Friday Morning Writer's Draw

            Writers                   Directors

Play 1)  Ashley Bagwell / Lyam White

Play 2)  Darian Lindle / Kathy Hsieh

Play 3) Mik Kuhlman / Susanna Burney

Play 4) Dawson Nichols / Aimee Bruneau

Play 5) Chris Haddad / Brandon Felker

Play 6) Zoey Belyea / Joe Zavadil

Play 7) Beth Peterson / Mark Fullerton

There Is Excitement Under the Sleepiness

Ashley Bagwell, virgin playwright, slowly saunters over to say hello. I ask him how it went. "Are you happy? Proud?"

He replies, "I'm proud I did it. I tried to see it as if it was something I'd want to be in as an actor and I'd be happy with any of the four roles.. but I don't know."

Mik Kuhlman looks refreshed as she arrives, happy she's done for the day.

The band leads, Annie Jantzer and Nick Bogopolski (Nick B. from here on out), look way less tired than most.

This blogger needs more caffeine, the directors have done their draw of plays and actor draw is in 20+ minutes. I'm excited on the inside.. I'm sure more coffee will help..

GOOD MORNING KAMIKAZE!!!

So it's 8:30 a.m. here at the Erickson Theater and blogger Angel Welter and I are yelling at each other across the empty house.  When I pulled up in front of the theater the first person I saw was Zoey Belyea, (who also admonished me for misspelling her name last night; apologies to all. IT'S GONNA HAPPEN PEOPLE. Get off my jock. That's why we have the edit button.) Sorry, back to what I was saying.....Virgin Writer Zoey Belyea's thoughts this morning, "I feel okay.  I feel......glerglemefthflaf. ugh.. I feel like I like it...um... I don't know if I was trying ...I'm play number 6 and I feel like I had a safe spot and didn't have to stress out about doing something funny". Considering that Zoey was basically breast fed by 14/48 it's reassuring that she's still got some butterflies.

Sleep.. Like Butter

Before we leave for the night, playwright and actor, Colleen Robertson, offers me a blog idea.

"There's some sort of parallel between when you can't sleep before you're convicted, when your fate is undetermined and you toss and turn the night before.. Last night I tossed and turned. Tonight, my fate is sealed. I know I'm screwed. I'm gonna sleep like a baby. I've seen this game before. It's never pretty though."

I say, "It's never pretty? But it's acting right? You got this."

She replies, "Like the year I was the tuba or the year I was Sarah Palin?"

Honestly, in my opinion, only Tina Fey and Colleen could really pull off Sarah Palin. Seriously. Only so many people have the features that could resemble her and that director was lucky he/she (?) pulled Colleen that day. She was brilliant.

She continues, "Anyway, I think there's a parallel there. Last night I couldn't go to bed.. and now I'm gonna sleep.. like butter."

I don't know what that's like exactly, but I wish you all a sleep like that tonight. See you at 8am tomorrow!

Tackling the Organic Produce Curve Ball

Ok, I don't have to write a play tonight, so I have some time to deal with the curve ball that New Roots Organics threw our way. I asked them to include some item or items not on our usual donation list - kraft services embracing the spirit of 14/48 risk taking.

I got a call from Alex Samuels this afternoon that amounted to, "We have no idea what these things in the New Roots box even are." Turns out they are garlic scapes, which I have never prepared. They included a bag of crookneck squash, which I have also never prepared, but squash is squash, right?

I consulted with the lovely and culinarily talented Erin Bryn Fetridge and Kerri Brown-Wooster, and based one their advice, I have a plan. I don't know if it is a good one.

Erin says garlic scapes will be sweeter if they are charred or caramelized a bit, so I'm doing to dice some of them and do a short, high-heat saute. Then I am going to cube the squash, toss it and the scapes with olive oil, black pepper, and a touch of cinnamon and nutmeg. After a quick roast, I'm going to chill it all and serve it as a cold salad finished with feta cheese.

Boom. I'll let you know how it goes. At least it keeps my mind off the fact I am a virgin actor.

Aaaand, I just tinkled down my leg. Again. Already.

UPDATE: Nailed it, at least phase one. I may have under-utilized the garlic scapes, but actors are gonna be all up in each others faces tomorrow, so I erred to the side of caution. Also subbed cardamom for the nutmeg. Smells delicious. Fine line on roasting/broiling vegetables for the cold presentation. Plan to finish it with both feta and lemon juice - needs a last sharp note, and balsamic probably too sweet and overpowering.

Now, I gotta pack a costume bag and maybe even sleep.

