Working on a show is like a drug...
By Ryan Bogner (Producer, Wingnut)
I just had the pleasure of being hired to produce the workshop of David Byrne and Fatboy Slim's musical HERE LIES LOVE up at Williamstown Theater Festival in collaboration with the wonderful Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art and the Public Theatre.
Photo by Janelle Velasquez
It truly was a unique theatrical experience...and I'm excited to see the work we accomplished fuel the fully realized production at the Public in the Spring.
Now, after 6 or so weeks of pre-production, a week and a half of nyc rehearsals and 3 weeks in residency up in Massachusetts, I'm finally back in NY and finishing up my work on the piece...and my body can't handle it.
As anyone who works in theater knows...the collaborative nature of the art form is what makes it at times challenging but also fun. And on this project I was lucky to be with a huge group of awesome people navigating the challenges.
Now my body doesn't know what to do now that its not working 12 hour days and seeing the same group of artists and theater technicians day in and day out. I'll be onto some other things shortly but the drastic drop and lull in constant work and socialization is palpable. (And I live in Manhattan for god's sake!)
So to feed my addiction I'm heading off to spend more time with the folks I just spent 5 weeks of constant time with to see our Associate Director's show at Ars Nova and for likely post-show methadone cocktails with some of the company. (thank you Andrea Hood for this phrase).
You gotta come down off these highs gradually after all.
RYAN BOGNER is a New York based Theater Producer. He has produced Here Lies Love, Yeast Nation, Hurricane, Hater and Hey, You Know What Movie Would Make a Good Musical? among others, and is working towards an MFA in Theater Management and Producing at Columbia University. www.heyyouknowwhatproductions.com
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