Under The Gods’ Golden Cleats is cast! OH MY GOODNESS! I am honored and BLOWN away by the talent who’ll be reading my script on November 9th! Yes, that’s SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9th! 8pm. Be there, because we’re going to rock your world.

Under The Gods’ Golden Cleats by Rachel Bublitz

Directed by Claire Rice

Stage Directions read by Karen Offereins

Achilles read by Peter Townley

Patroclus read by Neil Higgins

Agamemnon read by Ben Knoll

Odysseus read by Adam Reese

Diomedes/Hector read by Nikolas Strubbe

Paris/Menelaus read by Nicky Weinbach

Briseis read by Jaime Lee Currier

Polyxena/Iphagenia read by Veronica Tjioe

Athena/Fortune Teller/Cheerleader #1 read by Yasmine Love

Aphrodite/Artemis/Cheerleader #2 read by Carina Lastimosa Salazar

Thetis/Cheerleader #3 read by Lisa Darter

I’m in love. I’m ecstatic. Can it be November NOW?

Next year I’ll be writing the one-act about Geryon for SF Olympian Festival (November 15!). Who is Geryon, you might be wondering, well I will tell you… Geryon was a giant who tended cattle off on an island somewhere, minding his own business when Hercules came, stole his cattle, and killed him. It was a part of Hercules’ 12 tasks (the taking the cattle, he killed Geryon just as icing on the cake I guess). A few things drew me to Geryon… First, he wasn’t wreaking havoc on anyone, unlike plenty of other monsters who were out for blood, but not Geryon. Second, there are many descriptions of him. Some stories he is a three headed monster, others a three bodied monster on two skinny legs, others he has wings, and one that I read he has three bodies that are joined at the stomach. And third, I like that he’s so mysterious, and that he isn’t one of the first monsters we think of when we think of the monsters in Greek Myths. In fact, I hadn’t heard of him before the call for submissions came out!

The story that I’m planning on telling will be a modern interpretation of Geryon, taking place in a small town and involving a aging outsider and a popular youth. So, while you’re counting down the days until you get to watch the staged reading of Under The Gods’ Golden Cleats, comfort yourself with thoughts of the grotesque giant Geryon and the adventures to come for next year’s festival!

I am so excited to announce that I’m coming back next year to write for the 2014 San Francisco Olympians Festival! I’ll be writing the one-act play for Geryon on Saturday, November 15! And I’m sharing the evening with Veronica Tjioe who’ll be writing a one-act play based on the Minotaur!

It will be an excellent evening of theater, and don’t miss it! Here’s the line-up for the rest of the festival:

Week One: Guardians Of Nature (11/5-11/8)

Wednesday, November 5: Nymphs! Nymphs! Nymphs!

Short: Asteriae- BRIDGETTE DUTTA PORTMAN

Short: Nephele- SIYU SONG

Short: Oreads- LEAH HALPER

Short: Dryads- MARISSA SKUDLAREK

Short: Nereids- SAM HURWITT

Short: Naiads- JENNIFER ROBERTS

Short: Oceanids- CAROL LASHOFF

Short: Lampades- SAM BERTKEN

Thursday, November 6: Pastoral Masters

One Act: Centaurs- MEGAN COHEN

One Act: Saytrs- ANNETTE ROMAN and BRYANT TURNAGE

Friday, November 7: Winged Wonder

Full-Length: Pegasus- KIRK SHIMANO

Saturday, November 8: The Lord of the Dance

Full-Length: Pan- STUART BOUSEL and JAMES GRADY

Week Two: Celebrity Monster Deathmatch! (Audience Judged Dueling One Acts)

Wednesday, November 12: Dangerous Dragons

One Act: Hydra- TONYA NARVAEZ

One Act: Typhon- COLIN JOHNSON

Thursday, November 13: Evil Eyes

One Act: Argus- PETER HSIEH

One Act: Polyphemus- VINCE FASO

Friday, November 14: Three Headed Trouble

One Act: Cerberus- ALLISON PAGE

One Act: Chimera- ANNIE PALADINO

Saturday, November 15: Hero Makers

One Act: Geryon- RACHEL BUBLITZ

One Act: Minotaur- VERONICA TJIOE

Week Three: Femme Fatales (11/19-11/22)

Wednesday, November 19: She-Beast Trios

One-Act: Sirens- KEATING MARIE and AMELIA BETHEL

One-Act: Harpies- VICTORIA DER

One-Act: The Graeae- MADELINE PUCCIONI

Thursday, November 20: Lethal Wisdom

Full Length: Sphinx- JEREMY GEIST

Friday, November 21: Deadly Beauty

Full Length: Medusa- ANDREW SAITO

Saturday, November 22: Vagina Dentata

Short: Scylla- CHRISTIAN SIMONSEN

Full Length: Echidna- NEIL HIGGINS

Short: Charybdis- ASHLEY COWAN

There’s this fantastic smartphone art project happening all month, and YOU should know about it. Megan Cohen, master playwright, and artistic mega-mind presents you with 13 Pennies, an art project that will spook the pants off of you.

