Success Stories: The Birthday Boys

Here is the first in a series of success stories from past Fringe participants who have gone on to further victories and achievements.

To kick us off, here is a testimonial from Mr. Aaron Kozak.

His show is enjoying a new life with a recent Theatre Unleashed production. I understand tickets are selling-out fast, so make sure to reserve yours soon if you are interested in seeing last year’s “Fringe First” award winner.

Got a success story? Send it to [email protected]

Ben

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Dear Fringe Freaks of the past and future,

Last year, after placing the deposit down on The Complex’s famous Dorie
Theatre; I immediately said to myself, “Well, I hope this goes well
because you should not have done that.” I had very little money to
use, all my own, and my production team essentially consisted of me,
myself, and I. I knew I had solid actors that would be come on board,
but that was pretty much all I had going for me. I really wasn’t
expecting anything huge, nor did I ever plan to make all my money
back, but it still felt like a risk considering the cost of doing five
shows in prime-time slots with my limited resources. However, I really
wanted to get my play “The Birthday Boys” on it’s feet in Los Angeles,
and the Fringe Festival seemed like it would be an awesome place to
world premiere. So, I closed my eyes, handed Matt the check, and
committed myself to making it something special, or something that at
least wouldn’t embarrass me.

We rehearsed the play in my living room because my space fell through. I only printed business cards because I couldn’t afford full on postcards or posters, and the Complex worked out a long payment plan. We were as rinky dink as it gets to be flat out honest with you, but my actors were really hungry and it just came together. We won some awards, some nice press, and though I didn’t make all my money back, the loss was manageable.

The whole festival felt like going to summer camp. It was my best LA
experience in five years of living here because the people involved
are such a damn good time. We drank beer and sangria, then walked down
the street to see plays, then drank more sangria, then we watched one
of the British Invasion guys, then more drinking. And let us not
forget how much we enjoyed the corn hole. Also, wasn’t there a giant
hot dog or a peanut that was walking around at one point? Did I make
that up?

[editor’s note: It was indeed a giant ketchup bottle.]

Since then, I’ve had two runs in LA. The first was part of the
extension series for Theatre Asylum, where Rachel Stoll, the Overlord
of Twitter, came on board as our marketing department, which helped us
reel in some more reviews. The latest staging is running this very
weekend (and the next two weekends) as a Theatre Unleashed production.
I’m really excited because TU invited me to be a playwright in
residence, which should be a lot of fun. That run actually came about
because Greg Crafts, a founder of the company, was staging his show
“Friends Like These” next door to me, and we would talk shop
backstage. Also, once I realized I could not run the house, lights,
sound and concessions at the same time; I ended up just sending all my
patrons to eat his show’s food. It was pretty hilarious.

I’ve had several readings in New York in preparation for a run at the end of
the year with the Art Effects Theatre Company. I have prospective runs
in Chicago, Colorado, and possibly Australia…thanks to Chris
Galletti, who came to the 2010 Hollywood Fringe with “Mission of
Flowers.” And in May, the original cast is headed to Texas to be first
play performed in over thirty years at the Historic Texas Theatre in
Dallas, which is where Lee Harvey Oswald was captured after shooting
President Kennedy. Not one of these thing would have come about, had I
not entered the festival. It threw me out there, giving me momentum,
credibility, and connections to people who are making things happen.
Also, I went to the Price is Right, which was really the icing on the
cake.

Anyway, the whole thing was a blast. I loved it and highly recommend
it. I’m very excited about the future of this festival, and I wish you
all the best in your creative endeavors.

Sincerely,
Aaron Kozak
[email protected]

PS – I would LOVE to act in a play this year, so please email me if
you’re looking for people to audition.