 Sorry for the late update! With the Jewish holidays, things have been particularly busy at this moment. I'm therefore "checking in" for this month instead of my usual longer update.
My play MAGIC is coming along smoothly, SOCIOPATH ROOMMATE is too, internship at National Yiddish Theater Folksbiene is great, I started a producer class at TRU (Theater Resources Unlimited) where I'll be learning a lot for the next 11 months, and I hosted a cold reading series at The Artist Co-Op. Media: I was quoted in an article about faith in modern orthodoxy: Faith and Doubt Among Young Modern Orthodox. You'll have a warmer update from me next month. Chag Sameach! (Happy holidays!)
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This past August got off to a fast start and continued at an even faster pace. The first Sunday of the month was the sold out gala for MAGIC? The event included a brilliant music performance (Kelly, Marcel and David), delicious snacks including cupcakes by Chloe’s, a superb bar (by Chelsea Davis), our actors, and a dazzling view. Amazing photographers Emily Chan and Amy Marin captured it all. View Emily’s here. View Amy’s here. The success you see in the photos is owed to the supportive and generous attendees who came to the gala – thank you to all those who took the time to show support for my, Kelly and Christopher’s work. Also, thank you to the cast, musicians, volunteers, and hosts who formed the large yet seamless staff.  August’s gala gave us more than great photos: it raised the funds to make a deposit for a theater! That’s right, MAGIC? will be happening mid-February in midtown Manhattan (more details to follow at a later time). Along with the financial progress of the show, Christopher and I have begun revising the script, which needs a rewrite. Kelly has begun composing the music as well. This revision will be an enormous effort: about 75 pages, which, given the complexity of writing rhymed, metered drama, will take our team about two hours per page – an estimated 150 hours for this revision, alone. Nonetheless, Christopher and I will persist and complete the next draft of MAGIC? before long!  I’ve also developed a new play, SOCIOPATH ROOMMATE, which I started writing last month. I had a table read mid-August and got some great feedback, which I’ve included in a revision. For the meantime, I’m going to let this draft “marinate” while I focus on revising MAGIC? It feels good to have completed something (complete at least for now – scripts are rarely “finished”).
In other news, I’ve begun interning at National Yiddish Theater Folksbiene – the major Off-Broadway production company behind AMERIKE THE GOLDEN LAND. Their calendar is packed with high quality events and shows, so there’s always something happening. Working with their production team is an incredibly meaningful experience – and highly educational, as well.  Speaking of educational experiences, I’ve reviewed A KREUTZER SONATA; check it out here: LINK. Almost lastly, I’m taking a breather from Write the Night. While the project was incredibly fulfilling, it had begun to demand a larger commitment from me – preventing me from focusing as much as I’d like on production. Other opportunities, better aligned with my goals, have presented themselves. The trick with working on several projects at once, is to monitor which are succeeding, which need work, and which to put on hold. Write the Night falls into the last category. Actually lastly, thank you to the 44 people who donated to MAGIC?
Until next month… Cheers! “Before anything else, preparation is the key to success.”  Most of what I did this past month could fall into the category of preparation. My biggest aim as of lately is getting my show MAGIC to an Off-Broadway stage. To accomplish this, my collaborators Christopher Erlendson, Kelly Catlin, and I are producing a showcase production for industry professionals. To accomplish this, we are fundraising – a vital step in preparing for our venture. For those that received a phone call or text message with an exuberant request for a donation, you’ve already heard why fundraising is vital for a project like MAGIC?. Because our goal for the show to garner investors and create a commercially viable product, raising pre-investment capital allows for a higher value product and can potentially bring in more investments later. Alexander Graham Bells’ quote above, regarding preparation, has significance in this respect – that a successful production requires much preparation, the first being an extra push at its beginning. I must thank those who recognized the importance of this moment and donated in our first month of efforts. A special thank you to our “Magician level” donors: Christine Catlin, Cindy Vail, Dasi Gobioff, Emma Lieberman, Izzy Gilden, Jons Besch, Justin Niederman, Larry Rinkel, Liam Unger, Mordy Siegel, Soloman Rosenzweig, Zoe Laidlaw. A special thank you to our general donors: Adam Orlow, Baila Kornbluth, Ben Grodensky, Chaim Gluck, Chavie Fleisher, Ethan Scheinberg, Jacqueline Legazcu, Jake Cohen, Kara Cutruzzula, Marc Gerstein, Michael Guggenheim, Michael Halpern, Michael Wilhelm, Michael Ziegler, Moshe & Ilona Bressler, Nosson Warman, Rache Shadruz, Sam Weinberger, Samuel Boland, Stefanie Amanda Lai, Yisroel Pupko, Yonah Danzig, Yoni Akerman. Thanks to the gallant people above, our project has been able to raise almost $3,000! This is enough money for us to put down a deposit on a theater space and begin planning our November production. You can still donate and add your name to this list of brilliant supporters. Funds would go towards marketing costs, specifically high quality graphic design and online distribution. Consider contributing here.  