What I find so smart about this project is that typically smartphones and other technologies similar to them, are often seen as pulling people apart. Megan is using this very tool (that 99% of us carry around in their pocket every day) to bring art to the people. Bringing people together in a shared experience, exploiting the smartphone in the sake of art. What could be more resourceful or creative than that?

If you want to learn more about the lady behind the haunt, see the new profile Theatre Bay Area recently wrote up on her: http://www.theatrebayarea.org/editorial/Keep-an-Eye-On-Megan-Cohen.cfm

The other artists involved are also heavy hitters, check it out:

“Created by Megan Cohen, Alani Foxall, Claire Rice, Sam Bertken, Siobhan Doherty and Sarah Moser, this interactive adventure puts a ghost in your phone. Get haunted all through October, leading up to Halloween!”

And here’s the facebook event page for 13 Pennies: https://www.facebook.com/events/565931010151811/

Seriously, I am a HUGE wimp when it comes to scary things, but I put my money in and signed up because I think supporting art like this is something we have to do. And, the trailer looks amazing. Check that out here: http://www.betterthantelevision.com/2013/07/31/13-pennies/

It costs $15.50, and you can sign up throughout the month. So get on it! NOW!

There’s a reason that Stuart Bousel is known as a power-house in indy theatre here in the Bay Area. He does big things very well. We had over 100 actors audition between Sunday and Monday! Over 100! And I can still function as a human being. For those of you have have audited auditions before, you know how amazing that is. Typically auditions are endless, boring, uncomfortable, and if the actors are working from your play, you usually hate that play for at least a month after. Stuart has all the writers send in 30 – 1.5 minute monologues from movies, tv, books, anything really that was not written by the writers themselves. The actors prepare one of these monologues that they are handed randomly upon arrival, and after performing in front of the mob, the mob (writers and directors) get to make adjustments. For example, my director Claire Rice would often ask to hear one line from the monologue as a football coach or a peppy cheerleader. We fit in as many adjustments as possible in 15 minutes, and then we’re on to the next group. On Sunday we were there for 7 hours, last night 2.5. Best auditions ever. I was tempted to jump up and throw my hat in the ring as an actor, and then I realized how insane that was seeing as I am busy all the time.

Once auditions wrapped up, we scoured over head shots, checking conflicts of the actors we wanted, and then sent in our wish lists to Stuart. I was so happy to send in 3 or 4 solid choices for each of my roles. I was really overwhelmed by the talent. Under The Gods’ Golden Cleats needs SIX men for the reading, I was scared. But today I’m feeling great. SO! Stay tuned to hear my cast, hopefully I’ll know it within a week! And once Stuart makes it facebook-official I will yell it out for all the Internet to hear.

Also, RSVP for the reading on November 9th! You can’t get tickets in advance, but this way you’ll get reminders on facebook. Do that here: https://www.facebook.com/events/166435956886604/

It’s going to be an excellent night of theater, and I’m pretty sure we’ll pack the house. RSVP, AND show up early. Remember, it’s cash only!

And if you want more info about the festival, check out the SF Olympians’ website: http://www.sfolympians.com/

Here I am, with my director (Claire Rice) wearing our Achilles jerseys and showing off our spread sheets. Photo taken by Charles Lewis III.

Callooh! Callay! The San Francisco Olympians auditions are today! Oh, I can’t wait. They kick off at 2, and I just can’t wait to see and hear all the fantastic actors that come in to vie for a spot in all the readings coming up this November. I’ve heard from actors, playwrights, and directors, that these auditions are unlike most auditions; they’re fun, fast paced, and since there will be nearly (or maybe more?) than 40 people in the room, the actors actually get a good sized audience to work in front of, which always helps. I’ll be at the exit from 2pm until 9pm tonight, in it for the long hall…

If you’re sad because you don’t have a spot, don’t fret! Come on down today between 6:30 and 8 PM, there is some open spaces at the time.

And if you aren’t an actor but want to be involved now is the time! Submissions are being accepted for next year’s festival until this Monday (TOMORROW!) at midnight. Go here for a list of the topics: http://www.sfolympians.com/?p=1600.

What are you up to this weekend? I’m excited because I’m seeing the Bay Area One Acts tonight and tomorrow! In fact, I’ll be slinging concessions, so come by and buy something from me!

Last year I was blown away by the show I saw, and I just know that this year will do the same. The shows are at 8pm and both are at the Tides Theatre.

