Posts Tagged ‘project’

As AVT has grown as a company, we have had to learn and adapt to ever more complex challenges.  Over the course of the last year, our structure has changed several times.  No doubt, further changes will come in the future as we continue to grow.

However, with the experience and lessons learned of two full-length productions behind us, and an increased awareness of our individual strengths and weaknesses when working as a team, we  believe that we have hit upon a company structure and team breakdown that will bring our talents effectively and efficiently to the stage.

Our Operational Plan, version 4.1, is now available for download.

Company-level authority is held in the stewardship of three directors: Operational, Producing, and Artistic.  They are supported by three production-level strategic personnel: the Production Stage Manager, the Dramaturg, and the Technical Team Lead.  A six-member technical team provides the creative implementation of the Artistic vision of each production.

AVT PRODUCTION TEAM
Operations Director: Courtney Marietta
Producing Director: Nalin A. Ratnayake
Artistic Director: Kara McCollum
Dramaturg: Anna Delrosario
Production Stage Manager: Karen Gruca
Technical Team Lead: Kevin J. Hogan
Technical Team:  Sarah Bialobroda, Jeremy Bryon Gruca, Jessica Katzman, Juliana Katzman, Lucas Nemeth, Kelly Lynn Regan

Our production philosophy is twofold: 1) Provide a framework to seed, develop, and produce quality original work from playwrights in the local community, and 2) produce published work from outside the community that brings in new perspectives and provides a standard to which our local writers can aspire.  If a play has already been produced in the community and we are not able to define anything artistically new that we could bring to the work, you will not see that play on our stage.

Dramaturgically, we adhere to three general principles: our productions will be 1) character-driven, 2) unique, and 3) thought-provoking.  We believe that theatre is first and foremost an artistic medium for providing insight into the human condition and secondarily an educational tool for enhancing and growing the cultural and artistic awareness of the local community.

We appreciate the audience members who make up our community of supporters, as well as our Supporters who make this company possible.

AVT Company and Patrons,

One year ago, on June 20th, 2009, a small group of friends calling themselves “Antelope Valley Thespians” opened a short, public-domain production called VOICES. Back then, the garage was not black, we had no official status, and we operated with minimal organization. But after two “sold out” free showings for our friends, we got all the encouragement we needed to continue and expand.

You can indulge in a bit of nostalgia in the archived blog post for VOICES or at the VOICES photo album on Facebook.

Today, it is one year later. And crafted out of love, sweat, tears, duct tape, and a rather alarming volume of coffee, a small guerilla theatre company fights the good fight in our local community of Quartz Hill – so much further beyond where we were yet with a dazzling array of possibilities before us.

AVT has many “birthdays”… is it when the first fragments of the idea started to take form on an online discussion board in January 2009? Or this day in June when we first put something together? Or August when we legally formed as a company? Or perhaps later when we achieved nonprofit status, or early this year when we opened our first full-length production?

Any of these days may serve for reflecting on how far we have come on this crazy idea. But today, for me, is the one from which I take the most personal meaning. On this day one year ago, we proved to ourselves that it was possible – that we could take the simplest elements and the smallest of budgets, and combine them with talent and passion to create something meaningful for the community.

Like any creative venture, AVT has been and always will be continually in the process of becoming. We have undergone 3 major revisions to our Operational Plan, and you will soon see another released for your consideration. The learning curve has been steep as we have built this company from the ground up – we have had to learn many lessons the hard way, and also develop an understanding of our strengths and weaknesses as members of a team. I believe this latest revision should last us a good while, and I can’t wait to share it with you.

I also want to be sure to acknowledge the role our Patrons have played in helping us build this company.

After seeing VOICES, Jeri Meyers and Dawn Dopler became our very first Patrons on the spot, donating our first income of any sort. After we incorporated and sent a letter asking the Quartz Hill Chamber of Commerce for their support, Thom Lapworth stepped in and personally paid for our first year’s membership in the Chamber, the benefits of which we continue to enjoy. Jason and Rose Gonella participated in our first playwrights expo and donated in-kind hardware in the form of a fog machine and fluid, which our tech team is itching to get an excuse to use.

As funds ran dangerously low in the face of numerous unexpected expenses for CRIME AND PUNISHMENT, Senaka and Lalani Ratnayake stepped in with a generous donation that kept us afloat. Michael and Deberah Hogan, impressed with our first full-length production, became Patrons of AVT to support our fledgling theatre company. Farmer’s Insurance agent Dave Owens not only has provided AVT’s liability insurance at a killer rate, but he donated his entire commission on the contract and personally bought-out a show of our first two full-length productions!

Gwen and Andy Joseph as well as Bob and Lois Douglass stepped in with donations when AVT needed equipment upgrades to support BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT as well as our first Musicians Night. Al Bowers joined the Patrons club following a great time at the Musicians Night, which actually ended with him being called up to the stage for an impromptu rendition of Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide” with featured musician and mutual friend Jimmy Lee Young!