Me at the space where the gala will be held. To supplement and celebrate our fundraiser, Christopher, Kelly, and I are hosting a fundraiser gala to raise money and awareness for the project. The event will take place on a rooftop in the West Village with a 360° view of the Manhattan skyline and will feature live music from the show composed by Kelly, an open bar with the talented mixologist Chelsea Davis, delicious vegan cupcakes from Sweets by Chloe, a diverse vegetable spread, professional photographers Emily Chan and Amy Marin, and more! It’s not surprising our gala quickly sold out. Stay tuned on social media for a livestream and photos of the event! In other less exciting news, I’ve begun writing a new play – for the fun of it. It’s titled SOCIOPATH ROOMMATE where living with a sociopath is a dark comedy. The story centers around three adults with different mild (or so they appear) mental illness living together in NYC. Friction ensues when their internal struggles boil over onto each other forcing these roommates to confront both their own and each other’s mental illnesses or terminate their lease and find new places to live. The theme I attempt to address is the positive aspect of being communicative and transparent about one’s struggles. Also, that some people are dangerous to live with. I’ve also started writing reviews (I call them analysis) for some shows I’ve seen and had strong reactions to. This past month I’ve reviewed 1984 on Broadway and AMERIKE THE GOLDEN LAND Off-Broadway. You can read my reviews here LINK.  Write the Night is continuing well. With help from Dana Espinosa, WTN has expanded to include an advanced writers workshop. Our feedback, via questionnaires, proves this workshop to be highly popular, so we will be including more of these in the future. Attend one, bring material from a project you’re working on, get feedback from other writers, and grow! Next workshop is August 22nd, click here to register. Until next month… Cheers!
This month showed me that one flourishes when their personal and financial affairs are in order. The month prior, I had taken a hiatus from my creative projects to work out some personal and financial situations. This turned out to be a sound investment, resulting in an incredibly productive June.  Chris, Kelly, and me at TRU's Writer Producer Speed Date. My month began with production meetings with my collaborators Chris Erlendson and Kelly Catlin for our all-rhyming scored play, MAGIC?. These meetings were intense organizing and planning sessions. Such planning was informed by similar content of industry events hosted by the Commercial Theater Institute (CTI) and Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU), two exceptional organizations that offer resources to theater creators and producers. We attended two such events. A 1-day course on “Small Productions,” which focused both on how to successfully produce small scale productions as well as how to use such productions to scale up a show. And, “Writer Producer Speed Date” where writers make elevator pitches to big time producers, speed dating style, in response to which producers provide improvement feedback. Such resources are vital in our development of MAGIC?  An event hosted by CTI. Using these insights, Chris, Kelly and I revisited our MAGIC? concept and target audience. We’re now more confident that our show has potential to be successful in an Off-Broadway venue. We plan to accomplish this by producing a small production of MAGIC? around November. This production would be used as a showcase for the Off-Broadway industry, giving us material to pitch to producers and investors. This steep goal of an Off-Broadway debut is based partly on our estimation that MAGIC? is a work of high quality, with a clear message for a reachable target audience. Another factor for this goal is the intelligence and motivation of my collaborators Christopher and Kelly. They are among the most intelligent and determined people I know. That, along with their strong work ethic and artistic abilities, make them ideal partners for this collaboration. Our next step of a small production, however, cannot take place without help. We need family and friends to help us with this developmental production in November. We’ve therefore launched a fundraiser campaign on Indiegogo, where contributions go directly to the funding of our November production. We’re also hosting a gala for those who donate $50 (tickets need to be purchased separately). I ask you to kindly consider donating to this cause – an investment both in a playwright and his themes.  Our Indiegogo fundraiser page is live!  Also, here is the latest description of MAGIC?: Politics and magic collide in an all rhyming underscored play about magic. In a world where people rely on potions and flying brooms, chaos ensues when magicians begin losing their powers. Unable to uncover the true cause of this phenomenon, the government resorts to saving its own image with a plot to scapegoat two traveling street performers. Facing arrest, the street performers must decide whether to flee as fugitives or expose the government’s amorality. MAGIC? explores how a thirst for power leads to a lack of transparency and accountability in government. This show deals with some of the darkest problems we face today as a wholesome, family-friendly style. MAGIC?’s live music conveys magic beyond the ability of words. Originally written for classical flute, the score is being revised for strings.
