Boston Court’s Michael Seel Has a Proposal for the LA Producer’s League
Colin Mitchell | Jul 08, 2012 | Comments 20 |
Michael Seel. The Dude.
Now.
And make a move.
Now.
Or else be banished into irrelevance.
Forever.
Here’s the gist. Sometimes known as a “thesis”.
Elect a representative group of 7-9 professional producers in the 99-seat arena who will meet with producer representatives of the large and mid-sized theatres to form an exploratory committee. This exploratory committee will recommend by-laws and best practices to the entire body of professional theatre producers for adoption and creation of a Greater Los Angeles Producers’ League.
I could name 10 right now. But I won’t. Because I want to hear from you. Give me 10 names from the 99 Seat World. Let’s see if we can find some consensus. That is all.
Filed Under: colin mitchell • Featured • Ponderings
About the Author: COLIN MITCHELL: Actor/Writer/Director/Producer/Father, award-winning playwright and screenwriter, Broadway veteran, Marvel comics scribe, Van Morrison disciple, Zen-Catholic, a proud U.S. Army Brat conceived in Scotland and born in Frankfurt, Germany, currently living in Los Angeles and doing his best to piss off as many people as possible.
August Viverito and TL Kolman (The Production Company)
Boom.
Here’s some options for the dialogue – folks who have been engaged with attending the last series of meetings – anybody ring any bells? :)
Michael Abramson
Jolene Adams
Alicia Adams
Sara Adelman
Jeryll Adler
Eleanor Albano
Lindsay Allbaugh
Karon Altman
Linda Alznauer
Sam Anderson
Carla Barnett
Lauren Bass
Jaisey Bates
JohnMichael Beck
Rick Bernstein
Nancy Bianconi
Allison Bibicoff
Melina Bielefelt
Drew Blakeman
Gary Blumsack
Greg Borrud
Ron Bottitta
Sean Branney
Dorrie Braun
Candace Brekka
Madison Brightwell
Bill Brochtrup
Drew Brody
Tom Burmester
Danika Burmester
Jenny Byrd
Estelle Campbell
James Carey
Andrew Carlberg
Sean Cawelti
Pavel Cerny
Brett Chapin
Dolores Chavez
Johnny Clark
Avery Clyde
Kevin Cochran
Lisa Coffi
Jon Cohn
Bennett Cohon
Laura Coker
Stephanie Coltrin
Andrew Crabtree
Gregory Crafts
Rick Culbertson
Michelle Danner
Lance Davis
Adam Davis
Nancy Cheryll Davis-Bellamy
Suzanne Dean
Bob Degus
Bart DeLorenzo
Martha Demson
Debbie Devine
Suzi Dietz
Mark Doerr
David Doman
Corky Dominguez
Padraic Duffy
Charles Duncombe
Reena Dutt
Kathleen Eads
Larry Eisenberg
Malik El-Amin
Sabah El-Amin
Tracy Eliott
Amy Ellenberger
DAVID ELZER
James Esposito
Brendan Farrell
Peter Finlayson
Gordon Firemark
John Flynn
David Fofi
Ian Forester
Marilyn Fox
John Gallogly
Suzanne Gardner
Taylor Gilbert
Kim Glann
Maria Gobetti
PINK LADY JACKIE GOLDBERG
Marcy Goldman
Marco Gomez
Matt Graber
Paul Stewart Graham
Mira Greene
Monica Greene
Gabrieal Griego
Gary Grossman
Alexandra Guarnieri
Gedaly Guberek
Gary Guidinger
Ben Guillory
Steve Gustafson
Scott Guy
Jeanie Hackett
Billy Hamilton
Jessica Hanna
Rebecca Hayes
Daniel Henning
Laura Hill
vesna hocevar
Victoria Hoffman
Corey Howe
suzanne hunt
Eugene Hutchins
andrea hutchman
Eric Imley
Jon Imparato
Barry Jenner
Glen Jimenez
Richard Johnson
Jonathan Josephson
STEVE JULIAN
Elizabeth Karr
Brian Kimmel
Steven Klein
Timothy Koch
TL Kolman
Chil Kong
Lia Kozatch
Michael Kricfalusi
Gretchen Krull
David Kurr
John Lacey
Gary Lamb
Racquel Lehrman
Racquel Lehrman
Simon Levy
Jason Loh
Casey Long
Jennifer Lonsway
Constance J. Lopez
Kerr Lordygan
Amelia Lytton
David Mack
Corey Madden
Ronnie Marmo
Ella Martin
Kaz Matamura
Dakin Matthews
Jay McAdams
Helene McCardle
Meghan McCauley
Kevin McCorkle
Matt McCray
Patti McGuire
Michael McIntyre
Debbie McMahon
Rod Menzies
Kevin Meoak
Anne Mesa
sharon michaels
Gaalan Michaelson
Monica Miklas
Paul Millet
Frank Minano
John Money
Gulu Monteiro
Lisa Morgan
Dina Morrone
Ed Murphy
Mikey Myers
Rob Nagle
Odalys Nanin
Mr. Naveen
Oanh Nguyen
Katharine Noon
Tara Norris
Michael OHara
Doug Oliphant
Tom Ormeny
Ovington Owston
Alex Parker
Lisa Pelikan
Ginger Perkins
Olya Petrakova
Matthew Quinn
Jeff Rack
Kate Randolph
Bryan Rasmussen
Deborah Reed
Bradley Reed
Tiger Reel
William Reilly
Elizabeth Reilly
Kathleen Reinbold
Lissa Reynolds
Beth Ricketson
Ivan Rivas
Jon Rivera
James Roday
Stuart Rogers
Susan Rubin
Bob Rusch
Stephen Sachs
Adeye Sahran
Ken Salzman
Lee Sancowich
Barbara Sanders
Alicia Savio
David Scales
Barbara Schofield
Michael Seel
Mark Seldis
Christopher Sepulveda
Matt Shakman
Joel Shapiro
Rick Shaw
Daniel Shoenman
Elliot Shoenman
Audrey Singer
Michelle Smith
Schoen Smith
Michelle Smith
Scott Smith
Ron Sossi
