There is so much exciting theatre going on right now, I’m bummed that I’m missing so much of it. If only my kids would hurry up and be old enough to either leave home or bring with me (yes I know I will wish them to little again when they are old enough for that). But I am pretty lucky to be able to see what I am seeing. What am I planning on seeing? I’m so glad that you asked….

FRUSTRATION, a benefit show for Play Cafe

It’s this Sunday at 3pm, it’s FREE, and it’s in Berkeley.

Yes I have a piece in the show and I’m directing one of the plays, but I’d be going to this anyway. Play Cafe does a lot to help out local playwrights, and I’m excited to see the work that will be showcased. The second scene from my one act play TERRIBLE PEOPLE will close the show, I hope to see you there!

Oh, and they will be accepting donations, should you be moved to give!

THE PLAY ABOUT THE BABY at The Custom Made Theatre

The show has started it’s run, and it’s playing through October 7th. I’m seeing the show on September 27th if you feel like following me around.

Edward Albee is my very favorite playwright of all times, so I try and make it a habit to see anything of his that’s done in the area. And so far this show has gotten rave review after rave review. You’ll regret not seeing it!

MY SISTER’S BABY a developmental reading presented by Playwright’s Center of San Francisco

Oct. 1 (Monday) at 7:30pm. $10 donation, free for members.

Surprise, surprise… I will in fact be attending the developmental reading of my full length play MY SISTER’S BABY. I have a stellar cast, and I’ve been working hard on the draft that will be presented that night. Come, show your support, and give me some feedback!

SPOOKY CABARET from Wily West Productions

A four night festival that runs October 7th-10th featuring spooky plays from local writers! Get your halloween on early!

BOUND BY BLOOD from Ianiro Productions

The show runs October 5th – 27th at 8pm at Boxcar Playhouse (505 Natoma Street, San Francisco, CA)

And, of course….

REPRO RIGHTS! produced by Playwright’s Center of San Francisco

And to remind you again, that’s on October 22nd at 7:30. It’s $25, and all the money goes to Planned Parenthood

Got all that? Okay, now go out and see some theatre!

Two weeks away from the developmental reading of MY SISTER’S BABY! I can’t wait! I have a few days before I have to turn in the script for the reading, so that means I have a few days for rewriting it! The first act is pretty strong, but I need to shuffle and fix the second half. So I have my mellow music on, my kids are destroying the backyard, and I’m typing as fast as my brain and hands will allow. As challenging as rewriting is for me, it might be my favorite part of writing.

This afternoon I got the best email ever….

“Dear, Ms. Bublitz.

Your play MY BODY is clever, skillfully written, and one of the most effective >gender-reversal analogies of the reproductive rights issue that we’ve ever encountered. In >other words, we love it and we would be delighted and honored to include it in our SLUT >staged reading festival!

Please confirm that you would still like to have My Body included in SLUT, and we will >follow up soon with more details. We very much look forward to showcasing your work!

Sincerely yours,

The Disreps Lit Team The Disreputables”

Yep! MY BODY will join the line up for SLUT this October over in DC! And they said such nice things… Oooh, it feels good. It was tense for a minute or two, when I wasn’t sure it would be alright for it to be a part of both programs. But, the folks with Repro Rights! and The Disreputables both gave me the okay! Yay!

Going to be in DC in October? You’ve got to see this show! Here are the details:

SLUT

Catch us next at SLUT, a festival of short works inspired by the War on Women – part of the UNmute! staged reading series.

Tuesday 10/22 & Wednesday 10/23, 7:30-10:30 pm @ Arlington Arts Center.

Four hours until show time! I can’t wait. It was a trip to write a play in one night. Last night the playwrights each drew a number (I drew #2, and I was so pleased), the number indicated how many actors we’d get. After numbers, we drew the actors (I’m working with Rob Dario and Scott Ragle), directors (I pulled Diana DiCostanzo), and finally my daughter dressed in a sparkly Vanna White dress picked the theme… THAT’S NOT TRUE. That’s completely true, by the way… In case the theme led you to believe otherwise.

After the picking party, we got together with our team and shared in some awkward introductions and meetings. It felt like I was on a reality TV show forced to do a team challenge, hoping I wasn’t stuck with a dud (also hoping my actors and director didn’t think that I was a dud). I wasn’t too much help to them last night. “What do you think you’ll write,” they asked. I had no idea. I need to sit with my computer and a scrap of paper before I know that (I doodle). So, I left… Leaving them all feeling uneasy, I’m sure.

I got home, tried to write, but the kids were up and my boy just had to sit on my lap. The first play I was toying with fell apart as I tried to write with my toddler. My second play, I waited to start this play until both kids were sleeping, didn’t last more than a page or two. Then I started the play that I’d hand over hours later. It went to unexpected places, I started with the idea that nearly everything out of the character’s mouthes would be lies (remember the theme???). I got lucky that my director was awake when I was done with a draft I liked, she read it, gave me feedback, I fixed a few things and BAM. Sleepy time.

Today I’ve kinda been going crazy, I’m not over in SF at rehearsals yet. I’ve been worried that they’re locked in a room biter and angry that they got stuck with me and my play (it’s called BROTHER’S THAT LIE TOGETHER, if you’re wondering (puns happen late at night)), here’s to hoping it’s going well!

And it will open in less than three hours now, so I must really be off. I hope to see you this evening, I know it’s going to be a good time. The show is sold out, but there’s set to be a kickin’ after party with a homemade peach pie (delicious!).

Today, I’m submitting to Writer’s Week (that brings me up to 9!). Click the link above, read the rules. Basically you pick a prompt, write something (anything really), post it online and enter the link. And you’re entered! Here’s my entry….

