THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM – OF FUN!

August 25th, and once again, I’m a day late with this blog post. But I’m hoping that blog readers are more forgiving than podcast listeners, who seem to reward regular posting with loyal listening.

August is rapidly fading away and the coming podcast season is looming. I’ve been focusing on trying to write scripts while simultaneously working on grant applications. To recap, we’re writing grants this year to establish a recording home, and to pay our very accomplished and professional actors. To do this, the theater will focus on its podcasting season much like radio producers from yesteryear focused on a season of radio shows. There are nineteen show slots between the beginning of the season on September 14th, and the end of the season on Memorial Day, May 31st. We are very close to having enough scripts to fill those time slots, but the only actual recordings we have are short works from the Spring Fling show, the Scoop Sisters from this July, and a Christmas show made up of a couple of ‘Calls to Santa’ calls from last year, and ‘The Christmas Room’.

Wow. That means we need to get to work and record. First step, find a recording studio. We are looking closely at two spaces at the moment, but the decision where to go will probably wait until early September. Then, we’ll need to get to work right away. First, there’s moving into the new space, wherever it will be. We’ll need wall coverings (carpet is good, blankets and sleeping bags do in a pinch) carpet for the floor, and some kind of insulation might be necessary if we have to deal with an unfinished ceiling. Then, computers and furniture will be moved in provide the machines necessary and few homey touches.

Incidentally, if you’ve got a chair or couch you could do without, let us know. I’m sure we could make use of it.

I think we’ll need a sound effects area, so that means a lot of SFX props will move into the space. Not to mention all the sound gear. I think I see a moving day in my future.

First order of business once we get settled will be recording a scare story or two for October. It’s all about the horror on the lead-up to Halloween, and who knows, we may even offer a bonus episode on October 31st itself.

ODDS & ENDS
My family and I had the pleasure of dinner with one of our most important alumni this week when Ben Utter, and his wife Brandi, made their way to the Falls from their new home in St. Paul. I met Ben when he was working at KXBR radio and we were just starting the IBRT. He appeared in the first three productions, and his talent is unequaled in my opinion. For the past few years, he has been living on the South Atlantic coast, and only just recently relocated to St. Paul. We’re thrilled to have him close, especially since he is considering writing for the IBRT. I can’t wait.

While we welcome Ben back to the not-so-far vicinity, we bid farewell to another of the IBRT’s VIP’s. No, no one died. But Anna Remus, an actress in the early years and a junior member of our first board of directors, is leaving for college. Harvard, in fact. I wish her the best of luck, and thank her so much for all she’s contributed to the theater. I feel blessed that Anna worked with us again this past year (on ‘A Christmas Room’ and ‘A Distant Land’) and hope she’ll return from time to time. Good Luck, Anna!