So there’s my June. I’m amazed at how productive and focused this past month has been. I owe it to the motivated people in my life and their inspiration, the guidance of those more experienced, and my friends. I’m also grateful for the step back I took last month to focus on personal and financial situations. Cheers –Yaakov  A special thank you to all the friends who joined me for the amazing performance of INDECENT on Broadway. (If you're looking to see an amazing show, see it before it closes August 6th.)  There's nothing like a smile to brighten a day – positivity is key. May was a time of personal and financial growth for me. It’s difficult to be creative, let alone be anything, without financial and personal well-being. My experience tells me that when going through trying circumstances to focus on resolving them and to focus on creativity and productivity after. As mentioned in last month’s update, I had been going through a personal situation which grew difficult in April, peaking as an anticipated crisis in May and is now entirely resolved. Allowing myself to focus on resolving and troubleshooting that difficulty without pressuring myself to create has allowed me to tackle this personal issue head-on and emerge emotionally intact. As for finances, last summer I headed a project that experienced significant financial losses. New to the field, I had invested money into the project and when it went red, so did my finances. This loss turned to be an incredible learning experience and I emerged more knowledgeable on business of entertainment. Nonetheless, my bank account suffered and without funds an artist cannot create. So after reorganizing my finances, I began a second job to earn back the money I had lost. Proudly, as of June 1st I am out of debt. With my personal and financial well-being secured, I can focus my next month on pushing my projects forward. This coming month, Christopher Erlendson and I will be revising MAGIC? along with building it a business plan so that by October we have a developmental production with hopes of progressing to an Off-Broadway performance sometime after.  There's a lot to be happy about! (Thanks Emily Chan for the great photo.) Further resulting from my financial well-being, I was able to purchase membership to two incredible organizations that will help me progress as a writer and producer: I’ve become a member at The Artist Co-Op – a coworking space for performing artists, uniting New York City’s actors directors, dancers, playwrights, and more, with programs and services to support the performing arts community. Membership will enhance my tools and network for creating work. It also gives me a great environment to work. I’ve also become a member at Theater Resources Unlimited – a nonprofit organization created to help producers produce, emerging theater companies to emerge healthily and all theater professionals to understand and best navigate the business of theater. Membership will further enhance my tools and network for producing work, as well as further orient me with the business of entertainment.  Me and Rachel Berger, Director and Founder of The Artist Co-Op, at the Co-Op's opening celebration. With these items lined up and high quality tools in my repertoire, I feel ready to tackle my projects with full vigor. The lesson this past May teaches me is that it’s sometimes necessary to refocus one’s energy to secure well-being to attain creativity and productivity. Stay tuned, June is looking to be amazing!  April is gone as quickly as the rain it brings. Sometimes life overwhelms you but as April teaches, it passes and brings on sunny days – sometimes which arrive later than expected, but they will arrive! Most of my April was spent preparing for the debut of MAGIC? at Dixon Place. The second half of my April was consumed by a personal issue which has stifled my creativity, productive energy, and emotional wellbeing. Overall, things are looking positive as I pass through the transitory month of April but to refuse to acknowledge the difficulty I’ve been experiencing would be being dishonest with myself. The work required for production of MAGIC? was gargantuan. Firstmost, the script needed completion, a revision, and then some tidying up – all of which took place at an alarmingly fast pace. Christopher Erlendson and I spent many late evenings in downtown Manhattan sometimes working as late as 1AM. Our brilliant collaborator Kelly Catlin composed some amazing music for the piece from an outline of a draft we provided to her ahead of time. Once