We would want to make sure that she has never seen her dance or seen anything she's choreographed before we start accusing her on that point. Having said that, I think she needs to get down off her high horse. There is a lot of attitude directed towards Pauric in that email, and if her issue is with the committee then she should say it to us in person, rather than to one of us by email. Maybe she needs to sit in on another committee meeting? I think everyone needs to voice their opinion on this, what do people think? On Nov 23, 2007 1:48 PM, Conor Lynch <beardynoses@hotmail.com> wrote:

Well, we're not on committee to make popular decisions.

By the way, she hires a choreographer she's never seen dance or has no references for and then calls us unprofessional. Pot, kettle, black anyone?

------------------------------ Date: Fri, 23 Nov 2007 13:17:21 +0000 From: dcudrama@gmail.com To: drama-committee@lists.redbrick.dcu.ie Subject: [Drama-Committee] Fwd: Theatre Jazz

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: **<olena.ripnick2@mail.dcu.ie> Date: Nov 23, 2007 10:23 AM Subject: Theatre Jazz To: dcudrama@gmail.com

Pauric-

Re: One act, I'm in, of course! Location? (Old bar) Would we be able to get into the space at 6 to do a quick run? Let me check with my cast to make sure they're all free before I give you 150% yes...if some aren't, would it be possible to bump it to Thursday, or is that out of the question? Just thinking ahead of time, as don't know schedules...

Re: directors, I'll be interviewing/choosing those at the end of the week.

Re: choreographer, I was under the impression, as per my first meeting with you, that producer has final say on choice of the creative team. Apologies

if I misunderstood, but I distinctly remember you telling me this (because I asked a few times about it) and have basically been busting my ass to get a crew together under this impression. Is there anyone else interested at the moment? Is there a problem with Aoife as choreographer? If so, I wish the issue had been raised sooner, when I told you that she was interested, and preferably before I gave her the position. I chose Aoife because she's

extremely qualified and has already choreographed this show once.

I was planning to have Aoife join me in interviewing directors so everyone could meet everyone and we could see how the chemistry, etc. works. I do realize that this is an important part of the show, and I assure you I have planned accordingly. Now I need to know exactly who else is interested and how this will work, because I'm in a position where my authority to choose

a creative team has been diminished, and I have to tell someone who has already committed, and who is already started to choreograph the show, that, wait, she's not actually in, because you have the committee has decided, almost 2 months after giving me the position of producer and explaining my authority and responsibility, to cut back and reneage on this. This is really quite unprofessional on your end, and I suggest that in future, you clearly delineate the producer's responsibilities at the beginning and not change her role after the fact, and after she's been doing everything she can to get a crew together for 2 months. This is unheard of in the theatre. Absolutely unheard of. And if it's that much of a sore spot for the committee, I'll of course do it, and I'll interview choreographers, but I need names and resumes ASAP, to interview next week after I have chosen a director, because I'd like to

put the creative team to bed before I leave on the 15th for winter hols.

I love working with DCU Drama, but I really do not appreciate what the committee has done re: choreographer, and in changing my role and my authority. This

is seriously unprofessional, and I assure you in the professional world, completely unacceptable.

I'm in London through the weekend so I'll revert re: directors and interviews once I'm home. Would you all like a hand in choosing these as well, or am I ok choosing the director on my own? Just wanted to clarify before I start interviewing.

Look forward to hearing from you, Olena

-- www.dcudrama.ie

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I've put it at the top of the agenda. Also, I spoke to Bob briefly this afternoon about this, just to get an SPC perspective on it all, and according to him the producer should be "the director's bitch", but we have made the unfortunate mistake of giving her the undeserved authority to choose the director. That decision should really have been made by the committee, rather than her. I don't know if this means that when we try to talk to her we don't have a leg to stand on, because it was us who gave her that power in the first place. Anyways, either way we have to make a decision on Sunday night about our next course of action so that we're absolutely clear about how to approach Olena about all this. Agh, what a mess! But it'll all work out eventually, I hope! Susan :-) On Nov 23, 2007 9:06 PM, DCU Drama <dcudrama@gmail.com> wrote:

Maybe there was a miscommunication on my part, i know i had problems with this at the beginning of the year,although now i feel i have made quite an effort to improve on this,I do feel that the producer should have the final say in her creative team,but decisions of this magnitude should really be passed through committee,and perhaps at our meeting we didn't make this clear.

To me the whole choreographing issue seems a bit dodgey.She told me off hand that Aoife was interested in choregraphing at a shakespheare rehearshal,and the next thing i hear is that she has given her the role at the LOAF,which i passed onto the committee.

It is obvious that we as a committee are not very happy with this situation,it has been suggested she has not seen Aoife choregraphing before and maybe basing her decision on the back of what Aoife has said,also Aoife attitude has been questioned on a number of occasions.Although i hate to bring this up,having had no problems with Aoife myself,the fact we don't have any idea what type of person,or experience she has,does frighten me.

I think the first steps,that should be taken is to have a meeting with Olena and lay down what the role of producer is,although Olena will be producing this show, ultimately it is a DCU Drama production,with this years committee dealing with an repercussions that may arise.

Although personally offended by the tone of the email,i think we should remain quite calm and attempt to reach a collective decision as a committee on how best to solve this issuse.

I will reply to her her after Sunday meeting,and forward on the email to the rest of the committee before send.

P-Dawg