Dan Spurgeon
David Stafford
Jack Stehlin
Victoria Sterling
Joe Stern
Isabel Storey
Christopher Sullivan
Stasha Surdyke
Chelsea Sutton
David Svengalis
Kurt Swanson
Richard Tatum
Howard Teichman
Sean Thomas
Eileen T’Kaye
Linda Toliver
Edward Tournier
John Trapper
Narcissa Vanderlip
Patrick Varon
Kim Vasquez
Marie-Reine Velez
August Viverito
Brian Wallis
Victoria Watson
Alexander Wells
Matt Wells
Kyle Westmaas
Whitney Weston
Vernon Willet
Jeannine Wisnosky Stehlin
Wendy Worthington
Tim Wright
Justin Yoffe
Patric Z
Bettina Zacar
Sandra Zeitzew
Greg Zerkle
Guy Zimmerman
Okay, purely hypothetically, here are some of the names I’d suggest for this group:
1) Gedaly Guberek, Coeurage Theatre Company
2) Michael Seel, Theatre @ Boston Court
3) Rick Culbertson, Independent
4) Johnmichael Beck, Celebration Theatre
5) Meghan McCauley, Hollywood Fringe Festival/Lonesome No More
6) Monica Miklas, Lost Moon Radio
7) Simon Levy, Fountain Theatre
8) David Mack, Watts Village Theatre Company
9) Me
However, having been to all of the meetings to date since voting to form a League, I can’t help but feel like forming such a committee would be counterproductive.
From Michael’s proposal: “This exploratory committee would be charged with creating by-laws for this new organization that would include membership, leadership structure, geographic boundaries as well as the tenants that the organization would stand for in its mission.”
That’s what we’ve been doing for the last few meetings as a whole, and I think we’ve been having some success with it. More success than I think people realize. Reading over the data that’s been captured, there’s a lot of overlap. A LOT of overlap. Sure, there’s some debate as to specifics (minimum number of years/shows to be consider “a producer”, for one). However, that’s all splitting hairs, and stuff we’re already sorting through. Why undo all that progress and risk polarizing the community by going back on what’s already been established and cutting a majority of the voices out from having their say?
Yes, it’s true that eventually we’re going to need to nominate a group of representatives to meet with the mid- and large-sized companies (hence my proposed starting lineup). However, I feel like we’re a lot closer to getting some firm groundwork laid here than people think. Let’s finish hashing things out like we have been (and like the larger groups have recommended we do before they meet with us) before we start that larger conversation. Just my 2 cents.
Pardon me. Allow me to amend my above statement – “I can’t help but feel like forming such a committee RIGHT THIS INSTANT would be counterproductive.”
Greg,
You just said that eventually there will be a need to nominate a group to meet with the mid-sized and large-sized companies. So you and Michael agree on that point. Michael is recommending this group be formed before decisions are made so that the large and mid-sized organizations can be included in the discussion. You seem to be saying you would rather have these decisions made first and then reaching out to the larger theaters. I think it would be in the long-term best interests of the future league to include these organizations first so their voices can be heard. Right now is the time to do it, before any major decisions have been made. Doing otherwise would be, to me, counterproductive.
Doug – thanks so much, that is a very impressive list, however, I was asking what YOUR top ten might be so….
C’mon, buddy, inquiring minds want to know.
And yes, I know I’ve been negligent in attending, but to be honest, every meeting thus far has conflicted with a previous personal or professional engagement. And it’s happening again tomorrow! Just can’t win…
And Greg, those are some interesting people on your list, love to hear some other potential members from some other readers.
And per Brian’s comment, it’s a good one. And granted I haven’t been there to assess the dynamic, but by picking this smaller group earlier, would it exclude the larger group? If so, Greg makes a good point as well, perhaps staying with the current momentum until some more details can be hashed out in the larger consortium.
Maybe there’s a middle ground, pick the group to be the leaders, but continue as you have been doing until the larger group feels fully comfortable enough that the leadership is properly representing them? Perhaps then the final details and the conversation with the larger and midsize theatre could then be left to the council of 9?