As our intrepid blogger races to congratulate our Mazen winner Erin Stewart, she foolishly leaves her computer open and unattended.
MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
Room full of very excited people vacillating between scared witless and SUPER excited!
And now she's busy smack-talking the talent. color me surprised.

The Learning Curve

Megan starts it off, "This might freak out Shawn and Jodi, but I'm hijacking the meeting." So we take a few extra minutes to honor the people that 'set the standard' for 14/48, Shawn Belyea and Jodi-Paul Wooster. Hell yeah! They're given half yard glass steins for their beers. Jason Harber offers to fill them! Sweet!

AND NOW - FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT!

Shawn says, "There's not a 14/48 way.. be open.."

Peter adds, "It's all about collaboration. You all are here for each other."

A little discussion about the five disciplines - and Shawn, himself, is going to draw tonight as well!

Actor: Only three people are terrified to pull the acting discipline and Shawn asks a few people what their most challenging thing was as an actor in 14/48. Karen Jo Fairbrook says going up on her lines, Sam Hagen confesses he pasted his lines once into a newspaper he was using as a prop. Brendan Felker adds the most important piece of advice, "Trust the people you're working with." Truth!

Designer: Two people are excited to pull the design card! OK! The right costume or prop can make the play. He asks Cole Hornaday to provide advice, who says without taking a beat, "Honestly, if there are no pissing unicorns, we're all good." Ok then.

Director: Most important thing about directing for 14/48, Jose Amador says, "Preparation.. as quickly as possible." Any nightmares, he asks Aimée, who says, "Not letting the actors have enough time to learn their lines. Between 3pm and 6pm, you gotta leave them alone." Right.. smart! "It's not about control. It's about working as hard as you can together.. " reminds Shawn.

Band: Almost everyone is psyched to be in the band. Annie Jantzen and Nate are leading. Shawn asks Shane the best part of being in the Kamikaze band last time who says, "The crazy costumes." And, he adds, working with Alyssa Keene. Also? The 14/48 Band is dead. The band will be coming up with a new name each night. Whoo hoo!

Playwright: People are excited to write, like whoa! Chris Haddad says, "It's scary as fuck to go home and do it but so satisfying." And if you draw play #7, "..you're the closer! You gotta bring it home!" Shawn says. More advice from Jonah von Sprecken, "More importantly than thinking of entertaining, is to have heart. Put heart into the play." Exactly.

Another note from our fearless leader, "At any given moment, you are not the smartest person in the room." Well, humility is always a good thing.

My fellow blogger and steering committee member, Erin, chimes in, "Go into it with joy."

Yes, please. Way more fun that way.. so let's do this!

And spontaneously, that is the new tagline - 14/48 Kamikaze: PULL IT WITH JOY!

Can hardly wait until tomorrow! Y'all get some sleep!

Actors, Writers, Directors - Oh My!

Forgive any typos. Just going in order of the draw! Yippee! And I've had some wine. Hope I got everyone.

Shawn Belyea - Veteran Actor
Ashley Bagwell - Virgin Playwright - Damn!
Aimée Bruneau - Veteran Director
Susanna Burney - Veteran Director
Nick Edwards - Veteran Actor
Zoey Belyea - Virgin Playwright - Yeah!
Karen Jo Fairbrook - Veteran Actor
Brandon Felker - Virgin Director
Troy Fishnaller - Veteran Actor
Cole Hornaday - Virgin Actor!
Mark Fullerton - Veteran Director
Jonah Von Spreecken - Veteran Actor
Lyam White - Virgin Director!
Chris Haddad - Veteran Playwright
Joe Zavadil - Virgin Director!
Sam Hagen - Veteran Actor
Joanna Horowitz - Veteran Actor
Allison Strickland - Veteran Actor
Kathy Hsieh - Virgin Director
Allison Scadron-Branner - Veteran Actor
Jim Jewell - Virgin Actor
Colleen Robertson - Veteran Actor
Alyssa Keene - Veteran Actor
Shane Regan - Veteran Actor
Mik Kulman - Virgin Playwright!
Wayne Rawley - Virgin Actor! Whoo hoo!
Darian Lindle - Veteran Playwright
Beth Raas - Virgin Actor! (She's no virgin)
Troy Lund - Veteran Actor
Beth Petersen - Veteran Playwright
Pamala Mijatov - Veteran Actor
Brian Neel - Veteran Actor
Jeff Page - Veteran Actor
Tim Moore - Veteran Actor
Dawson Nichols - Veteran Playwright
Scotto Moore - Veteran Actor

Bad ass!!

