This year’s San Francisco Olympians Festival is off to a great start, and I’m feeling on top of the world! Last night my cast for BREAK ROOM, based on the myth of Circe, KILLED in rehearsal. There was even a moment we had to stop and take a break because one of the actors was laughing too hard to talk. Now, it’s not all fun and games with this play, there’s some serious stuff that goes down for sure, but I love having that juxtaposition of comedy with holy crap, what happened. BREAK ROOM is about two people who are trying to make their relationship work, it takes place in a Target break room, where they both work.

For my prize, (you did know there are prizes didn’t you?), I’m giving a romantic evening in a bag complete with wine, chocolate, massage oil, and tea candles, all purchased from the play’s location: Target! There’s only ONE way to win, you have to show up and enter the raffle.

Also up that night is Kirk Shimano’s new play AEOLUS:

“A starship captain encounters an alien race with three argumentative souls in one body. But why is the human the one fighting himself?”

Our director is Claire Rice, and we have a top-notch acting crew of Tony Cirimele, Becky Raeta, and Matt Gunnison.

It’s not a not to be missed, the show is Thursday, November 19th at 8pm at the Exit Theatre. Click on over and buy yourself a ticket before it’s too late: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2194756

HOORAY! See you next Thursday!

Mark those calendars because Sunday December 6th and Monday December 8th, you’ve got plans. Playwright Foundation is producing PlayFest, an evening of micro-plays! There will be over forty local writers, and over eighty brand new teeny-tiny plays, two of which are mine!

Here’s a list of all the awesome playwrights participating this year:

Aaron Loeb, Aimee Suzara, Alison Luterman, Amy Sass, Andrew Saito, Anthony Clarvoe, Arisa White, Barbara Jwanouskos, Brit Frazier, Carol Lashof, Chistopher Chen, Dipika Guha, E. H. Benedict, Elizabeth Gjelten, E. Hunter Spreen, Enrique Munoz Ramirez, Evelyn Jean Pine, Garret Groenveld, Geetha Reddy, Ignacio Zulueta, Jake Arky, Jeffery Lo, Joan Holden, Jon Bernson, Jonathan Luskin, Josh Senyak, Karen Macklin, Lauren Gunderson, Lisa Ramirez, Madeline Mahrer, Madeline Puccioni, Megan Cohen, Michael Gene Sullivan, Michaela Goldhaber, Nick Hadikwa Mwaluko, Patricia Milton, Paul Heller, Prince Gomolvilas, Rachel Bublitz, Roberta D’Alois, Roy Conboy, Steven M. Salzman, Takeo Rivera, Tom Swift, Tracy Held Potter, and Trevor Allen.

And the directors will be:

Christine Young, John R. Lewis, Libby Vega, Logan Ellis, Michael Moran, Rem Myers, Ryan Marchand, Sango Tajima, Sydney Painter, and William Hodgson.

Tickets will go on sale soon, so keep your eyes and ears open!

The Black List Mini-Lab came and went and I’ve been so under water on homework and other writing obligations I forgot to let you know how it went! IT WAS AMAZING! But it’s not just me that thinks that, check out Scott Myers‘ blog to hear from all of the participating writers: http://gointothestory.blcklst.com/2015/11/reflections-of-black-list-san-francisco-mini-lab-writers.html. AND, if you’re at all interested in writing for the screen, Scott Myers’ blog is something you should be reading anyway.

Here’s a bit of my experience from the lab:

“The Black List mini-lab turned my brain to mush in the best possible way. I am new to writing screenplays, Girl Friend, the script that was workshopped, is actually my first attempt to write for the screen, having only written plays up until now, and so I knew I would have a lot of catching up to do. We started off the weekend with a peer review session, lead by the brilliant script-whisperer Scott Myers. He had us answer some hard hitting questions, things from, what inspired you to write this script, to, what about your script needs the most work, and after a brief discussion of our answers told us not to worry and to stay strong. This was my first moment of wondering, what have I gotten myself into? I’ve had many peer review and workshop experiences in the theater, but maybe they’re more cruel in the movies? It wasn’t long until I understood exactly what he meant.”

