Monday 16 August, 2010

Join us on Sunday, August 22nd!


As the New York theatre community is deep in the throes of FringeNYC over the next several days, we could not think of a better time to call a session. Are you working on a show that you'd like to discuss? Are you excited about the work you are seeing? Is there a creative dilemma you have and you need some feedback? Bring it to D&D NYC this Sunday, August 22nd!

Sunday, August 22
1:00-4:00pm
Actors Movement Studio
302 West 37th St, 6th Flr. (at 8th Avenue)
NYC

Please feel free to RSVP or forward the Facebook invitation to anyone you think may be interested.

In keeping with the tradition of the monthly D&Ds in London, monthly session will only be three hours and will follow the same format. While it is our intention that D&D NYC be a free event, we will have a donation jar for any incidental costs incurred while using the space. (Many thanks again to Janice Orlandi.)

Any notes from the sessions that are sent to us after the meeting will be posted here on the blog.

We hope to see you then!

Wednesday 4 August, 2010

7.18 Is this the right time for sessions? (Is D&D NYC the right idea at the wrong time?)

Convener: Jennifer Wilcox

List of Participants: Jeannie Coutant; Paula D'Alessandris; Susana Manzana; Kate Gibson

Discussion and recommendations:

Paula and I discussed that the time and day of these meetings might be a little inconvenient to other people and how do we get more folks to come out and interested in showing up to this meet-up. She suggested that a survey to the D&D NYC people might help.

Even though we like the idea of the survey, it was agreed that the people present actually like the time and day of the meet up and perhaps it's really just the word of mouth that's getting in the way. Susana pointed out that she didn't realize that these meetings were going on; she was at the January D&D and just found out that there has been this version since February. She plans on coming more often if she is just aware of them. She only received the email and is not much of a Facebook user.

It also occurred to me that not everyone that is in the NYC area is a part of the D&D NYC group but they are for the D&D UK group and non of us posted an invite on the UK page... so it all boils down to invites.

We concluded that the time and of the meeting are fine - we need better distribution. Kevin sent me with the information that he's willing to pitch in on a Playbill ad and Kate Gibson has volunteered to put together a mailing list if someone gives it to her - she says it's not hard, it just takes some time to do.

On an after thought I wonder if we personally have lists to send to Kate so she could compile them all together, not just the D&D people that have been here in the past.

Tuesday 13 July, 2010

D&D NYC: Sunday, July 18th @ 1pm

We hope you can join us for D&D NYC this Sunday, July 18th. Our moderator for this session will be Jennifer Linn Wilcox of Playlab NYC.

Sunday, June 18
1:00-4:00pm
Actors Movement Studio
302 West 37th St, 6th Flr. (at 8th Avenue)
NYC

Please feel free to RSVP or forward the Facebook invitation to anyone you think may be interested.

In keeping with the tradition of the monthly D&Ds in London, monthly session will only be three hours and will follow the same format. While it is our intention that D&D NYC be a free event, we will have a donation jar for any incidental costs incurred while using the space. (Many thanks again to Janice Orlandi.)

Any notes from the sessions that are sent to us after the meeting will be posted here on the blog.

We hope to see you there!

Wednesday 7 July, 2010

Devised Theatre workshop opportunity (July 12-17) at KO Festival of Performance



Hi Fellow D&D Devising Folks!

We've got a couple of slots for Nick Slie's workshop "DEVISED THEATRE: Story Circle & Song as Source" (July 12-17) at the Ko Festival of Performance. that I'm willing to let D&D members fill at a steep discount. Housing is available too.

There are some really cool artists in the workshop, performing or in rehearsal residencies at here at Ko - many of them Network of Ensemble Theatre members. More information can be found on our website www.kofest.com — Come join us!!!

If you are interested, give me a call at 413.417.6147 or email me.

--Sabrina

Sabrina Hamilton
Artistic Director
Ko Festival of Performance
http://www.kofest.com/

Sunday 6 June, 2010

D&D NYC today! 1-4pm


We hope you can join us this afternoon!

Actors Movement Studio
302 W. 37th Street @ 8th Avenue
6th Floor

Wednesday 7 April, 2010

D&D NYC scheduled for Sunday, April 11


Sunday, April 11
1:00-4:00pm
Actors Movement Studio
302 West 37th St, 6th Flr. (at 8th Avenue)
NYC, NY


In keeping with the tradition of the monthly D&Ds in London, this session will only be three hours and will follow the same format. While it is our intention that D&D NYC be a free event, we will have a donation jar for any incidental costs incurred while using the space. (Many thanks again to Janice Orlandi.)

Any notes from the sessions that are sent to us after the meeting will be posted here on the blog.

