Song: IF I FOLLOW MY DREAMS (NO MORE GAMES) Music & Lyrics by Van Dirk Fisher on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cF1GVDKhZvM. The song IF I FOLLOW MY DREAMS (NO MORE GAMES) Music, Lyrics & Vocal Arrangements by Van Dirk Fisher and Featuring Joseff Goodwin & Bianca M. Gonzalez, is a celebration for anyone who has been lucky enough to have found that special love that's unconditional with NO MORE GAMES. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have in writing it.



You can download the song (mp3) at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/joseffgoodwinbiancagoodw

Script Submissions for the Strawberry One-Act Festival, Deadline October 30th

Submissions for the Strawberry One-Act Festival are now being accepted. Seeking One-Act Plays running between 15 - 30 minutes. The deadline is October 30th. To download an application click here. Prize for Best Play is $1,500.00.

Auditions for Singers & Hip Hop Dancers for 2 Music Videos & Film

Singers & Hip Hop Dancers wanted for the Riant Theatre's 2 Music Video Projects and Film

The Riant Theatre is seeking Singers and Hip Hop Dancers for 2 music video projects & film. Singers must be comfortable singing R&B and Pop. Please prepare 1 song to be sung a cappello. Dancers will be asked to dance freestyle to music provided by us. Please email your picture and resume to obtain an audition appointment. RiantTheatre@gmail.com. You may also include a link with you singing or dancing on YouTube, etc. No pay. Non-Union. A dvd will be provided for participants when the music video is done.

Auditions will be held at 419 Lafayette Street, 2nd Floor. Between Astor Place & East 4th Street. Trains: #6 to Astor Place, R Train to 8th Street.

Depending on which project you are selected for the dates of filming are:

Sunday, October 30th, Sunday, November 6th and Wednesday and November 9th.

New Dimensions and Horizons: The Strawberry One-Act Festival Like You've Never Seen Before

By Van Dirk Fisher

Every time I begin to work on the Strawberry One-Act Festival I ask myself, “What can I do to make it better and provide more exposure for the playwrights, directors and actors?” This year I was inspired by one of our alumni, Phil Reissman, who invited me to see a screening of his play that was once in the festival. Well I had to attend. I was honored to be invited and very proud of his accomplishment. It was not too long after that that my wheels started turning. I’ve always wanted to present the festival on television as a reality show and allow our viewers to see the process that the artists go through to produce their play for the festival. In the past we’ve streamed the plays online for viewers to watch them online and cast their votes and the response was tremendous, but the time element of videotaping them and getting them online on time was challenging. So I’ve decided on a new approach and The Video Diaries Project was born.

Ten filmmakers were selected to participate in the project. Each was allowed to choose the play that they wanted to film and create their documentary. The artists were told to treat the project as a personal diary and to talk about the process they go through to develop their plays. It’s meant to be raw, up close and personal. In the end the filmmaker gets to tell the story from their observation and the end results is something remarkable. I’m very proud of them and welcome any and all attention that can be bestowed on them for having the courage to dream and the will and the tenacity to pursue it.

I’ve always said that all the playwrights are winners by virtue of being selected for the festival. The process of working on their plays, the lessons they learn along the way and the contacts they make with other artists are the real prize. The experience is priceless and the memories I hope they cherish them as fondly as I do.

The Video Diaries Project had a screening at the Tribeca Grand Hotel and at the Time Warner Corporate Head Quarters in NYC. Six of the best films were presented during the festival and an award and cash prize of $500 was presented to the Best Short Film of the Season, ELLEN’S DIARY by Brian Torres. Click here to watch the film. The award was presented on Sunday, August 7^th at 2pm along with the awards for Best Play, UNEXPECTED COMPANY by Wendy Mae Shelton, who received $1,500 and a development deal to have a full length play produced by the Riant Theatre, Best Director, ROB DRAKE (photo right) for Wait And See What Happens by Alison Costello, Best Actor, DENNIS BRITO for Paid Off by Robert D. Argen, Best Actress, BELLE CAPLIS for Unexpected Company by Wendy Mae Shelton.

Jane Rubinsky (photo right with playwright Arlene Corsano) joined the Riant Theatre this past summer as a contributing writer for The Riant Theatre Review, which featured articles about the artists in the festival. The festival was presented at the Hudson Guild Theatre and we were blessed with plays submitted from as far away as Australia (The Flowers Don’t Grow Here Anymore by Josie Parrelli) to Utah (Horst and Graben at the Chateau Godot by Jeffrey Gold); to Vermont (The Oasis by Andrew Fridae); to Connecticut (The Prenup by Charles Gershman); to San Francisco (Love For Beginners by Cesar Abella); to Maryland (Butterfly by Trish Cole); and finally to New York (Paid Off by Robert D. Argen). There was a wide array of topics addressed in the festival plays. Our next festival will be at the Hudson Guild Theatre and run from March 1^st through March 11, 2012.