the script was complete, she fine-tuned her music to match our words. At last, the script came together and then the real work began for our cast and creative crew to begin building the show from words to a performance. Honestly, much after finalizing the script was a dizzying whirl for me. I like to say that I’m a writer and that my role (aside from Producer roles) ends there. Christopher really took the reins thereafter as the Director and led the production into rehearsals, working with our talented Stage Mangers Jane Silverstein and Devorah Merkin, Costume Designer Elizabeth Seaver, and highly talented cast: Amanda Boekelheide, Victoria Giambalvo, Yasmine Schancer, Emma Lieberman, Sarah Teed, Hannah Yi, Matthew Axel.  The approach of our production process was different than the past in that Christopher and I decided to utilize this production as a developmental instrument in which we would try new approaches, designs, and outreach. This included rehearsing in sections: an overall familiarization of the script, rehearsing with a partially completed script, and with a complete manuscript. This method proved effective given the final period had more than 10 days of work – which it did. As for design, our approach was to choose major points of investment and cover the other areas with short term solutions – this took form as a simple set with extravagant costumes – most of which had a high level of design and low level costs. This method proved effective in generating medium quality costumes and set with minimal funds – our focus on the orchestration of available materials rather than the choosing and purchasing of them. In a project with little funding, human hours and available material are in abundance – of which we used abundantly (touché). Lastly, our approach with outreach was one of media, industry professionals, and consumers. This is a complicated process which, I’ve learned through the help of Mike Griffith and David DeAlmo, requires planning, structure, and methodology.  Enough about technicalities, what about the show? It was a smashing success. From the strong acting, to beautifully designed lights, eloquent music, and graceful hand of directorship MAGIC? turned out to be a beautiful and fun piece of entertaining theater. Briefly, MAGIC? is dramatic comedy where a magical world faces a threat of magical powers being lost. When two tricksters arrive with their fake magic show, the government believes they have found the root of the problem. The feedback received from our audience at Dixon Place was positive and voiced scene-specific criticism, suggesting the overall story of the play is in good form. Christopher and I expect to begin revising this in early June. Our single night performance was a ton of fun and a ton of work – requiring completion, revision, and then more revisions of a 70 minute all-rhyming play in under 6 weeks. After the show, I simply collapsed and hit reset on my creative monitor. I spent time meeting with friends, watching plays (Bamboo Bushwick, Last Bite, Oslo), watching movies (Pirates of the Caribbean I, II, and III), and reading books. Another reason for my collapse after MAGIC? is a personal difficulty regarding my living situation. Simply, my living space in Harlem is going through a transition which will be complete by the end of May – until, has been causing me significant amount of anguish. This situation is resolved but as most complicated things, it is in a timely process playing itself out to resolution. The result is a continuous presence of negativity in my living space – a significant factor in the well-being of any person, including (perhaps especially) an artist’s. Frankly, I have been feeling devoid of productivity, emotional availability, and creativity from this situation. May 31st is when this will be over – a short month away. In the meantime, I will focus on positive energy from friends, mentors, family, and art. On a completely different note, I have been studying war, peace, and strategy on an academic level (for no reason other than interest). I started reading a book a while ago on military maneuvers and have been hungry for knowledge on the matter since. I hope to incorporate this knowledge into my purview of artistic expression soon but in the meanwhile, I will pursue my interests without investigating them too scrutinously. On a final note, my talented friend Emily Chan helped me with a new headshot! She also helped design my new business card. Isn’t she amazing?  Thank you for following and being part of this journey with me!