To read the rest, follow the link above! Yes, I’m using click bait to get people to leave my website, I’m a wild one line that.

Huge exciting news! I have been selected to workshop my screenplay, GIRL FRIEND, in a Black List Mini Lab! I know what you’re probably thinking, WHAT? I was thinking the same thing, I’ll explain…

The summer before last, 2014, I wrote my first screenplay in my very first screen writing class. I’ve worked on and tweaked it over the past year and am working on it again this semester in my current screen writing class. My teacher had the opportunity to nominate students to participate in a workshop, I was nominated, I raced around to get all the material written and collected, and then I was picked! Now you’re probably wondering what the Black List actually is, well, they’re this:

And now you’re wondering what we do at a mini-lab? Well at this lab I will be going back and forth between peer review sessions and 2 hour mentor sessions to whip my screenplay into shape. I am both extremely excited and completely freaking out. Don’t tell them this, but I have only written the ONE screen play and have never actually made a film before. But I’m also very proud and ready to be immersed in this brand new medium.

Oh, AND IT’S THIS WEEKEND. It starts Friday and runs until Sunday night. While this is an incredible opportunity that I’m very excited to jump on, it wouldn’t be possible without my kick-ass husband and friends who are stepping up to help with the kids so I can basically be done this entire weekend. SO, THANK YOU!

Here are the other lucky folks that are attending the lab:

Sarah Archer Moulton, “Michael and the Mansion of Pleasure”

Elizabeth Oyebode, “Sexton”

Rachel Bublitz, “Girl Friend”

Joe Rechtman, “The Encampment”

This script is very near and dear to my heart and I feel a tremendous urgency that this is a story that needs to be told now. I can’t wait to hear all about how to do that better. For those of you who are curious here’s the log-line for GIRL FRIEND (check me out, using the lingo):

Eleanor, who is still in the kissing is gross camp, must stop her best friend from falling in love with her before he ruins their relationship, while learning to play the drums so their band can win all that talent show contest cash and she can finally stop being the only kid in high school without a cell phone.

Wish me luck! Wish me the ability to still stay on top of my homework! AHHHHH! I still can’t believe this is happening. I’m 90% smiles right now.

I am so proud to have a play in Monday Night PlayGround tonight! It’s special for a few reasons, it’s Alumni Night, which means any writer who has had a play in Best of PlayGround was invited to submit, it’s also the 22nd Season Opener, AND the topic is “Race Matters.”

I’ll be quite honest, I was scared almost to death of taking on this topic, but I didn’t want to miss an opportunity to challenge myself and to comment and think deeply about something I find myself contemplating often anyway. I am honored that my play, The Garden, was selected and even MORE honored because the other artists working on the piece with me are amazing; Margo Hall is directing, and in the play is Tristan Cunningham and Gwen Loeb. I nearly cried when I saw this team.

The full line-up includes:

Puncturing the Dream by William Bivins, directed by Steven Anthony Jones

The Garden by Rachel Bublitz, directed by Margo Hall

White Guilt Anonymous by Ruben Grijalva, directed by Cindy Goldfield

Lesson One by Genevieve Jessee, directed by Jim Kleinmann

Archive by Kenneth Prestininzi, directed by Jon Tracy

Sunday Mourning by Mercedes Segesvary, directed by Tamiyka White

And the actors for this evening are:

Michael Asberry, Michael Barrett Austin, Aldo Billingslea, Tristan Cunningham, Jackson Davis, Dodds Delzell, Britney Frazier, Norman Gee, Douglas Giorgis, Christian Haines, Daryl Anthony Harper, Patrick Kelly Jones, Lisa Lacy, Gwen Loeb, Kelvyn Mitchell, David Moore, Lisa Morse, John Nahigian, Melissa Ortiz, Cathleen Riddley, Adam Roy, Alex Shafer, Teddy Spencer, and Anthony Williams!

