August 12th, 2010
Hello Blog Readers,
For those interested in the theater world, Jeremy Wechsler is doing something interesting next weekend and I think it’s just so gosh-darn good it’s worth plugging here. He’s hosting the Chicago Theater (anti-) Conference at his lovely space, Theater Wit (which incidentally, WE are renting for Theories of the Sun, so HOLLER!). I got an email about the conference this morning and there are some wonderful people speaking at it, so yeah, you should go.
“Anti Conference? A Conference against conferences? Say what?” you might ask. I think the point of this theater loving party is to give young, busy, poor theater professionals a chance to mingle, network, and learn from their peers. It’s cheap too! The weekend pass is only $32. AND they feed you. You can basically say you are going to feed me just about anything and I will show up to whatever you are doing. At your house, late at night. Peering into your window while you cook spaghetti. With food, there are no rules.
So here’s my not asked for two cents on why I like the idea of this anti-Conference. I know you are dying to know.
I think Jeremy is structuring the conference to not be just about lectures, but he says in his email he wants to “maximize communication.” He is providing an environment with tons of opportunities to ask theater professionals, who you might not readily have access to on a normal day-to-day basis, about your big questions and concerns. And to learn from their experiences. That’s pretty cool.
I’ve always felt a disconnect between the storefront theaters in Chicago. We don’t seem to talk to each other as much as we should. I get why though. I work forty hours a week at a corporate job, then I’m busting my ass to run a non profit theater company (for free!) at night, both managing and learning as I go along. In my personal life, I’m trying to help plan my sister’s wedding, hopefully finding some time to go to the gym, and oh, right, maintain a healthy relationship with my long term partner of almost six years. Throw on top of that bills, the constant battle about if it’s really worth fixing the car or not, sweet Jesus my apartment looks like a bomb hit it, OH SHIT we’re out of groceries, why am I always running low on underwear, DAMN YOU AT&T and your lack of service if I drop another call while talking to my mother I think she will kill me, I CANNOT BELIEVE I have another friend getting married, SAY WHAT SHE’S PREGNANT, and I am JUST NOW watching Breaking Bad because that’s how little TV time I get, when will I ever have the time/energy/money to afford a baby one day thank goodness I’m not pregnant now, etc, etc, etc. So if I’m running a non-profit storefront and my brain space is this crazy, I cannot imagine what my fellow colleagues are experiencing!
Everyone is busy. And I don’t mind. I actually love it. I’m surrounded by driven, fabulous people who want to change the world. That’s pretty cool.
My point? Thanks Jeremy, for getting the theater collaboration party started at an affordable rate so anyone interested can go, not just folks with lots of cash.
I encourage you, interested readers, to make some time the weekend of August 20th to rub elbows with your fellow theater folks. Get all the details here. Sure, you might need to do your laundry at 1am that night, but I think it’ll be worth it. There are some really interesting sessions, there’s FOOD, and some Chicago big hitters to meet.
Will I be there? Oh….no. I’ll be in Philadelphia for my sister’s engagement party. Do as I say, not as I do!
Until next time.
Ms. Megan
Tags: anti conference, conference, sideshow, sideshow blerg, sideshow blog, sideshow theater, sideshow theatre, theater wit, Workshops
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Theories of the Sun makes you want to JUMP JUMP.
OMG! I’m rocking this move!
I can’t tell which leg goes where!
Here at Sideshow, we are pro recycling.
