A Collection of Shiny Objects

Shiny Objects Updates

2011-07-14T09:22:00.000-07:00

Here it is the middle of summer 2011. We can’t believe it’s been a whole year since we premiered THE EXILE OF PETIE DELARGE at REDCAT in Los Angeles! And what a difference a year has made! The company is now based in Brooklyn, NY. We have expanded our artistic team to include Co-Artistic Director Jesse Geiger and Artistic Associate Nathan Leigh in addition to founder and Co-Artistic

Liz writes a rebuttal to Ken Davenport's Rant: 'Stop Telling Me You Can't Afford Theater Tickets!'

2011-04-07T10:46:00.000-07:00

I think this is a rebuttal to @kendavenport, although I agree with him: So the next time you find yourself saying “Theater tickets are too expensive,” stop yourself. Man up and admit it. Say, “I don’t find enough value in going to the theater.”(via The Producer’s Perspective: ‘Stop Telling Me You Can’t Afford Theater Tickets!’) I am totally guilty of this. But this week I actually am

Vacation All We Ever Wanted

2011-03-02T13:48:00.000-08:00

Ok, no it's not actually a vacation. It's the A Collection of Shiny Objects' First Semi-Irregular Creative Retreat! The boys and I have traveled to a semi-secret and fairly secluded location (aka Nathan's parents' vacation house in Chatham, MA) for some artistic and company development time. We've spent most of our time working on the plot and music of DARLING, our hipster/feminist/video

Guest Blog from Co-Artistic Director Jesse Geiger

2011-02-02T06:37:00.000-08:00

Hi guys and gals! Pleased to meet you. I’ll be guesting on the Shiny Objects blog from time to time. Exciting developments are in the works…. First: We have a new website! www.collectshinyobjects.org. Check it out to learn a bit more about where we’ve been and where we’re going. Like all things Shiny, it’s a fabulous work-in-progress. Expect further evolutions, make-overs and re-inventions in

Happy 2011 from Shiny Objects

2011-01-02T18:43:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year from A Collection of Shiny Objects! It has been an incredibly busy first year for the company. Our first production, THE EXILE OF PETIE DELARGE, had a successful run in Los Angeles at Son of Semele Theater, and an exciting transfer to the Roy and Edna Disney CalArts Theater (REDCAT) to kick-off their 2010 New Original Works Festival (NOW Fest). A Collection of Shiny Objects and

'EXILE' continues on at REDCAT

2010-07-15T11:02:00.000-07:00

The run of 'The Exile of Petie DeLarge' at Son of Semele Theater was tremendously successful, and I am so grateful to all the friends and intrepid theater-goers who came out to support. What's that you say? You were out of LA, or hiding out in June and you missed the excitement of 'Exile' bursting out of the 36-seat Son of Semele Theater? Well, lucky you, you get a second chance! Because

'EXILE' featured in LA Stage Alliance blog

2010-06-19T17:15:00.000-07:00

Maureen Huskey and I sat down with reporter Ashley Steed from the LA Stage Alliance's blog to talk about 'The Exile of Petie DeLarge'. Here's an excerpt: " There comes a time when we must grow up and become an adult. But what does that even mean? Recent CalArts Master’s grad and founder of the production company A Collection of Shiny Objects, Elizabeth English, realized she had been fed a

Less Than Two Weeks!

2010-06-08T17:49:00.000-07:00

That's right. There are less than 2 weeks left till both THE EXILE OF PETIE DELARGE opens at Son of Semele Theater and HYPERBOLE: origins opens as a part of the Hollywood Fringe at Art/Works. I admit it, I feel like a proud parent. I've been to rehearsals for both shows and they look fan-freakin'-tastic. "EXILE" has sex, drugs, rock, crazy masks... and french fries. It features the acting

Announcing Performance Dates for The Exile of Petie DeLarge

2010-05-03T22:10:00.000-07:00

Mark your calendars! The Exile of Petie DeLarge is going into its workshop phase this month! I couldn't be more pleased on the cast and creative team I've assembled (keep your eyes on this blog for a formal announcement of the cast list soon). A Collection of Shiny Objects, otherwise known as my little upstart company of one, has entered into partnership with Son of Semele Ensemble through

Photo Highlights - Silver Years of Dust at Highways

2010-04-18T21:53:00.000-07:00

Magic Framework - Choreography by Stacy Dawson Stearns (Pictured: Jessica Emmanuel, Stacy Dawson Stearns) Off The Wall - Choreography by Tymberly Canale (Pictured: Chris Giarmo) Snow (a study) - Choreography by Tymberly Canale (Pictured: Neil Harris, Tymberly Canale) All photos courtesy of Megan Westerby.