I suddenly feel like uttering a Lord of the Rings battle cry.
Some thoughts from a concerned “outsider”.
Nice try, Colin. :) I’ve only been directly involved in producing two or three shows in the last ten years (mostly been directing for other producers), so I don’t feel that my opinion is a needed one in the current dialogue about ‘representative leadership’.
Long as whoever’s elected are people who can collaborate well with all the other producers (and the unions, and LA STAGE Alliance, etc), fine by me! Which I guess goes to your point – if people are elected as leaders, I hope they’ll be very open to getting lots of phone calls and listening to and really caring about the opinions of all the producers. ‘Representation’, you know.
Had to try.
And yes, leadership in such an organization will require many virtues, not the least of which will be the ability to listen and hear a dizzying amount of opinions and making decisions that benefit the greater whole.
Still want to hear some more top ten lists from others before I offer mine.
Although, here is one list. It’s the one that came out of the survey on this very question (who’s a leader in the 99 seat producing community) a year ago. And these folks already had one meeting in Sept with the larger houses, who all said they’d be happy to meet with these folks again:
David Elzer
Gedaly Guberek
Jay McAdams
John Flynn
Jon Cohn
Lindsay Allbaugh
Matt McCray
Michael Seel
Simon Levy
That’s a solid gathering.
c’mon Collin. I double-dog dare you!
Not yet. Wait for it…
My top 20 nominations for the 99 Seat Transitional Committee. Boom.
Simon Levy, Fountain Theatre
Lindsay Allbaugh, Elephant Theatre
Gregory Crafts, Theatre Unleashed
Jeremy Aluma, Four Clowns
Monica Miklas, Lost Moon Radio
Jay McAdams, 24th Street Theatre
Gates McFadden, Ensemble Studio Theatre/LA
Gedaly Guberek, Coeurage Theatre
Meghan McCauley, Lonesome No More!
John Flynn, Rogue Machine
Michael Seel, Boston Court
Matt McCray, Son of Semele
Rick Culbertson, Independent
Matthew Quinn, Theatre Asylum
Tim Wright, Circle X
Racquel Lehrman, Lounge Theatre
John Michael Beck, Celebration Theatre
Marilyn Fox, Pacific Resident Theatre
Jon Lawrence Rivera, Playwrights Arena
Jeannie Hackett, Independent
You can get more information on nominating yourself here: http://losangeles.bitter-lemons.com/2012/07/11/los-angeles-producers-league-nominations-being-accepted-for-99-seat-transitional-committee-through-july-19/
I don’t understand why Lost Moon Radio is included in your list and Greg’s list. They do not seem to be a theater. Don’t misconstrue what I’m saying as a comment on what they do. They are hilarious and amazing. It sounds like they describe themselves as a music and comedy troupe. It sounds like they are oranges and theaters are apples. Do they have the similar needs/concerns as anybody else on the list? (dealing with AEA, agents, landlords, Ovation voters, among many other things.)
It’s less about including Lost Moon Radio on the list as it is including Monica Miklas the PRODUCER of Lost Moon Radio on the list. I’m interested in smart, savvy, successful Los Angeles Theater Producers being included on this committee. It’s really as simple as that. This is the criteria I used for everyone I chose.
Ahh. I see. Thanks.
Sorry for dropping off the face of the planet for a few days there, guys. I’ve been in San Diego since midday Tuesday for work.
Anyhow, Brian – Just out of curiosity, have you been at any of the meetings? I’m only asking because there are a lot of Brians in the LA theatre community and I’m not sure how you connect to it outside of this thread. If you have been to some of the meetings, it would help give you some perspective on my original statement above. I realize it’s a moot point now, but I was arguing that we continue on with getting stuff nailed down as a larger group before electing a group of representatives to bring those options to the table with the mid and larger-sized companies because everyone’s voices were being heard and because (believe it or not) progress was being made. Good progress. I know it seems a little odd to not include the bigger groups in the early planning stages, but that’s also what they specifically requested from us when we invited them to sit down and join in the process from the beginning.
So, it seems like they covered a lot of ground Tuesday night. I’m really bummed I missed it, especially because I’m not 100% clear on what actually happened (I’ll have to wait until they send out the minutes). However, I’m ready to keep plowing forward.
To address your other question, I would love to see Monica in the group simply because she’s a damn good producer. There’s no two ways about that. Sure, LMR’s got a different format than most other productions in LA, but a lot of the things she needs to do to make that show run are the same as any other producer’s responsibilities, and she does them really well. Furthermore, her show’s unique format lends itself to challenges that other companies may not experience, which can give her a much-needed different angle on things from the rest of us.
Looks like eight of your picks are in the mix, Colin!
34 candidates – voting is OPEN.
How bout that? Actually NINE of my picks are in there. I revised the list slightly. But who’s counting?
Now I’m gonna pull a bait and switch and vote for all the other people!
No, no. Jump in people and let’s do some freakin’ “democracy”.
Nice work, Doug.