Three Minutes

A three minute play by Rachel Bublitz

Characters:

June, female, 45-65 years old

Felix, 20 years old

JUNE and FELIX are on stage. FELIX has an IV in his arm, and is strapped to a hospital bed.

JUNE There are only three minutes left until-

FELIX (Interrupting) I know! Stop nagging me.

JUNE Three minutes isn’t very long-

FELIX (Interrupting) I graduated from kindergarten, I know how long three minutes is.

JUNE I wasn’t trying to belittle you.

FELIX Whatever.

Pause.

JUNE We could call her. With your last-

FELIX (Interrupting) I’m her only son, I’m dying. And she doesn’t show? No fucking way we’re calling her.

JUNE She can’t walk.

FELIX They told me.

JUNE She lost her foot.

FELIX I know! Shit, don’t you listen?

JUNE I’m just trying to impress upon you how challenging coming here would be for her.

FELIX But she’s my mom! She should be here.

Pause.

JUNE Would you like to pray with me?

FELIX Pray? How come I got a woman here? Aren’t there rules against that?

JUNE You told the warden you’d prefer a woman.

FELIX I wasn’t serious.

JUNE It’s too late. (Pause) Do you believe in God?

FELIX No.

Pause.

JUNE Would you like to get anything off your chest Felix? These are your last moments.

FELIX Someone might call though, right? They can stop it? I’ve seen that on TV.

JUNE No one is going to call.

FELIX How do you know that? Huh? It could happen.

JUNE You admitted to killing sixteen people-

FELIX (Interrupting) Yeah, but-

JUNE (Interrupting) Five of which were children.

FELIX But I was only fourteen. I was a kid.

JUNE Are you sorry for what you did Felix?

Pause.

FELIX I don’t want to die. Please.

FELIX Will it hurt?

JUNE No, it will be like falling asleep.

FELIX I have a hard time falling asleep.

JUNE It will be quick. (Speaking to someone off stage.) We’re ready.

FELIX I’m not ready! That wasn’t three minutes! I’m sorry, I’m sorry, okay? I want my mom! Where’s my mommy? Please, stop. Please. I don’t want to die!

FELIX falls asleep, and then dies.

JUNE May God have mercy on your soul.

End of play.

BUY TICKETS HERE

You might still have time, but you’ll have to move fast! If you miss out on the show, there will still be a reception after (party!) with many awesome things to win in the wonderful raffle. I hope to see you there on Saturday night, it’s going to be a damn good show!

BUY TICKETS HERE

While reading over NYC Playwrights Blog this evening, I was struck by one of the calls for submissions. It’s for a short play lab in October… And apparently they have the ability to read and decide on plays before you send them in!

Under the “easy-peasy” rules, they state:

“Deadline is Oct. 7. Notification will be immediately after submission, if not sooner.”

I’m going to repeat that in case you didn’t catch it… “Notification will be immediately after submission, if not sooner.” They will evaluate your script and notify you on the outcome before you even submit it! Nice, huh? Saves time, more companies should seriously consider taking advantage of magical abilities.

Click here to see for yourself.

Catching up, slowly but surely…

I submitted MY BODY as a comedic political writing sample to Thistle Dew Theatre in Sacramento. They’re looking to put together a team of playwrights. Send them up to 3 10-20 minute plays (all political and comedic) with your resume by October 30th if you’re interested in working with them.

I got a completely random email from a theatre company in LA yesterday. It said, we’re considering THE FANTASY CLUB for our Fall show and are doing a cold read of the script tonight. I emailed back (quick like a panther), “I’m in Ventura, mind if I join you?” They did not mind. They were excited. The reading went really well, and now it’s up to a director to decide.

At one point they were talking about my play versus other scripts they might do and all I could think was, “Do you guys realize how loud my heart is pounding right now?” They spoke awfully casually about something so dear to me… It was a surreal experience. In the end I felt like it was a good experience though, this must be how companies talk without playwrights present. It’s good to know.

On a side note, I’ve always heard that LA drivers are crazy… That is now confirmed.

Other big news! I am the Associate Producer for the rough reading series over at Playwright’s Foundation! Tracy Held Potter and I are going to split the series up between us! It was ever so slightly awkward when we both decided to apply for the same job, made more so when my husband insisted that the interviewer was going to ask why I was a better choice than Tracy (luckily he didn’t)… And I think we were both hoping to split the series between the two of us, and then that happened! Yay!

And for my final bit of info to pass along… I’m behind on submissions for Binge, but I’m catching up. Today I submitted 6, 7, and 8….

I sent my Christmas play OY OY OY MERRY CHRISTMAS! over to The New American Theatre. They’re looking for 10-15 minute comedic Holiday themed plays. The plays must be mailed in, and postmarked by 9/12 (that’s tomorrow!). No fee.

And I sent TERRIBLE PEOPLE off to Southern Railroad Theatre Company and Pacifica Table Readers.

If you’re wondering, today wasn’t as fun as yesterday… I spent over six hours in the car with my kids driving home from Ventura. But I’m home now… Oakland never looked so sweet.

I’m very excited to announce the cast for two of my upcoming shows! I’m pleased to be working with such talented folks, and I hope you can make it out!

MY SISTER’S BABY:

October 1st, 7:30pm

A developmental reading presented by Playwright’s Center of San Francisco.

Margaret…………..Livia Demarchi

Henry……………..Galen Murphy-Hoffman

Julia……………..Alysha English

Elijah…………….Adam Roy

MY BODY:

October 22nd, 7:30pm

MY BODY is a part of, REPRO RIGHTS! Playwright’s Center of San Francisco presents a timely, entertaining, and thought-provoking evening of staged readings of original short plays and monologues on the topic of reproductive rights and bodily autonomy.

Laura…………….Valerie Fachman

Patrick…………..Wes Cayabyab

Sally…………….Roneet Rahamim