Starting with BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT, we have been privileged to benefit from the support of local fine-artist AJ Currado, who now donates her time and talents to AVT for poster and program artwork. Our latest individual patrons, Mark and Liz Longanbach, drove in all the way from Arizona to see BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT. Convinced of our value to community theatre and impressed by our ingenuity, they signed checks of support the very next day.

Finally, I would be seriously remiss if I did not acknowledge the early and unwavering support of Eric and June at Sagebrush Cafe in Quartz Hill. Since the days when AVT was nothing but a concept, this eclectic coffee and art house has believed in us. More than that, they give us a great deal one of the most critical and precious resources for a theatre company: delicious coffee. AND they provide a hub for our advertising and, more recently, our physical ticketing.

And of course, each and every member of this company deserves more thanks than I can bestow for their unwavering commitment and tireless efforts on behalf of AVT. Sarah, Anna, Karen, Jeremy, Kevin, Jessica, Juliana, Courtney, Kara, Lucas, and our additional actors Steve, Joe, and Derric have comprised the AVT family.

Ticket revenue brings in only about 65% of what it takes to operate AVT; it is people like you who are the champions of the arts in our community, and donate your time and money to help this company do what it does. In appreciation for your support, we are tentatively planning to hold our first AVT Patron’s Reception in early December. Company members and Patrons will be invited to mingle and recap the 2010 Season with this celebration.

It is a rough road ahead of us… money remains tight, most people who have not seen our work remain skeptical, we continue to insist on producing very challenging plays that inevitably turn into trials by fire, and often its not certain how we will make it to the next event or production. But time and time again, even in our most difficult moments, we have shown that our passion, when rallied, is unstoppable – even in the face of daunting odds.

We would not be where we are today without all of you. It is with utmost sincerity and deep pride in what we have accomplished in the last year that I offer you my thanks for stepping forward to become a real part of what we have created together.

Here’s to our next year of unique, original, and experimental theatre in the high desert!

N.

–
Nalin A. Ratnayake
Chief Executive Officer
Producing Director
Antelope Valley Thespians

AVT is seeking creative, talented, motivated, and slightly insane candidates for the position of Associate Director.  The position on the Strategic Team is volunteer at this time and for the foreseeable near future, but has the non-binding potential to become a compensated position down the road.

Expectations:

• Work with the Producer to select, license, and budget productions that will run in between those he has scheduled.  The Producer / Artistic Director and the Associate Director will between them turn out AVT productions on 4-month cycles once every 2 months, with alternating casts and schedules.
• Plan, cast, and direct 3 productions per operating year at 3-6 shows each with the assistance of AVT’s Production Stage Manager.
• Work with AVT’s Technical Director to craft a technical vision for each production in line with AVT’s artistic philosophy.
• Define each production budget for approval by the Producer and funding by the Business Manager.
• Debut first production in August 2010.

At this time, AVT is operating out of the Producer’s garage.  We have a 30-seat blackbox space with a 15-piece lighting system, curtains, and sound.  There is the strong possibility of beginning operations in a 50-seat commercial blackbox space elsewhere in Quartz Hill by summer 2010.

AVT is an incorporated business, and will soon have 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization status.  We are also cool to hang out with and basically unstoppable.  Join the revolution.

Interested candidates should contact the Producer / Artistic Director to arrange an informal interview: nalin@avthespians.org.

It’s a milestone month for AVT… Thanks to the hard work of our Business Manager / Operations Director Courtney Marietta, we have officially received notification from the state that we have been incorporated as a business. What this means: now we will be able to open financial accounts, apply for 501(c)(3) non-profit status, and obtain separate liability insurance and tax-exempt standing, among a huge number of other things.

Right now, our biggest challenge is cash flow. While the 2010 Season will bring in ticket revenue for the first time, the season has been planned to operate at a loss; I do not want to charge any more than a nominal rate for tickets. The deficit will be made up by… me. I am thoroughly committed to this project; I have so far been AVT’s only source of funds. I am happy to do this, but to realize our ambitious goals, PATRONAGE and COMMUNITY SUPPORT will be essential.

All those who make a (tax-deductible!) donation of $65 or more for the 2010 Season will be designated as PATRONS OF AVT, and will receive 3 free ticket credits usable for any show in the season (they will normally be $7), an invitation to our annual Patron’s Reception, recognition in each playbill, and discounts at local AV businesses when showing your AVT Patron Card.

All those who were kind enough to become our first donors at the receptions we held after “Voices” will be given Patron status, regardless of the amount they donated.

The discounts at local businesses are in the process of negotiation; this will likely take me most of the fall and possibly longer to solidify, so I hope to be able to offer our Patrons this benefit gradually over time. If you are, or know, a local business owner who might be interested in partnering with us, please let me know. Local business discounts will be a great incentive for individuals to become Patrons; plus, any direct or in-kind support to AVT will be tax-deductible as well. We can offer a number of different advertising methods in return; in the playbill, in hosting our podcasts, on our website, etc.

One of our earliest supporters has been Sagebrush Cafe, on Avenue L-14 and 50^th St. West. They are currently hosting a Group Art Show, with mixed media by several local artists on display. Among these are several matted and framed prints of my black-and-white photography of Los Angeles; all net profit from the sale of these prints will be donated to AVT, so check it out!

