you watch  films, yoiu've probably heard of  Richard Linlater.

 Ifyou're really political , you know about Charles Whitman and the Texas
Tower Murders.

But Austin theatre? Salvage Vaguard, Rude Mechanicals, Frontera? No one's
heard of them here. In fact, outside of 4 0r 5 major  Philly theatres-
mnost Philadelphians aren't even coversant with the Philadelphia Theatre
Scene.
>
>So let me back up and say -- it's just my personal feeling -- without
>legislating this for others -- that public readings ought to expose new,
>unpublished, edgy, different work, and definitely not stuff that's already
>been produced.  (Unless it hasn't been reviewed, which means no documentation
>on it.)

 You should create that series, then....
>
>Let me also say, that ASK has a terrific program, which includes a Los
>Angeles Public Library collection where produced but unpublished plays are
>available.

 So, wait- doesn't that, at its endpoint, obviate the need for live theatre
altogether. I mean,  if I can read The Iceman Comet, there's no reasomn to
go sdee Kevin Spacey in it?? Are you a playwright in opposition to actors??
>
>Maybe I'm going off on this topic because I feel strongly about it. Maybe I
>believe that my friends' worthy plays are not being read or produced. Maybe
>it's because I submit my plays and never even get the courtesy of a
>rejection, or the dubious pleasure of "Never send us this kind of shit
>again."   Maybe it's because my own plays are not mainstream, and only one of
>them has made money. And so I, like many other playwrights, must struggle
>each time to get them staged.

 Ok then.. .. You and your worthy friends are more than welcome to send me
your work.

 '/However, guidelines:  No money, very little set element, very little
rehearsal. Theatre as pickup basketball.
Also, just because you submit doesn't  mean your work will be chosen.

You can take issue with these guidelines- playqwrights have for their own
personal artisticreasons. But, if you choose not to submit, I don't want to
hear how no one will read your work. OK?
Contact me off-list for guidelines...
>
>Brad, again I commend your work, but I believe we have different philosophies
>and tastes.   As a member and past member of several writing groups, I have
>heard much, much bad material (including some of my own). Yet, you write that
>you can "name fifty wonderful plays I've read in two months ... "
>
>FIFTY wonderful plays?   Unpublished and unproduced?   I definitely want to
>get on your reading list.

 Never said unpublished or unproduced, simply said underheard, and that's a
geographically  relative term...--

brad