To our incredibly generous and supportive Friends, Family, and Followers of Why You Beasting?: As we enter the final two weeks before our August 10th opening at FringeNYC, I’d like to inform you about the play’s origin and enlighten you on a point or two. When I spoke to Markus Potter in September of 2010, he mentioned to me that he was starting a theater company (NewYorkRep) and was interested in producing new and vital works that tackled socially relevant topics. When he asked me if I had written anything, I mentioned a little five-scene play that I’d written as a model for my students in a high school playwriting class. Eager to read it, Markus urged me send it to him, and as we continued to talk, I was reminded of an idea I had to expand this little 16-page script into a full-length play. After reading the short version, Markus flipped out, and insisted I follow through with the full-length version. Months would pass and I’d get texts: “Did you finish it yet?” “Don’t think I’ve forgotten.” “You’ve GOT to FINISH THAT!” As I was using much of my time to work and rework a novel manuscript, I returned many of the texts with mere appeasement, and the play remained on the back burner for another two years. That is when Markus gave me a deadline, and told me of his design to submit the play to FringeNYC for the summer of 2013. I tell you all of this to help you understand first that Markus Potter is a passionately driven director who believes in this piece with all of his being. He has therefore invested money that will not come back to him even if we sell out our entire FringeNYC run. His belief in this piece transcends what it may be able to return at this festival—his belief in this piece extends to what social dialogue it may inspire and what it may be able to return should we be fortunate enough to extend its life beyond the FringeNYC. In order to extend its life, we need to generate “heat” or “buzz” or “hype” or whatever you want to call it. As it is, the primary way—perhaps the only way— we may do this is by SELLING OUT OUR FIVE-SHOW RUN PRIOR TO THE AUGUST 10TH opening. If we do that, then FringeNYC will add shows to our schedule. As we are in striking distance of this now, it is my greatest hope that we may achieve this goal and give the play a chance for more life. And again, even if we sold out the entire run, and sold out the added show(s), this is not about making a profit. This is about supporting art. And Markus Potter, artistic director of NewYorkRep, is one of the most inspiring and important artists I’ve ever met. With deepest gratitude, David Don Miller Author, Why You Beasting?
Posted on: Mon, 29 Jul 2013 01:09:30 +0000
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