I hope you can make the time to come out for the show, it’s at Berkeley Rep at 8pm, for tickets and more info: http://playground-sf.org/boxoffice/

See you tonight!

Friends and fellow theater artists, you are running out of time. One of the most inclusive and expansive theater events in the Bay Area is in the middle of raising funds, and if you don’t act fast, you’ll miss your chance to support them. And trust me, you don’t want to miss that chance.

(GIVE MONEY HERE: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-sf-olympians-festival-vi-wine-dark-sea#/story)

The San Francisco Olympians Festival, now in its sixth year, commissions new work from local writers, then gives directors and actors the chance to play with these brand new works. I have been blown away by the readings and plays that come out of this festival, and I have meet collaborators through the festival that I wouldn’t trade for all the tea in England (ps, I’ve taken a strong liking to tea).

(GIVE MONEY HERE: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-sf-olympians-festival-vi-wine-dark-sea#/story)

And then there are the other writers! Let me tell you, as a writer, we are often pitted in competition with other writers. And our time, well my time often, is spent alone, that is, at least, if you ignore my kids banging on the door begging me to stop writing and feed them. BUT, something the SF Olympians Festival gives to me and all of its writers is community. We meet, we share pages, we work through problems, we email, we get advice, we share pie and other tasty food and drinks, we make the life of a writer a little less lonely and a lot less competitive. This is a huge gift Artistic Director Stuart Bousel gives to everyone he invites to write for the festival, and it’s another HUGE reason why you should give them your money now.

(GIVE MONEY HERE: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-sf-olympians-festival-vi-wine-dark-sea#/story)

ALSO, if all of that wasn’t enough, they add opportunities to fine artists by commissioning works from them to represent each of the evenings.

(GIVE MONEY HERE: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-sf-olympians-festival-vi-wine-dark-sea#/story)

With only NINE days left and $2,673 to raise, I hope you’ll join me in supporting the SF Olympians Festival. There’s no one else quite like them, and they absolutely deserve your support.

Oh yeah, still need that link? Here it is one more time, in case you missed it before: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-sf-olympians-festival-vi-wine-dark-sea#/story

I am over-the-moon-ecstatic to finally be able to announce the OUTSTANDING cast that will being the world premiere of my play OF SERPENTS & SEA SPRAY to life in [Custom Made] Theatre(http://www.custommade.org/)’s 2015/16 season. The auditions made things very hard for us, we had a lot of hard choices with all the talent available, but I couldn’t be more pleased with the wonderful actors we got! SO, coming up in January of 2016:

OF SERPENTS & SEA SPRAY by Rachel Bublitz

Directed by Ariel Craft

Iro —– Maria Leigh

Annika / Athena —– Maria Marquis

Father / Uncle / Papa / Pere —– Andrew Calabrese

Mother / Mama / Mere —– Sabrina De Mio

Girl / Fille / Pirate —– Emma Brodginski

Boy / Garcon —– Jed Parsario

Bios and more info on the actors, can be found on the Custom Made Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/custommadesf/posts/10153527631654402?notif_t=page_tag

Sooooooooooooooooooo exciting!

AND, you can get your tickets now! Go here for more details: http://custommade.vbotickets.com/events. Or better yet, become a subscriber and see Custom Made’s entire 2015/16 season: http://custommade.vbotickets.com/events.

See you in January!!!!!!!

Coming up in a week, I’ll be on the opposite side of the country to present a reading of my play OF SERPENTS & SEA SPRAY in New York City! I can’t believe it’s come up so quick, and all week I’ll be working my little fingers to the bone getting the script in tip-top shape.

Are you in New York? You should come to the reading!! It’s going to be a great time, my brilliant director, Ariel Craft, is coming out as well, to direct the reading and she’s put together a fantastic cast. The reading is a part of Custom Made Theatre Co.’s New York Reading Series.