Photographing the Bradbury

2010-04-13T17:39:00.000-07:00

My Graphic Designer/Friend/Current Housemate, Anachrolush (aka Zoe), blogs about our photo trip to the Bradbury Building last weekend. Research work for the graphic design for 'The Exile of Petie DeLarge'. More at the link: Bradburying

Silver Years of Dust

2010-03-30T17:48:00.000-07:00

Among my many interests in producing I have started to get involved with dance/physical theater, too. I had the good fortune of meeting Stacy Dawson Stearns and Tymberly Canale while helping out with a residency with NY-based Big Dance Theater at the Getty Villa in Malibu this past February. Tymberly is a current company member and Stacy is an alum. Next week we will be putting up 2

First Reading of EXILE

2010-02-24T19:04:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday afternoon we gathered together some actors at director Maureen Huskey's home in Los Feliz and heard the script of The Exile of Petie DeLarge for the very first time. Our composer, Colin, and designers Kit Stolen and Martin Gimenez were also there and we started to play. It was a very promising first reading and we are excited to continue the workshop in May.

Hollywood Fringe Town Hall

2010-02-09T10:46:00.001-08:00

Good meeting last night, though possibly a fire code violation - oops! Theater in LA, who knew? Hollywood Fringe Town Hall Attracts People From All Over LA | Bitter Lemons

Donate for My Birthday! Be My Best Friend!

2009-12-21T12:58:00.000-08:00

Thanks for checking out A Collection of Shiny Objects and for reading more about the fantastical trifecta of theater pieces I am developing for presentation in Summer 2010, along with my collaborators Jennifer Barclay, Maureen Huskey, Colin Wambsgans, Katie Shook, Sean Cawelti and Rogue Artists Ensemble, and some yet to be named. <--- Please click on this button to go to PayPal. Also

Petie DeLarge

2009-12-13T13:31:00.000-08:00

The internet is a fascinating place. I went looking for inspiration and I found a picture of Petie. Original artwork by Rik Rawling (via 'Rik Rawling's Psych Skull')

Announcing the Director for THE EXILE OF PETIE DELARGE

2009-12-03T17:06:00.000-08:00

Beautiful, exciting, ground-breaking Maureen Huskey, who I had the pleasure of working with previously at CalArts, has agreed to lead the workshop of The Exile of Petie DeLarge by Jennifer Barclay! More about Maureen: Maureen Huskey is an award-winning theater director based in Los Angeles since 2006. Most recently, she was the Assistant Director for Lenka Udovicki for UCLA Live's Medea

Progress Report, Week #9

2009-11-24T11:06:00.001-08:00

Final Project, Week of November 16th:- Still hashing out a few little details with a director for "Exile" re: duties & responsibilities. I know, developing new work can raise a lot of questions about who owes what to whom, and who is willing to commit what. Trying to lay that out in writing for "Exile" so there will not be miscommunications later. Call me "little-miss-responsible".- Submitted

Progress Report Week #8

2009-11-13T13:10:00.000-08:00

Final Project, Week of November 9th:This has felt a bit like a "phone tag" week.- I have engaged in multiple rounds of phone/email tag with various collaborators since last week. Good news is that we have stuff to talk about and want to talk about it. The tricky part is actually reaching each other on top of busy lives and a 3 hour time difference. I hope to actually have some substantive

Progress Report, Week #7

2009-11-08T10:53:00.000-08:00

Final Project, Week of November 2nd:- I have working title for the project, "Elektra, Petie & Other Misunderstood Girls". That seems to encapsulate the themes behind the pieces in the project in a way that I can communicate clearly.- I have a lead on a venue. Need to follow up.- Jen Barclay (Exile playwright) has a suggestion for a composer/songwriter she has just shared with me. Plan to look

Mission Paradox says something I wish I'd said: it's all about The Whales

2009-11-02T11:45:00.000-08:00

All the questions we ask about many arts organizations:Why don't they diversify their organizations more?Why don't they do more interesting programming?What don't they change their connection to the consumer?All of them have the same answer.It's because of the whales.-----------------------------------------Stay with me on this.Let's imagine a fictional arts organization that has a budget of say,

Week #6 - Week of Budgeting

2009-10-30T18:33:00.001-07:00

Week of October 26thIt's not that writing a budget takes a week in itself. Although for me, I admit, there is a lot of staring at the wall. And rubbing my forehead or temples. It's like if I rub my brain just right I will think better.I also find that I need an hour or so of decompression from other concerns (read: my day job) that muddy my thinking before I actually can write down anything

Progress Report Weeks #4 & #5

2009-10-25T19:25:00.001-07:00

Final Project, weeks of October 12 - October 19Week of October 12th I had practically nothing to report. Some weeks are like that. I'd sent out letters of inquiry and follow-up emails and just hadn't gotten any response.This past week things picked up.- Katie Shook, puppet princess, is officially on board. She has two pieces she is currently working on, one with playwright Sibyl O'Malley, who I

Progress Report Wk #3

2009-10-13T08:11:00.000-07:00

Final Project, week of Oct. 5:Feeling a little stalled. Trying not to fall behind on my timetable.- Sent letter of inquiry to Jesse S. at Poor Dog Group, still waiting to hear back.- Rogue Artists Ensemble was supposed to have met last week and Sean to present my proposal for collaboration. Haven't heard back.- Did have some more in-depth exchange with Jen Barclay re: "Exile". Sharing ideas

