Vanessa Claire Stewart on Her Hit Run at Sacred Fools

Because of my Southern upbringing, I'm not that great at "self-promotion." Years of my parents teaching me not to brag has somehow stunted me in this department. So it's a little difficult to admit right now that I have had a good month. A very good month. In my last column, I was ruminating on the fact that "Stoneface: The Rise and Fall and Rise of Buster Keaton," the show I wrote, had just opened at Sacred Fools Theater and I was sitting by my computer waiting for the reviews to come out. It wasn't just that my ego needed a couple of good notices. It's that my livelihood did. An opportunity can live or die on the opinions of others, and so I waited with bated breath to get the validation that this show would have a life beyond its initial run. And it happened.

I got a text message from the director: "We're LA Times critics pick!" More reviews came in. My manager started getting calls again. Leonard Maltin called it "honest" and "admiring." We sold out and had to add two extensions. I told my manager, "If this doesn't get me a good lit agent, I don't know what will." It's funny to have been sitting on top of 10 finished screenplays, but until other people in the business validated me, it was hard to find anyone to believe in my projects. I know a ton of people in this town that "have what it takes," but until they find a person willing to take a chance on them, nothing can happen. Success in this business is talent plus timing plus tenacity plus preparedness plus that one person willing to take a chance on you.

I think what is resonating with the audiences that come to see "Stoneface" is that within our team we have all taken a chance on each other. There's not a moment that isn't risky and dangerous. The director, Jaime Robledo, took a chance by believing in my script and taking it on. I took a chance on my husband, French Stewart, who is mostly known for comedy. I believed that he could portray the haunted, darker side of silent-screen legend Buster Keaton and I was right. The L.A. Times called his performance a "revelation." All of the actors and designers in the show took a chance on telling this story even though there was barely any money to give them. And now audiences are taking a chance on us. So what happens now? Ask me next month. I'm just trying to enjoy the ride up again.