Producing independent theater is hard enough for one small company to attempt on its own, but two visionary New York companies have got the right idea and decided to collaborate to bring some exciting new plays to the indie scene. Ivy Theatre Company and Funny...Sheesh Productions have come together to present two new plays at Tada Theater.

We sat with Audrey Alford, director/producer for Ivy Theatre Company's "The Feminism of a Soft Merlot or (How the Donkey Got Punched)" and playwright/producer Jason S. Grossman of Funny... Sheesh Productions' "Doubles Crossed: The Ballad of Rodrigo" to discuss the struggles involved with producing theater in New York, how their two shows relate to each another and why collaborative producing is the way to go.

StageBuddy: Tell us about both shows and how they relate to one another?

Audrey Alford: “The Feminism of a Soft Merlot or (How the Donkey Got Punched)” by Micheline Auger, is about the sexually adventurous Kareena trying out monogamy with Teddy while her prudish best friend, Sam, starts dating Kyle, a pornographer. It touches on sexual empowerment, feminism, and what it means to be a nice guy.  “Doubles Crossed: The Ballad of Rodrigo” by Jason S. Grossman, is a really fun neo-noir thriller that has so many twists and turns. I don't want to ruin it by saying too much. They are related in that both are new works by local playwrights, produced by husband and wife teams looking to collaborate with great artists.

SB: What are some challenges you face producing Independent Theater in NYC and how do you overcome them?

AA: One of the biggest challenges is the simple cost of putting on a show.  Crowd-funding is great, but the biggest way we tackled this issue was to combine efforts and share the space, designers and the set. We were able to put four people behind the effort rather than two each, and we have really supported each other through the whole process. For Ivy Theatre Company, it is all about collaboration rather than competition, so we were thrilled to have this opportunity.  Another big issue is finding reliable, talented people who will work for peanuts. Both companies want to pay everyone, but the fact is, we can't pay a lot at this point in time.  This is where networking and getting referrals from people we know and trust comes in handy. It doesn't always work, but it certainly gives you a leg up! I also keep those I love and try to get them as much work as possible either with my company or with someone else. I try to make up for lack of dollars with other opportunities.

Jason S. Grossman: Producing independent theater here is very hard.  You need a lot of help and the generosity of time and resources from multiple sources.  We also have to deal with the competition of theatrical works in NYC.  We have been able to deal with all these challenges with creative fundraising initiatives, our space sharing agreement with Audrey Alford and Ivy Theatre Company and the ongoing collaboration that has blossomed from it.  Ivy's people will have an idea; we'll have an idea; we work things out.  It helps to have coolheaded, proactive people involved.  (They've helped keep me saner, that's for sure.)

SB: What sparked this partnership of co-producing? 

JG: I love the collaborative process.  I've been privileged to have collaborated with a number of people from playwrights to screenwriters to sketch comics, and I love it.  It's great to have someone with whom to bounce ideas, and you get to kick each other in the butt to get the work done.  A partnership in producing seemed like a perfect extension of these experiences.  It started as a great suggestion from Michael Roderick from Small Pond Enterprises.  Amber Gallery (Co-Producer and the show’s director) and I then spoke with potential partners and immediately clicked with Audrey and Ivy Theatre Company.  Little did we know that the partnership would bring such beneficence to both productions.  We both had designers and production people to suggest.  I feel the two theater companies combine into this strong, creative entity.

SB: What can audiences expect from both productions?

AA: Audiences can expect a super talented cast, lots of laughs, and some serious conversation after seeing Soft Merlot. It is a smart, poignant script with great characters. Everyone who has seen it so far has had a great time.

JS: For Doubles Crossed: The Ballad of Rodrigo, audiences can expect a compelling dramatic story told in an innovative, entertaining way.  It's like a classic film brought to life on stage.

SB: What have you learned from co-producing?

AA: The best things happen when you dive in. Communication is key to a successful partnership. It is so much more fun when you really enjoy the people you are working with, and we love Amber and Jason!

JS: This is the way to go.  It's a highly successful and rewarding endeavor that we would do it again in a heartbeat.  We greatly admire and respect Audrey and Bobby Alford and Micheline Auger and everyone at Ivy Theatre Company!  Amber and I are very grateful for our partnership.