Alternate EXILE Blurb

2009-10-09T11:41:00.001-07:00

Courtesy of the playwright -- Petie DeLarge, the great leader of the campus coup, has been exiled and the faculty of BumBums has once again taken their corrupted control of the Rummy student body. If Petie and her gang of Borgies and Bessies are going to regain leadership, they must first infiltrate campus under cover and get to bottom of the splattering suicide of sweet, flighty Wendy. An

Collaborator Bios & Project Synopses

2009-10-04T15:23:00.000-07:00

Jennifer BarclayJennifer is a playwright and screenwriter. She presented her one-woman show based on the life of Olympian and professional golfer Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Clearing Hedges, at the San Francsico Fringe, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the International Theatre of Vienna, Austria. Her play Red Helen received a Kennedy Center workshop in 2009. Her plays have been produced and/or

Just Cuz

2009-10-03T11:43:00.001-07:00

I got up this morning and read 2 Lynn Nottage plays. Just cuz. Because they were there. It was refreshing. I read so many new scripts, plays-in-development. I was reminded what a play I really like and can zip through feels like.And Lynn is also a total sweetheart of a person.

Phone chat with Sean

2009-10-01T11:12:00.001-07:00

Just got off the phone with Sean from Rogue Artists. Great chat, especially about the 'Elektra' project. Sounds right up my alley, and a workshop of it in May/June might be a really good opportunity for them. I was worried that they wanted to save it for the Autry, but with current budget constraints for the museum, this might be a collaboration that benefits everybody.

Progress Report Wk#1

2009-09-27T11:57:00.000-07:00

Final Project, week of Sept. 21:- Exchanged emails with Juli Crockett. She is still reading the draft of 'Exile' I sent her. I plan to give her a little more time and then check back in. I need to think of plan B for director and lyricist/composer. Maybe 2 people.- Exchanged emails with Sean Cawelti. He's still interested in workshopping a piece on California history/women's mythology. I

Is This Play Any Good? (July Fragment)

2009-07-27T11:36:00.000-07:00

Having been an usher at a 320+ seat regional theater for the last two seasons, this is a question I've been asked a lot; "is this play any good?" I mean, our patrons are well meaning. In a city with a lot of potential leisure opportunities they choose to attend the theater. Tickets are $20-40 a piece, sometimes more for a 'hot' ticket. Many of our patrons subscribe or even donate additional

Summer Theater Round-Up

2009-06-27T14:21:00.001-07:00

Before I lose track of the performances I have been seeing lately:- Studio @ REDCAT (May '09)- Bengal Tiger at Baghdad Zoo @ Kirk Douglas Theater (where I work, or did)- The Langston Hughes Project @ Watts Village Theater Co.- OceanFlight/Oh My Tiger! @ Highways Performance Space- Oleanna @ The Mark Taper Forum- Stranger @ Bootleg Theater- Imagined Spaces/Imagined Lives pt. 1 @ The Manual

Savvy Social Networking 101 - copied from Guidestar

2009-05-06T00:42:00.000-07:00

Social networking, yeah, I use it every day. And so do my friends. But allegedly we are "early adopters". So I copied this from Guidestar, a site devoted to fundraising for Non-Profits. Food for thought, especially in advocating for the use of "Web 2.0".Five Steps to Savvy Social Networking 101 During the process of attempting to "get found" on social networks, many nonprofits are instead

Want this book

2009-04-24T22:40:00.000-07:00

With thanks to my dramaturgy classmate, John D., who sent me the excerpt.From our discussion. Re-dressing the Canon By Alisa SolomonBook ReviewRe-Dressing the Canon: Essays on Theater and GenderRe-Dressing the Canon: Essays on Theater and Gender. Alisa Solomon. London: Routledge, 1997; pp. 208. $65.00 cloth, $19.95 paper.Re-Dressing the Canon, Alisa Solomon's important new collection of essays

Oh, what a busy girl...

2009-04-21T23:01:00.000-07:00

I see a lot of theater. Fancy that. In fact, I even hiked to NoHo today to a rehearsal hall that I would've mistaken for a funeral home if I hadn't been told differently, to see what I thought was supposed to be a workshop of a new musical. No dice, but that's a whole story unto itself.Anyway, scorecard, the last two weeks:Friday, April 10: 'Forgotten World' by Deborah Asiimwe, directed by

Dramaturgy Notes 4/14 ... an alchemical 6th grade puppet/diorama on Greek religious themes

2009-04-15T00:26:00.001-07:00

Theater: it's somewhere between storytelling and ritual, religious practice, invocation. Descended from harvest festival god supplications, the ancient Greek "theatron". To represent it physically I would need people, or representations of people. Some would be "spectators" watching, and the rest would comprise the "spectacle", that being watched. I mean, I personally have made the argument

Dramaturgy Notes 3/18/09

2009-04-09T22:25:00.000-07:00

Since last week’s class I have been reflecting on Norman Frisch’s conversation with our class. One phrase that has stuck out to me is “going into a room together”. I think he said that, or something like that, several times. There is something so time and location based in that idea that encapsulates theater, and all live performance, for me. I was reminded of that when I went to see Frost/