Submission 135 / Day 133

BENEATH SHELTON LAUREL to Pittsburgh Irish & Classical.

All right, I know a couple of days ago I said that I can't submit to PICT because I'm neither Irish nor classical. But, then over the weekend I learned that they're producing a fair number of equally non-Irish, non-classical pieces including Shanley's DOUBT next season and recently HISTORY BOYS.

So, for reasons of theme and style, this is a very good submission, but it's a difficult one for me because I know Andrew Paul, PICT's AD. Please don't misunderstand me, Andrew is a wonderful person who has done remarkable things in building an excellent, excellent theatre company and he's also attended and complimented my plays. That's why this submission is hard.

People who are true "networkers" know how to gracefully exploit acquaintances and friendships in a way I do not and, when I try, I feel every bit the awkward 15-year old stumblingly asking Cindy Dusch for a date (She refused, but had the grace not to laugh).

I simply have a hard time getting around the feeling that in making this kind of submission I'm also administering a test of whether prior expressions of regard were sincere and the truth is I don't want to know and I feel like a shit for making Andrew tell me.