Artist Profile by Susanne Traub

Would you believe? A 24 hour festival-writers get from 10pm to 10am to write a 15 minute play based on a topic or phrase given to them by Phare Play Productions artistic director Blake Bradford - and from headshots of people they don't get to meet but who have also volunteered their talents. The directors are given this information at 10:30 am, figure out a course of action, props and where to rehearse - and wonder who are these people I'll be worjing with? And at 12 they get to meet their actors---somewhere---who now have to learn a script, rehearse it and perform it at 7 that night.

When you join the army they warn you - DON'T VOLUNTEER. Well, there is no such warning for the theater. So when the call went out by Phare Play Productions for directors---I volunteered. Who knew? Who knew I would be twisted like a pretzel, covered with salt, and deep fried??? Who knew I'd have the best time of my theatrical directing life to date?

My first panic attack - What if I have no imagination? What if my ideas are mundane?

My second attack - What if the actors don't like what I want to do? (Providing I know what I want to do?)

My third attack - where the hell do we rehearse?? Take them all back to long island? Buy a condo in Manhattan?

My big attack - what if the writer is so esoteric that I can't figure out what it all means?

Another attack - if I have to rehearse in the park - will there be a lot of goose and pigeon poop?

Then-the surprise prop? Can Blake be trusted with surprises??

Bring props? Ok, get out all the scarves I have and hope that my play doesn't call for shoes!!

No panic attacks were needed. The actors, as has been my experience with Phare Play, were real troopers-talented, fun, funny, eager and supportive with rich ideas of their own.

We met at the feet of Christopher Columbus at 59 st---great for new discoveries-and then found a cool, green poopless grassy spot in Central Park to continue rehearsing. People stopped to watch and appaud, a toddler mossied closer and ever closer to one of the props-a doll-which we ended up giving her-much to the delight for her family. The allergens were flying around like so many silver dollars - twisting in the wind and landing on our hair and clothing. My young cast were jogging up and down the slope we chose to work on - I was fortunate - I sat.

Directing is my passion. Especially when there is so much to learn from the cast. The factors of spontaneity and unpredictability---the unknown--- were the challenge that excited me. Only in a solid and supportive company like this can such potential mayhem turn into such a flow of good theater and good times. Can't wait for the next round. Join us!!!!