And Now for a Word from the Directors

Participation is on our minds.

We are very excited to be participating in this year's New York Collective Ten Minute Play Festival and are thrilled to be collaborating with a truly outstanding group of writers, designers and actors. We are extremely grateful to Wayne Kasserman and Gibson Knott, the visionary and dynamic leaders of the Collective’s Theater wing, for giving us such an amazing opportunity. We are keenly interested in participating in this year's presidential election and have long been curious about the IOWA caucus and its unique position in the presidential nomination process. Our central curiosity -- who are these people who have so much influence on who the presidential nominees will be? All of us participating in IOWA 08 will attempt to answer this question by using the Iowa caucus as a backdrop to tell the story of a handful of Iowans.

ABOUT THE PIECES
Setting: in Iowa in a school gymnasium/polling station.
Time: Caucus time (needn't be present day)(needn't not be present day)

WHY IOWA?
1. Iowa is first to vote and people seem to take participating in the process very seriously. (Or at least more seriously than most of the people I know).
2. The Iowa caucus matters. Over the years its caucuses have legitimized campaigns and candidates including Jimmy Carter (1976, seen as winner despite placing 2nd behind "Uncommitted") and George W. Bush (2000, records highest percentage ever in contested GOP caucus).
3. It is as All-American a state as you'll find. Its chief exports are tractors and pigs and is the birth place of John Wayne, "Buffalo Bill" Cody and Hebert Hoover, among others who seem to embody the very best and worst of what it means to be American.

Of course, we don't purport to be experts on the topic; we're interested observers trying our best to document this slice of American life. But don't take our word on it.

Participate.

The success or failure of this blog depends on the you, the voice of the community, the ones with your ears down on the railroad track. Is it the Number 9 coming around the bend or a rampaging buffalo stampede? Hopefully, over the next couple of weeks, we'll be able to figure that out. Together.

-Mark & Mercedes