Leigha Horton :: Green room
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American Sexy, opening today at the U of M Rarig Center Arena, was directed by Brian Balcom and produced by The New Theatre Group. Brian recently took some time to chat with me about the Fringe, directing, The New Theatre Group’s process, local playwrights, and his dishwasher:

Two Fringe Fests ago you directed Alan Berks’ How to Cheat, last Fringe you directed Steve Moulds’ Killer Smile, and this year you’ve got your paws on Trista Baldwin’s American Sexy. Aside from the theme of new works by Minneapolis-based playwrights, the only common denominator in these productions is you… so are YOU The New Theatre Group? If not – who is, exactly?
BB: I am, indeed, The New Theatre Group. I opened a small business checking account before I thought of the name so I was suddenly pressured into making one up, but I think it’s pretty appropriate. There is no core artistic ‘group’, but everything we do is created for and inspired by the particular group of artists working on that show.

How is The New Theatre Group different from the Workhaus Collective?
BB: The main difference between NTG and Workhaus is the process by which the plays are written. Often, playwrights will have a specific actor in mind when developing a character; it can help them to see and hear (in their mind) how things will play out. But rarely will that actor be a part of the actual development process or in the first production.
We cast our shows before the playwright begins and the play is then tailored to/inspired by the actors involved. It begins with an early meeting when we talk about the play. The playwright tells us what they want to write about and we talk about it; what it means, how we relate, what about it is important to each of us. We share stories, we argue, we listen, we build. THEN the playwright begins to write.

What draws you to the work of local playwrights?
BB: We’re especially lucky that organizations like The Playwrights’ Center, The Jerome Foundation, The McKnight Foundation, and others are so committed to new plays and to Minnesota. The Jerome Fellowships bring in 5 outstanding young playwrights each year and many have stayed in Minneapolis. This allows us to build relationships and make plans in a way that would be impossible if we lived across the country.

Do you specifically seek out their work, or do playwrights specifically seek out your direction?
BB: All of the above. Alan and I decided to do How To Cheat together, Steve approached me for Killer Smile, and I hounded Trista for American Sexy. But these are all people I knew personally as well as artistically. Someone recently asked me if we accept submissions. We would never produce a play that already exists, but more than that, creating and developing a play is a very personal and intimate experience and requires a strong relationship between director and playwright. I don’t think I could go through this particular process with a playwright I don’t know.

You’ve assistant directed at The Guthrie, and also regularly work with smaller companies – such as Walking Shadow. What do you prefer about the larger setting? What do you prefer about the smaller?
BB: Companies like the Guthrie provide a phenomenal amount of resources to support their productions – and I don’t just mean money. It’s really incredible to get nearly everything you ask for. Even though I was just and assistant director – and back in 2003 – I felt artistically safe.

When you work for a smaller company, nothing feels safe. A lot of factors contribute to that (edgier plays, rougher talent, less money, etc.), but it adds elements of risk, danger, fear, and excitement. And I love it.

If an audience member were to tell you, “I can’t tell what was the actor’s choice, and what was the director’s direction,” how would you respond? Any tips for helping audiences differentiate the two?
BB: Why does it matter? Enjoy the show. (read: it was OUR choice)

What show have you always wanted to direct? Which company would you want to produce it?
BB: I feel like I should have an answer to this, but I don’t. I have a short list of playwrights I’d like to work with, but no list of plays. I guess this is what happens when you focus on new works.

Honestly, the play isn’t the most important thing to me. What really drives me is the process: working together to create something out of nothing. It’s about relationships and problem solving and frustration and sweat and love and hate. But in the end, it’s all about hearing the playwright’s voice and giving them the opportunity to tell us something and making sure they feel like we’ve done that as best we can.

What rocks your Fringe? What’s the bane of your Fringe?
BB: I love the atmosphere of the whole thing. Fourteen thousand artists and patrons coming together to live and breathe theater is really amazing. The excitement of rushing across town to get to another show, the anticipation of standing in line, hoping to get a ticket to a hot show, hearing strangers talk about theater and share their Fringe experience… It’s just great. It feels great to be in it.

I hate hearing people complain about the lottery and its resulting artistic variety.

Anything else, in general, besides show pimpage, you’d like to spill?
BB: I’m concerned about the shrinking number of mid-sized companies. I’m tired of hearing people complain about Joe Dowling and the Guthrie’s mainstage product. I’m excited The Cody Rivers Show is in a venue that seats 450. I’m sad that Nathan Keepers is moving to New York. I’m thrilled that my dishwasher works again.

There have been times that American Sexy has made me scared, empowered, embarrassed, nervous, elated, and proud. I’m hopeful that we can share it with you.

There’s something truly incredible about an annual performance festival that one can attend and enjoy the company of hundreds of people one knows, amongst thousands of attendees, multiple times a day, every day, for 11 days straight.

While in the audience of The Cody Rivers Show Presents: Stick to Glue at the U of M Rarig Center Thrust yesterday, I caught myself having the perfect Fringe moment: I was sitting directly in front of friends Leah Cooper and Dean Seal, both former MN Fringe Fest Executive Directors; sitting next to Matt Sciple, who I’ve never worked with but will be directing me in Wellstone! starting the day after Fringe closes; across the aisle from two gents who performed a fantastic Fringe show at Intermedia Arts in 2005, in town from Madison not to perform – just to see shows; and in the audience of The Cody Rivers Show, one of the tightest, most hilarious and impressive pieces of art I’ve seen in a long time. If “Fringe” can be used as a verb; this is why I Fringe.

Now, because I can’t throw a stone without hitting someone I know, I find myself in constant conversation about what we’ve seen and loved or loathed. Unfortunately, 13 shows in a weekend makes one’s brain liquefy a little, and I have a hard time remembering shows unless they’ve made some kind of very, very strong impression – so here’s the list of attendance (or attendance attempts) thus far:

Thursday, July 31:
8 pm – The Mistress Cycle @ the Bryant Lake Bowl (Sold out/turned away)

Friday, August 1:
5:30 pm – How Does a Drug Deal Become a Decent 3rd Date @ U of M Thrust
7 pm – An Inconvenient Squirrel @ U of M Thrust
8:30 pm – Boom @ U of M Arena

Saturday, August 2:
1 pm – Shakespeare’s Land of the Dead @ U of M Thrust
2:30 pm – The Pumpkin Pie Show @U of M Thrust
4 pm – One Night Only with Mike Mahoney @ U of M Thrust (Last-minute, unplanned addition to fill a blank spot)
5:30 pm – The Cody Rivers Show Presents: Stick to Glue @ U of M Thrust
7 pm – Leaving Normal @ U of M Xperimental
10 pm – Fringe Opening Party @ Bedlam (Went home to eat and freshen-up; went home, ate, and fell asleep, so missed entirely – oopies.)

As for shows I have seen and heartily, heartily recommend – Boom. For the love of all things sweet and wonderful, go see Boom. And The Cody Rivers Show – see it, see it, see it. And Shakespeare’s Land of the Dead. And The Pumpkin Pie Show. And An Inconvenient Squirrel. For the rest, Thumper’s Rule applies.  Well, in writing anyway.

Onward!