The festival is currently accepting submissions for the festival. The deadline is October 30, 2011 and you may download the application by visiting our website at www.therianttheatre.com or by emailing us at RiantTheatre@gmail.com.

We are holding a competition for the Best Theme Song for the Strawberry One-Act Festival. You can download an application from our website for details on how to enter. The prize of $250 will be presented at the Awards Ceremony on March 11, 2012. Click here to hear the winner of the BestTheme Song from 2011 – IT’S STRAWBERRY TIME by Andrew Fridae and Daniel Brian Jones.

At the Launch Party for the Strawberry One-Act Festival we presented the PIONEER OF THE ARTS AWARD to Broadway Producer, ALDO SCROFANI, (Photo Right) 2005 Tony Award Best Musical DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS (Nominee), Screenwriter, GERALYN LUCAS, (Photo Right: Center) WHY I WORE LIPSTICK TO MY MASTECTOMY - Lifetime Network, and JEWEL KINCH-THOMAS, (Photo Right: Right) Executive & Artistic Director of Riverside Theatre, and NY Family Arts Festival. The award ceremony was followed by a panel discussion with the honorees.

A special thanks to our staff and interns who helped make the event a success. (MJ Savasana, Chloe Glickman, Van Dirk Fisher (Artistic Director), Boncellia Lewis (Singer), Jarvis Chapman, Anaridia Burgos, Elvin Greene and Carolyn Canty.)

Souvenir mugs and Strawberry One-Act Festival t-shirts are available for purchase on our website as well www.therianttheatre.com. You can also buy our latest anthology THE BEST PLAYS FROM THE STRAWBERRY ONE-ACT FESTIVAL: Volume Six. It’s a good read. For those of you who are into steamy romance novels filled with suspense, you will enjoy my novel LOVING YOU. It’s available www.therianttheatre.com and www.amazon.com.

Photo of Playwrights & Directors at the Launch Party.

IndieGoGo - the best kept secret to helping you raise money to produce your show!

Producing theatre can be a challenge to anyone these days. Especially if you are an independent artist considering producing your own show. After taking into consideration all the factors of contracts, choosing a theatre, selecting your designers and casting your show, many of you may want to know how you can raise the money to make your dreams a reality? Recently I attended a panel discussion on Producing Theatre held at Space-On-White in Manhattan. One of the panelists was Slava Rubin, Chief Executive Officer of IndieGoGo (www.indieGoGo.com), a company which provides anyone with an idea - creative, cause-related, or entrepreneurial - the tools to effectively build a campaign and raise money.

They provide the tools for you to build your campaign but you need to put in some legwork crafting your story and doing community building and outreach to get it all started. They provide integrated social media tools, and the more you use them (it's what they like to call DIWO, or Do-It-With-Others) the sooner you will land you on their homepage, in the blog, or in their social media outreach and press.

Here are some frequently asked questions:

What is IndieGoGo?
IndieGoGo is a collaborative way to fund ideas.

IndieGoGo provides an easy online platform for anyone to raise more money, from more people, faster than otherwise possible. With IndieGoGo you can turn your passion into a funding campaign, promote your idea, engage a fan base, and get your passion funded. We provide all the tools you need to build a campaign and share it with the world.

How does IndieGoGo work?
Anyone can create a campaign, where you tell your story, set a funding goal, and offer perks to contributors. You can use IndieGoGo to create your campaign, share it with your network, engage fans, track information about contributors, and collect money. IndieGoGo provides excellent customer service for creating your campaigns and collecting money. We also promote campaigns through social media and press outreach, as well as on our homepage, in our newsletters, and on our blog.

Why does IndieGoGo exist?
We started IndieGoGo to democratize funding. Now anyone with a great idea has the opportunity to share his or her campaign and raise money to turn a passion into a reality.

Who can use IndieGoGo?
IndieGoGo is open for anyone to use, with any type of campaign - creative, cause-related, or entrepreneurial.

Can campaigns use IndieGoGo for equity investments?
No. All campaigns on IndieGoGo are contribution based.

Does it cost anything to create a campaign?
It doesn't cost anything to create a campaign. There is a 4% fee on the money you raise when you meet your funding goal. 3rd party processing fees also apply.

Where is IndieGoGo located?
IndieGoGo is based in the United States, but we have members in 179 countries and counting. You can post and fund a campaign from any country as long as you have a valid bank account or credit card.

What is a campaign profile?
A campaign profile is the home of your funding campaign. Your profile includes your campaign pitch (an image or video and written story), and any ongoing updates and pictures you want to share with your contributors and fans. Your profile page is where people make contributions, share comments, and pick up widgets to share the campaign.

Who owns the rights to my campaign or idea?
You do. You keep 100% ownership of all the ideas included in your campaign on IndieGoGo.