Here are the details of each program:

BOA PROGRAM ONE runs Sept. 28, Oct. 2 & 4 and features…

The Custom Made Theatre Co, Modernizing the Afterlife by Tracy Held Potter Directed by Katja Rivera

Do it Live! Productions, The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock Based on the poem by T.S. Eliot Devised and Directed by Allison Combs

PianoFight, Desiree by Sam Leichter Directed by Rob Ready

The San Francisco Shakespeare Festival, Write Dirty to Me by Daniel Holloway Directed By Sharon Robinson

Sponge Theater, Red All Over by Bennett Fisher Directed by Rem Myers

The Visible Theater, Last Couples Therapy Session on Earth by William Bivins Directed by Jon Wai-keung Lowe

BOA PROGRAM TWO runs Sept. 27 & 29, Oct. 3 & 5 and features…

All Terrain Theater, Inexpressibly Blue by Nancy Cooper Frank Directed by Robert Estes

FaultLine Theater, Two Pigeons Talk Politics by Lauren Gunderson Directed by Maria Calderazzo & Maxx Kurzunski

New Conservatory Theatre Center, Babes by Michael Phillis Directed by Sara Staley

Playwrights Foundation, My Year by Megan Cohen Directed by Siobhan Marie Doherty

San Francisco Theater Pub, Shooter by Daniel Hirsch Directed by Rik Lopes

Tides Theater, Break of Day by Jeff Carter Directed by Brian Trybom

Wily West Productions, 3 Sisters Watching Three Sisters by Ignacio Zulueta Directed by Kat Kneisel

Buy your tickets here: http://bayoneacts.org/tickets/!

Hope to see you there!

I have been sitting on this information for a couple of weeks, and that is HARD for me. But, now I can officially announce that I am in the writers pool this season for PlayGround! I am jazzed. I am pumped. I might be a little bewildered, but I’m working on that… Actually, when I first got the email, I was afraid that there was some mistake. That I would send in the required information and I’d get an email in return that started, “Oh, sorry…” Like a reverse of the SFSU slip up. But no! I am in, and I am totally in. Officially in!

This was my third time applying for the pool. Two years ago I sent in my very first play that I ever wrote, The Anniversary, which would eventually become The Fantasy Club. I was positive that I would be selected, which is hilarious because I knew absolutely nothing about writing plays, and practically nothing about the theater community that I was living in. Last year I sent in My Body, and I thought I had a pretty good shot, but again I was not selected. This year I sent in my ten-minute play Mother Of The Year, and had no idea if I was getting in or not, and then it happened. So keep trying, right? Keep submitting. If you want something, you shouldn’t give up on the first no (or in my case the first two).

I will hopefully be at all of the Monday Night PlayGround Staged Readings and I hope to see you there! If you’d like to buy a subscription do that here! I have no idea if I’ll be getting into any of the nights, but I will let the world know if I do! You can count on that.

Here are the dates for this year’s Monday Night PlayGround Series:

October 21 @ 8pm

November 18 @ 8pm (Musical month!)

December 16 @ 8pm

January 13 @ 8pm

February 17 @ 8pm

March 17 @ 8pm

Hope you can make it out!

NOVEMBER 9th! 8pm at the Exit Theatre in San Francisco, the San Francisco Olympians Festival presents:

Under The Gods’ Golden Cleats

a new play by Rachel Bublitz

The legend of Achilles mashed with Texas football; a world where cheerleaders are slaves and players are encouraged to kill members of the opposing team.

Directed by Claire Rice

Cast TBA

November 9th, 2013 at 8pm

Rachel Bublitz’s play will mash up Achilles’ story in the Trojan War with the football culture of modern day Texas, creating a brand new world where cheerleaders are property, and the Gods preside over the games. Achilles, a young football legend, is the number one ranked player in the country. When the Trojans kidnap their precious bovine mascot, Helen, Achilles chooses to die young and glorious rather than grow old and lose his talents.

RSVP NOW!!!!!

No advance ticket sales, $10 (CASH ONLY!) at the door. I have never been more excited or more proud of a play I’ve written. I hope that you make it out.

All Terrain Theatre‘show in SF Fringe, Babies, the Ultimate Birth Control: Terrifyingly Hilarious Plays about Parenting, a show that I wrote ½ of, won TWO awards last night! We won BEST OF FRINGE and one SOLD OUT award! I am proud to have worked on this show, and I’m SO grateful to our cast, director, stage manager, producer, and my partner in crime (Tracy Held Potter) for making this show so wonderful!

ALSO, thank you to all those folks who made it out and got to see the hilarious show! There are more shows coming up, as usual, and I have some exciting things to announce soon too!