-Yaakov March has passed and the weather is picking up. It’s easy to forget the piles of snow that sat collecting dirt on the streets of NYC during this month as the temperature rises – and the easier it is to forget, I say, the better. This month has been fast paced and productive for me. As mentioned in my last update, my newest piece MAGIC? in collaboration with Christopher Erlendson got accepted for performance to Dixon Place for a mid-April performance. Over this month, Christopher and I have busied ourselves with revising the script – a gargantuan task given that the whole play rhymes. We’ve also partnered up with the talented Kelly Catlin, a world class flutist and composer who will be scoring the show! Additionally, we have completed casting the show, sending out our press release, and creating a promotional video. It has been a lot of work, but that’s what it takes to bring work from a page to a stage. Below is the video we made, featuring some of the artistic goals in creating the work. (Thank you to Mohammed Rabbani for creating this film!)   Details of the show are below: MAGIC? Magical crimes, told in all-rhymes, chaos arrives, will magic survive? See it April 19. Tickets are $15 presale ($12 for students) at http://dixonplace.org/performances/magic/ Synopsis: Strange reports of magicians losing their powers make their way to the royal magistrate. When two tricksters arrive with their fake magic show, the royal magistrate believes they have found the root of the problem. Facing arrest, the two escape to a mystical forest where they discover the true cause of why magic is disappearing. Having to choose between risking the wrath of the royal court or taking their discovery to their graves, the tricksters must decide whether saving a kingdom is more important than saving themselves.  March was also exciting in that I was interviewed by a student in Brooklyn College for my writing and involvement with Write the Night (a creative writing workshop series). The article focuses on my dedication to the creative arts and my change in career from medicine to the arts. One special person mentioned in the article is Dean Maria Conelli who has provided continuous support to my pursuit of this craft and has helped me shape my experience in medicine as contributory to my vision as an artist – a hearty thank you! (A photo of the two us, from my days as an undergraduate is to the right.) You can read the full article here. Another one of my shows JUNG & CRAZY in collaboration with Robert Keller, was aimed for production this June at the Hollywood Fringe Festival, with details to be finalized early March. After much deliberation, Robert and I have agreed to cancel the show’s debut. This was a tough decision, but after weighing all the costs and benefits, we realized it would be a great strain to put on the show and we’d rather wait for a better opportunity with fewer obscurities in production. Such a decision, I think, is demonstrative of growth in both Robert and I as creators in that we are weighing each opportunity, investigating its costs and benefits and being selective about presentation. By making the most out of our presentation, we will result in higher quality experience for ourselves and our audiences. Thanks for following! I hope to see you at the April performance of MAGIC? If you cannot make it, do not despair. This is but one stop along the train of performances and this work amongst my others are sure to perform again soon! Cheers! -Yaakov Bressler  February is usually a tough time for me to stay focused and productive. The weather and short days of this time of year usually puts me in a lull where I feel immobilized and lethargic. This February, however, was different in that I surrounded myself with positive and energetic people and was able to overcome my usual hebetude. Also, my collaborators were helpful in keeping me present, focused, and positive – thank you Robert and Christopher. I began the month by attending a Write the Night workshop (on Feb 1st) – I find that being around other writers make me more productive and energetic, necessary items in the lull of winter. The workshop series which aims at cultivating a creative community in NYC is completely free and takes place about once a week around NYC. In the first week of February, I had a developmental staged reading of MAGNIFICENT SCIENTIFIC (a drama about medical research) in from of a sold out audience. The audience at the reading was extraordinarily helpful and provided exceptional feedback. I know what needs to be done to complete the next draft of the script and am currently at work in doing so. The development reading of MAGNIFICENT SCIENTIFIC went wonderfully thanks to the exceptional actors and attendees. Cast from L to R: Victoria Giambalvo, Nathaniel Moore, Jazmin Williams, James Lorenzo, Eric Kirchberger, Aron Landy, Matthew Axil. Mid-Febrary, I held another developmental staged reading of JUNG & CRAZY (a dark comedy about love, anxiety, and the ghost of Carl Jung) in NYC. My writing partner Robert Keller just moved to LA so he was unable to make it – but thanks to technology, he was able to command a virtual presence. The two of us got great feedback from this audience and got what we need to complete our next draft. Also, Robert and I are taking JUNG & CRAZY to the Hollywood Fringe Festival this June – after our reading, we began planning our summer production! The development reading of JUNG & CRAZY went wonderfully thanks to the exceptional actors and attendees. Cast included: David Cutler, Stephanie Chloe Hepner, Danny Hoffman, Adam Schroeder.  Development performance at LIC Secret Theater. Victoria Giambalvo (L) as MAGICIAN APPRENTICE, Mike Simmer (R) as MAGICIAN Christopher Erlendson and I applied some lengthy hours to writing MAGIC? (an all-rhyming absurdist drama suitable for children and adults about magic, creativity, and discovery) and are nearing completing a first draft.This is way ahead of expected schedule because (dramatic music swells) the show was invited to perform at Dixon Place on April 19th! Dixon Place is a venue dedicated to the emerging artist – Christopher and I are very grateful to receive this opportunity to present our work. Over the next 2 months, we will finalize our script, cast and design the show – we have our work cut out for us! Put it in your calendar for now (Wednesday evening, 7:30PM April 19th 2017) – tickets will be available at a later point. Lastly, my friend Florence Kim interviewed me for The Arts at Henson-Parks, a non-for profit dedicated to the arts in the community. Read the full article here. Thanks Florence for the writeup!  Thanks for following! Stay positive and surround yourself by good people. (Cats count.) Apollo and I say hello from Harlem.