What do I need to create a campaign?
You need a thumbnail image (that is what people see for your campaign throughout IndieGoGo), a pitch image or video (this is what people see when they open your campaign itself), a clearly identified funding goal, and a pitch story about your campaign. It's also recommended to have perks with your campaign, as well as team members helping you to spread the word.

What are perks?
You can offer perks in exchange for different contribution levels in your campaign. Perks enable you to engage fans, build trust, and provide an opportunity for more people to get involved. You can offer one-of-a-kind experiences, special acknowledgments, or limited supply products. Learn More.

What do I include in my pitch?
Cover the who, what, when, where, why, and how of your campaign. Be honest, transparent, and authentic.

How do I get my campaign on IndieGoGo's homepage, in the blog, or featured in the press?
The more you use IndieGoGo's share tools, comments, and updates (see below), and the sooner you gain traction with funding, the more likely it is you will be featured on our homepage, in the blog, or in our press outreach. We feature campaigns based on their GoGoFactor. The GoGoFactor is a combination of your activity updating and sharing your campaign, and the traction you are gaining externally with contributions. When your GoGoFactor goes up, so does the likelihood you will be featured.

What if I don't meet my funding goal?
If you don't meet your funding goal, you still keep the money you raise with your campaign. IndieGoGo charges a 9% fee on campaigns with unmet funding goals.

For more information on IndieGoGo and how to get started visit their website at www.IndieGoGo.com

The Riant Theatre Upcoming Events

The Riant Mixer - Networking Event
May 19, 2011
6PM - 9PM
FREE Before 7pm / $10 After 7PM
To Buy Tickets online click here.
646-623-3488

Highlights

• Meet the Playwrights that have been selected for the Summer Strawberry One-Act Festival (July 28th - August 7th)
• Business Card / Picture & Resume Exchange
• Mingle with actors, singers, directors, stage managers & designers and other industry professionals
  
• Feature Film, Commercial & Theatre Workshops
• Sign up for the Open Mic for Singers by sending your MP3 or link to your website or YouTube video at RiantTheatre@gmail.com
  

To register online for the workshops click here.
The Feature Film, Commercial & Theatre Workshops with Major Casting Directors will be
Thursday, May 19, 2011
7PM - 9PM
12 Debrosses Street, NYC, between Hudson & Greenwich Street. 1 block south of Canal Street.
Trains: #1, A, C, E to Canal Street. Walk West to Hudson Street.


Richard Reed from Beth Melsky Casting
Allyn Simon from Kipperman Casting, Inc.
Liz Ortiz-Mackes from Casting Solutions
Ellyn Marshall from Orpheus Group Casting
Lawrence Evans, Casting Consultant to Theatres
This is not a panel workshop. Each Casting Director will be in a separate studio. Actors will meet one one one with casting directors.

Take 1 workshop for $35
Take 4 workshops for $102
Click here to register now. Each Workshop is limited to 14 students.
To download an application for the Strawberry One-Act Festival click here.
To register for the CORE Project click here.

New Blog: Back To One - Producing, Directing and Acting in NYC

Van Dirk Fisher, AUDELCO Winner, Founder and Artistic Director of the Riant Theatre and the Strawberry One-Act Festival (Bi-Annually), gives insights on producing, directing and acting in NYC.


I’ve been asked several times for advice from actors, directors, playwrights and producers about this business we call “Show Business” and I’ve decided to write this blog to offer some insight to what I’ve learned over the years working as an actor, director, playwright, theatre producer, novelist and motivational speaker. I hope this blog is helpful. Please feel free to ask me questions and share your experiences in show business and maybe I will address your concerns and share your experiences in future blogs.

Q: What are the THREE “Ps” that every artist should live by?

A: Being Present, Prompt & Prepared. I was trained with the school of thought, while attending the High School of Performing Arts in NYC, that as an artist when we commit to a project we should be present without making excuses. The teacher or director should not have to spend time listening to an actor’s excuses for why they couldn’t be at rehearsal, they should simply be there ready to work. The second “P” is being prompt. This was a must. In fact getting there early was even better, so you could have time to take care of any personal things you needed to tend to so that at the start of the session or rehearsal you are ready to start working. The third “P” is being prepared. That means whatever was due for that particular day you made sure you were prepared to do what was expected. If that meant being off book for a particular scene you made sure you were. If that meant having your script, along with a pencil for taking notes and blocking you made sure you had a couple of pencils just in case one broke.

To read more of this blog click here.

The Riant Theatre : Alumni News

The Riant Theatre : Alumni News

Alumni Michael Jones (Rock-A My Soul, the musical and an AUDELCO winnner as Best Actor) will open in the play, A Night With Pearl Cleage’s Women at Nuyorican from March 31st - April 16th and alumni Dara Bragg (Don't Let Love Pass You By & the Strawberry One-Act Festival 1995) host the SUCCESS IN THE ARTS CONFERENCE on Saturday, April 16th from 9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. For further details click on the link above.

(Photo: Michael Jones in a scene from BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY)