A shorter version of this year-in-review was e-mailed to my Newsletter recipients earlier this week. I can often be hard on myself, focusing only on what else I need to achieve, and staring at task lists and check boxes in order to feel like I'm getting somewhere. I can feel like I'm falling behind or failing or not doing enough. So these kinds of reviews help me see the things that I have accomplished, and remind me to take a moment and be proud of my work.
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I want to start by acknowledging that for many of my friends and colleagues, 2017 has been a very difficult year. I know too many people who have felt the ripple effects of political policies that seem to strengthen messages of hate and bigotry, rather than freedom and diversity. Additionally, there seems to have been an onslaught of natural disasters this year that continues to this day with the Southern California Fires.
Still, in the face of these trials and traumas, I have also seen amazing creative work flourish around me. I am honored to be part of a theatre community that is committed to being bold and unrelenting in its story- and truth-telling. 2017 has also yielded much fruit for me in my writing endeavors. Here's just a snapshot of highlights by month:
JANUARY
Bad Kitty On Stage! opens at TYKEs in Rochester, NY
Conducted in-class workshops for Story Explorers
FEBRUARY
World premiere of Story Explorers at Bay Area Children's Theatre
MARCH
Invited as a Guest Speaker at UC Berkeley to discuss Story Explorers
Helped out as a "Resume Doctor" at the Theatre Bay Area Conference
APRIL
Workshop of The Four Immigrants at Playwrights Foundation
MAY
World premiere of Step Up Crew begins touring Bay Area schools
Bad Kitty On Stage! opens at the Gifford Family Theatre in Syracuse, NY
Table Reading of Song of the Nightingale at Town Hall Theatre
JUNE
Rehearsals for The Four Immigrants begins at TheatreWorks
JULY
World premiere of The Four Immigrants at TheatreWorks - my first LORT Production
AUGUST
First Table Read of Inside Out & Back Again at Bay Area Children's Theatre
SEPTEMBER
The Song of the Nightingale opens at Town Hall Theatre
OCTOBER
Taught a "Song-aturgy" class at Musical Cafe
NOVEMBER
The Four Immigrants receives the Theatre Bay Area Award for Outstanding World Premiere Musical
DECEMBER
Workshop for Inside Out & Back Again at Bay Area Children's Theatre
Now onward to 2018!