Facebook Fan Page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Devoted-Disgruntled-NYC/295412117408?ref=mf

Follow us on Twitter!
http://twitter.com/DandDNYC


Monday 22 March, 2010

join MIND THE GAP for World Theatre Day on 3/27

Saturday, March 27th is World Theatre Day and Mind The Gap Theatre is having a party. Drink specials, socializing and networking!

7pm - until it's over
The Crooked Knife
232 W. 14th St (between 7th & 8th)
$4 Well drinks and Margaritas
$3 Miller Lites

You can also buy raffle tickets for a chance to win some fabulous swag including:

- A Mind The Gap bag full of English goodies
- A Steve Irwin talking doll (yes, we have Australians in the company)
- Headshots and retouching courtesy of photographer Marianne Lu
- A one year Theatermania Gold Club membership
- A one year subscription to Time Out

If you're a theatre artist it's a good time to drop off your headshot or a short piece you've written to be considered for their upcoming BRITBITS series. Just drop $1 in the jar! If you're not a theatre artist, just come party. Thespians are highly entertaining even off stage!

Suggested donation at the door $5 which goes to support Mind The Gap's upcoming production of BRITBITS 7.

Tuesday 16 March, 2010

a note from our Devised Theater group

Devising meet-up tonight!
Tuesday, March 16
7-10pm
@ Central Bar
109 E 9th St. (between 4th & 3rd Ave)
NYC, NY


Please join us this evening for an informal gathering of devisors and the devising curious. If you are interested in the Devised Theater sessions, please also join the google group - it allows you to manage how you receive emails and organize the conversations into topics.

Click this link to join:
http://groups.google.com/group/devised-theater-nyc

Hope to see you then!!
Jess + Emily, your devising organizers

3.7 Can we save Carnegie Artist Studios?


Convener: Janice Orlandi
Participants: Janice Orlandi, Gretchen Egolf

Save Your Inheritance and Preserve Our History
- 180 Artist Studios that belong to YOU, the public
- Rare NYC Artist Wrok Spaces about to be destroyed
- Legendary Artists and Master Teachers wrongly evicted
- Help preserve our historic and cultural legacy

Without your help these historic artist studios and their cultural legacy will be lost forever. For more info and to sign the petition please visit http://www.studiotowerartists.com/.

These Artist Studios have been protected by Legislation since 1960 and are now being shut down by NYC and its leasing agent, The Carnegie Hall Corporation. For more than 100 years, a diverse Artist Community has occupied the 180 artist studios above Carnegie Hall. Educators, masters and legends in all art forms including dance troupes, acting studios, drama and voice coaches, painters, musicians, writers, composers, choreographers, photographers, architects and writers. They have energized the halls, attracting artists from across the nation who went on to become world-acclaimed masters in their field.

Please spread the word.

Monday 15 March, 2010

3.7 How do you stop obsessing about where you "should be" in your career and just enjoy the ride?


Convenor: Paula D'Alessandris
Participants: Emily Davis, Emily Hartford, Jennifer Wilcox, Sean Williams, Edward Elefterion, Jessica Hooks

Are our ambitions keeping us from enjoying the journey and if so, how can we overcome the resentment of not being where we think we "should" be?

Some people in the group have come to accept where they are and realize how valuable their work is on any level and some in the group are still struggling with the "I'm not where I'm supposed to be and am angry about that" problem.

Is this a problem that will eventually just go away as we grow as artists; as our life priorities change (addition of family and other pursuits); or is it something we have to actively work on releasing? How do we do that?

So many people "drop off" and out of the theatre circuit at certain points in their life. How do they/we not look at that as failure but as a life choice.

It was suggested that the paradigm will not shift - we may always HAVE to have the dreaded "day job", we may NOT get paid a living wage and that we should try to enjoy where we are without resentment.

Perhaps having the day job is a good outlet FOR the resentment. if you were only doing your art that might eventually become "the job" and then you'd grow to resent that. Maybe day jobs are a blessing in disguise. Your art is therefore never your (in the bad sense) "work". so you can do it longer without burning out.

It was suggested that we should focus on our whole body of work. and see that for the success it is - whether we're being paid to do it or not. View it as a pyramid and see everything we've built and appreciate that. Someone who has success right away is like an arrow shooting straight up. there is no real foundation. Nothing solid beneath that pinnacle.

Perhaps there is never an end goal. As we reach one goal "we move the goal posts farther away" so we are never really satisfied anyway.

Would love more discussion and suggestions on how to deal with "where you are right now" issue.

Suggested Resources:
* Feldenkrais method as a tool for "slowing down and removing the effort"
* read: Creating a Life Worth Living

Sunday 14 March, 2010

What is Devoted & Disgruntled?


A community for theatre artists, arts professionals and audience members to chat, plot and dream.

Prepare to be surprised.