The reading will be at Ryan’s Daughter, a bar located at: 350 E 85th St, New York, NY 10028 on Monday (a week from today, AH!), August 3rd at 8pm.

Will you join me? There are so many New York friends I would love to meet in person! Email me if you have any questions, and hope to see you soon!

Rnbublitz@gmail.com

I am a big ol’ liar. I said I’d blog about the Conference each night, and then I did no such thing. It was so much more intense than I thought it could be! I had a great time meeting theater makers from across the country, and learned a TON from the fantastic panels and discussions each day. Want to know what I made it to? Well…

Thursday included: “Copyright: Can I Do That?” as well as a one-on-one talk with John Logan (author of Red, which I just read for my Once A Spy research!).

Friday included: “Playwrights And The New Play Exchange,” with Gwydion Suilebhan, whom I was so excited to finally meet in person (one of the great things about the conference was that I got to meet a ton of folks that I’d previously only interacted with online), “Creating A Scripted Webseries,” with Susan Miller, creator of Anyone But Me, “DG Conflict Resolutions,” where we listened to what steps we can take if a theater removes lines or makes other changes to your play without your permission, among other tricky things, “How To Use Vector Theory To Structure Your Plot,” because I’m a structure nerd, “The Global Impact of Diversity On Our Stages,” which had five terrific playwrights tackling the subject, “Beyond Emerging: The Stages Of A Writer’s Life,” and then MARSHA NORMAN gave a keynote speech! Which was amazing. And then we were presented with the finding of The Count, a Lily Award and Dramatists Guild program aimed to uncover who is getting produced. Lisa Kron and Julie Jordan also spoke!

Saturday I nearly had a brain melt, but I rallied to enjoy “Reshaping The Color Purple,” any excuse to be in the room with Marsha Norman, “Synopsis Writing,” led by Roland Tec and was so, so, SO helpful, he gave us easy to use guidelines and really broke it down in a simple way, then I headed to, “Comedy Across Mediums,” followed by, “How A Play Starts; How It Stops,” then, “La Jolla Playhouse,” and finally, “Women Writing Women,” before I hid myself in a dark corner before the final event I was able to attend: “Celebrating Stephen Schwartz.”

Sunday I drove home and yesterday I slept, and today I’m still feeling a little tired from all of that information overload of the weekend. But it was great. It energized me (in addition to exhausting me), and made me eager to jump back into projects. I met new playwrights, and learned a ton.

The thing that struck me the most though, was the staff from the Dramatists Guild, and their attitude toward us. I don’t know if I’ve ever felt so welcome into a group of people before, and their attitude and warmth really spread over the whole conference, so that normally shy playwrights were stepping out of their comfort zones and mingling like champions. So, well done Dramatists Guild! I know you’ve got at least one playwright very excited for the next conference!

Loud & Unladylike? Please, that was soooooo last week (and by the way, the final weekend was FANTASTIC, we packed both final readings, and thank you, thank you, thank you for all of those that came out and those that made it happen! We’ll be back next year, so stay tuned).

This week, in my attempt to be too busy for any human to ever be, I’m down in my hometown of San Diego for the Dramatists Guild Conference, AND IT STARTS TODAY! I’m just finishing up my cinnamon tea, will then be dropping my kids off with Bubby, and racing over to the hotel to register and bask in the glory that is hundreds of playwrights coming together for anything. I’M EXCITED! Can you tell?

I’m going to try and blog about it every night, so be sure to check back. On the agenda today, to give you a taste, will be seminars on: “Writing From History: Finding Your Niche,” “Copyright: Can I Do That?” (I can’t wait for this one!), “Using the Senses: Character and Story Creation,” and many, many more!

I’ve got hundreds of business cards ready, and my “Bitches Get Stuff Done” Tina Fey and Amy Poehler shirt on, so really, I’m as prepared as I could ever be. Dramatists, watch out, here I come!