The first of many comments based on fear...

Mik Kuhlman " I've never written a play. Is there a form on line or something?"

Theme Drawing Kamikaze

Friday night's theme: Departures.
(possibly submitted by Troy Fischnaller)

We've got a lot of Band and Designer Virgin's and one used up old...I mean Veteran.

Band and Designers
Jose Amador Virgin Band
Rachel Atkins Virgin Designer
Lorilee Haener Virgin Band
James Venturini Virgin Designer
Erin Stewart Virgin Band
Tracy Hyland Veteran Band
Andrew McMasters Virgin Designer

Here Comes the Kamikaze Mazen- Erin Stewart

Shawn is gushing about this Festival's Mazen award winner.
Erin Stewart!
She is obviously stunned and is getting mushy and we love her hard.
If you don't know Erin Stewart, you should. She is one of the funniest, funnest and giving-est actors around.
"everyone is here because we want to make fun stuff"
"I didn't go to camp"

No One Wants To Design.

All the artist are being asked what discipline they are excited and/or nervous to pull. Two people raised their hands out of about 50 indicating they'd be psyched to design. Needless to say there's gonna be some really exciting work going on in design this time around.  Scotto Moore just indicated he has zero design or visual skills. I rest my case. This is gonna be so amazing.
Shawn is continuing down the list of disciplines and asking people to give their experience, feedback and knowledge. But what I'm noticing apart from the great past experiences the artists are sharing is just how calm and intense the whole room is right now. None of the these folks are 14/48 virgins, in fact most are far from it and it shows. But not in a jaded, "I've done this before" kind of way but in a "I'm excited, scared as shit and dear god I love this fucking festival".
Conversations continue about who's excited about pulling what discipline but what I notice is the genuine engagement and joy in the room.
Kamikaze: Pull it with Joy.

Jodi Paul and Shawn just got the artist meeting hijacked by Megan who is presenting them on behalf of the festival with 2 half yard steins to commemorate just how far this festival has come with their leadership and guidance. The steins are inscribed with some sentimental stuff that was glossed over fairly quickly. There was a lot of oohing and ahhing and now Shawn is giving a speech about how his heart is big and now he his introducing all the staff and volunteers and everything is pretty much back to normal.
I have to say, it's nice to see some love headed in Jodi and Shawn's direction. They make it look easy and it allows all the artists to play with abandon because they know they're supported no matter what.

Side Note: Jason Harber needs beer pouring lessons if anyone is in the neighborhood.

Intimate thoughts by EBF

As a member of the Steering Committee I think it's important that all of the SC members get a chance to put ourselves into the different positions that come along during the fest. So, yeah,  I'm blogging this weekend. And you know what? I'm oddly nervous and excited in a way I haven't been for a while. I want to do justice to the gauntlet thrown down by Teri "meow"  Lazzara with her short, stylish film montages from last fest. It's not gonna be easy but if you know me I love a challenge.
Prosecco helps, fyi.

HERE WE GO!!!!

The room is dark except for Anthony Winkler's lovely little documentary being presented for our enjoyment as we kick off KAMIKAZE 2013. This artist meeting is not starting out like any I've seen in my 13 years of the fest. FUCK YES.

How to "win" 14/48 by Pamala Mijatov

Pamala Mijatov just suggested that we add an additional element to the festival. An unusual prop that if you figure out a way to insert into your play, you "win" the festival. Because yes, that is the goal.

KAMIKAZE 2.0!

Holy crap! Nothing excites me more than 14/48 - unless it's 14/48 Kamikaze because the anticipation is palpable, the nerves a little  jittery and the smiles extra wide.

The keg has been tapped, though I have a party cup full of red wine (thank YOU, Megan Ahiers!), people are chatting and we are minutes from beginning the madness.

AND I have a lovely and sexy partner in crime for keeping up with the happenings and memorable quips this time - Ms. Erin Bryn Fetridge! Who's excited now?! ME! Or is that the wine? I'm kind of a lightweight.

We are almost off and running.. Ooooooooh! Thrilling!

Artists are starting to show up and act nonchalant.

Mik Kuhlman is here visiting from NYC! Very exciting. She brought an "instrument". Susanna Burney looks dubious. Either way it's gonna be used in a show with out a script. Natch.

New Roots Organics treat us right!

Jim Jewell just sent told me New Roots Organics just gave us Garlic Scapes and Crook Neck Squash.

So yeah, Mfer's we're getting all fancy up in here.