As sent to our fan page on Facebook.

Dear Friends

Allow me to first thank you all for the exuberant flood of support we have received from you and the local community regarding our project. It has been a truly heady and rewarding experience to watch this project explode from a crazy idea on a message board into a serious concept for a sustainable artistic resource for the Antelope Valley.

Our first production, “Voices,” was a big success, and we have been busy exploring and acting on our options since. As we grow, it is my goal to keep our community involved and engaged with this project. We are not just another theatre group – we are a grassroots movement of actors, techies, writers, and devotees of the austere, high-brow art (cough) of garage theatre.

Happening soon – AVT is auditioning for all roles in “Crime and Punishment”; you must schedule an appointment on August 15th with the Production Stage Manager. Also, prepare for a wholly unique experience with our Original Short-Play Expo, coming in October!.

Now that we have finally obtained the appropriate performance licenses, it is with great pleasure that I can today unveil to you our 2010 Season – a full year of three thought-provoking dramas on the theme of Law and Society.

We begin in January with Crime and Punishment.  The classic novel has been here distilled into a 90-minute psychological thriller on the nature of right and wrong, and the redemptive power of faith.

In June, we present Beyond a Reasonable Doubt, a clash of wills and morality between two lawyers with very different views on the nature of justice. Their conflicts, legal and personal, probe the nature of our criminal justice system and the dichotomy between logic and compassion.

Lastly, in September, we will retell the story of The Interrogation of Nathan Hale, a rifleman and spy for the American Revolution, captured and executed by the British almost exactly 233 years before our opening night. What is freedom? What is courage? What is the value of a life? This is a play that seeks to understand the values of our nation—their flaws, as well as their wondrous virtues.

Each of these productions will receive a three-show run. To help meet the costs of bringing these very technically involved, full-length productions to the local community, we will begin charging a nominal ticket price for admission to all shows in the 2010 Season: $7 general and $5 youth (age 12 or younger).

Beyond the excitement of our very first season, I am also pleased to report that we are well on the way to acquiring our business license and 501.(c)(3) non-profit status… which of course means that any donation or in-kind support from individuals or businesses will soon be tax deductable!

No amount is too small – but for those who donate $65 or more, we would like to show our appreciation by designating them as Patrons of AVT. Members of our valued Patrons Club will receive:

• Three first-priority-seating ticket credits, usable for any show in the 2010 Season.
• An invitation to our annual Patron’s Reception
• Recognition in the playbill and prior to each performance.
• Discounts and benefits at local businesses by showing your AVT Patron Card. (under negotiation, please see our website for the most up-to-date list)

In appreciation for their early support of AVT, all those who donated to support “Crime and Punishment” at the receptions we held after “Voices” will be grandfathered in to the new Patronage system, regardless of the amount they donated. Unfortunately, since these donations occurred before when we will be officially a non-profit, they cannot be considered tax-deductible; for this, we apologize. To ensure that all future donations are tax-deductible for you, we will gladly take pledges, but will not actually accept any donation until we receive our official 501.(c)(3) status.

Whew, ok, I’ll stop there… but you can find plenty of information, blog posts, podcasts, and any new business sponsors we acquire at our website! Thank you again for your support, and do not hesitate to use your direct line to the Producer (nalin@avthespians.org) with any feedback, ideas, complaints, or suggestions.

Regards,
Nalin A. Ratnayake
Producer and Artistic Director

I’m not sure why it took me this long, but we finally have a Facebook Group.  Check it out at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=240209065453!

A few big changes coming down the line at AVT!  We’re expanding our plans and operations very quickly, and I wanted to make sure I posted an update on all the goings on.  We have had a great run of strategery meetings these last few weeks.  Some of the major outcomes are:

• The format of the Original Short Play Expo has changed.  Look for another post shortly about this.
• AVT is obtaining a business license, non-profit status, and food/beverage permit (more on this later from Courtney).
• An entire 2010 Season is being defined, of which Crime and Punishment is only the first of three.  Once we have performance licenses confirmed with the publishers, we will release the season brochure.
• As of Crime and Punishment, ticket prices will be charged.  However, we expect the cost to be far less than the going community theatre rate.
• We are forming a patronage system, in which Patrons of AVT who donate above a certain level will receive free show tickets, discounts at local businesses, and other benefits. Details will be released with the 2010 Season Brochure and on our website at the same time.
• Courtney Marietta has been moved from the role of Production Stage Manager to the new role of Business Manager.  She will be tracking our finances and budget, managing the patronage system, and overseeing our business relationships.
• Karen Gruca has joined the team as the new Production Stage Manager, and will be functioning in that role starting with Crime and Punishment auditions next month.
• The AVT Operational Plan has been updated to version 2.1 to reflect the position changes and some revisions to  all sections of the document.
• With our new ability to embed podcasts and videos in our blog posts, we would like to begin interviewing production team members, actors, and fans about AVT and their experiences with the project.

That is the major summary for now, look for additional posts about the Expo and about AVT’s business side!