Cheers! -Yaakov Bressler January and 2017 has gotten off to a wonderful start. Let me fill you in on what happened this past month and what you can expect in February.  January began with my traveling up to Toronto to develop JUNG & CRAZY (a dark comedy about love, anxiety, and the ghost of Carl Jung) with my writing partner, Robert Keller. I was there for 4.5 days in which time Robert and I revised the first act and wrote the second. Such a pace was intensely rigorous but we got it done! At the end of my stay, we had a staged reading of the first act (for development towards Fringe production) with incredible actors and excellent feedback. Robert and I are further revising the script and are presenting the latest draft at a staged reading on February 19th in NYC. Details can be found here: LINK  The development reading of JUNG & CRAZY went wonderfully thanks to the exceptional actors and attendees. Cast from L to R: Vicki Kim, Robert Keller, Jerome Bourgault, Alona Metzer. For most of the rest of the month, I revised MAGNIFICENT SCIENTIFIC (a second time, I couldn’t help myself). The script is a drama about medical research and aims at exposing some of its problems. I am presenting this at a staged reading on Feb 6 (tickets including standby are completely sold out – people care about this project!). I’ll let you know next month how it went! The script MAGIC? (a family-friendly drama about magic and creativity in all rhymes) which I am collaborating with Chris Erlendson is on its way to completion. We are currently 25% finished the script and should have a first draft completed mid March.  WRITE THE NIGHT a creative writing workshop/community grown out of Brooklyn College's STUCK IN THE LIBRARY has officially launched its expansion in NYC. With over 6 workshops each month, the initial stage of adding this writing to community to NYC’s creative-sphere has been taken. Join me for a writing workshop if you’d like! They are 60 minutes in length, free to attend, and open to writers of all levels. For more information and register visit: www.WritetheNight.org
Thanks for following up! Hopefully February will prove to be just as rewarding as January. Come out to join me for a reading or writing workshop. Stay warm!
-Yaakov Bressler December has been a crazy month! Thanks for checking in, let me fill you in on what happened this past month and what you can expect in January.
The short play MAGIC? is being extended into a full 60 minute script in a new collaboration between the piece's director Chris Erlendson and myself. Moving forward, Chris and I aim to write the piece together sharing writer responsibilities -- Chris will retain his Director's cap and I hope to acquire an Assistant Director's hat. The extended piece is a lot sweeter, rhythmic, and magical than the original 10 minute version. Here, Chris and I take the viewer into a world where magic, a once overadbundant commodity, is vanishing. A group of charlatan magicians who use their imaginations to perform tricks get framed as culprits of negating magic when in fact they were doing nothing wrong! How these vegabonds rediscover true magic and prove to the kingdom its use is a magical story we hope to tell in entire rhyme! Timeline of this project is still being determined!
MAGNIFICENT SCIENTIFIC, a drama about medical research is in its final stages of revision after a closed development workshop. This project may seem stagnant because of how quiet I've been about it but in January I will schedule a development reading (when and where to be determined) and will kick off some serious work on this script. After the first week of January, draft 3 of this script will be complete -- a gargantuan accomplishment given the script is 85 pages long and is being rewritten for its the 3rd time. Yes, that's a lot of writing but even more yesses, that's a lot of revising. Soon you will help me get to draft 4 and 5!
Thanks for following up! Hopefully January will prove to be just as rewarding as December. Wishing you a happy New Year. 2017 is here, and so are you! Let's make things happen. -Yaakov Bressler |
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