We recently sat down with Apricott Productions co-founders April Johnson and Scott Borden to discuss producing, the future, and... ?

What made you decide to name your organization Apricott Productions?
AJ: We were inspired to come up with a name like Desilu Productions, which was the production company that Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz founded in the fifties. We wondered if we could combine our names like they did.
SB: It was either Scotpril or Apricott.

When was the first time you knew that producing was a field you wanted to pursue?
SB: I became obsessed with TV and movies at a really young age. I would rather sit in front of the TV than play with my friends. Eventually I wanted to start putting on my own little shows. I would put on these magic shows in the living room and make my family watch the same tricks over and over and over again. Then one day April and I became friends and we started putting on skits with all the kids in the neighborhood.
AJ: We started out re-creating scenes from movies and stuff and then we started coming up with our own ideas.

Your mission statement reads, "Founded By Young Artists, For Young Artists." Why is that such a vital part of what you do?
AJ: You know, our ultimate goal is to, one day, produce film and television, but right now theatre is our ticket to keeping busy and gaining exposure. We're at a weird age right now for theatre, too. There isn't a whole lot of theatre out there for people our age and it can be really frustrating being so limited in the work you can do. Yeah, there are shows out there with teenage and young adult roles, but the vast majority is for "adults". We're adults, legally, but we're still in that weird funk where we aren't kids anymore but we're not "grown-ups" yet either.
SB: So unless it's a school or college production where your pool of actors is mostly that age, you can't really be considered for those roles.
AJ: Except when you did "Forum".

Forum?
SB: My all-time favorite show is "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum". I read it in junior high and vowed that I would play Pseudolus [the central character] before I left the planet. But I knew I'd have to wait forever because the role was originated by Zero Mostel in the sixties and now that's who people still have etched in their brains for the part: a middle-aged, balding, fat guy. But I saw an audition notice for the show two years ago and figured 'what the hell?', so I went out for it. I got a callback for Pseudolus, and it was me and four other guys twice my age and twice my size. I was scared to death because I was so hopeful but had these competitors who were the exact type for it, but I ended up getting cast. I've actually done the show three different times now and gotten good reviews and stuff, so it was really cool.

How does the production process begin? Do you bring in outsiders to do various production duties?
AJ: Yes and no. I think it's hard trying to give stuff away for people to do. I think we wish we could do everything ourselves but that's not possible. Scott and I even have issues sometimes letting the other do something, but it always works out. We do have other people that work with us on a per-event basis. We have volunteers that do all sorts of stuff when we're in a bind at various events. They're so awesome. But we do have two others who are permanent members of our creative team.

Marcielle Gosselin and Adam Gubman, according to the website. Are they childhood friends as well?
AJ: Marcie is. The three of us have been friends since we were seven.
SB: Yep. But Adam, I met him in 1998 when we were in a show together and he's been my best friend since. They both are incredibly talented. Adam is an awesome musician- he's actually co-writing my show wiith me. He's probably had more success than any of us.
AJ: And Marcie's modeling gigs are piling up and she's getting really busy with her career, too.
SB: Yeah, but when she works with us she doesn't get all dressed up. She comes wearing sweats and no makeup with her hair all up, all grunged out. We see the behind-the-scenes Marcie.

Do they receive compensation for their work?
SB: Unfortunately, we just don't have the means to do that yet. Hopefully in the next year we'll be able to change that, but for now we volunteer because we love to do this.

How are you able to fund various events?
AJ: We have had some donations and ticket sales, but those hardly make a dent in costs.
SB: We haven't quite gone public with our begging yet, so we still look under the cushions to pay for stuff. But we do have The Fan Club kicking off soon.

What is currently in the works at Apricott?
AJ: We've got three biggies on our plate at the moment. The first is The Fan Club, and to go along with that is a kick-off event we're organizing.
SB: It should be fun. Sort of like an investment reception/launch party that will take place in August. It will be everyone's chance to come meet The Team and learn all about Apricott and The Fan Club. You can grab a bite to eat and maybe win a cool door prize, too. We're still negotiating the final date, so keep checking the website for updates. We're also working on "Exposing Myself", our new original production opening this fall.

We've heard a little about this before. Are there any details you're willing to share with us?
SB: Ummm, sure. I'm writing it, and April is producing with me as well as developing the look and feel of the show. There is music in the show; Adam is writing with me and we start recording at his studio sometime this spring. I came up with the title and that's all I had for a while. I took it to April and she came up with the artwork, and I loved them both so much that I had to keep them. I started writing a bunch of material two and a half years ago, and once I had the title I was able to come up with a plot device and start stringing it together. It's semi-autobiographical, so some of it is very unfiltered and some is complete fiction. It deals with a lot of different things- self-esteem, jealousy, happiness, court-ordered therapy. (pause) It's different, that's for sure.
AJ: I think it will be different than a lot of what's out there.

Tell me about the Fan Club. How can one become a member?
AJ: The Apricott Productions Fan Club is our new group of private supporters who make financial contributions to Apricott Productions.
SB: We haven't had much creative growth because of our financial limitations, and without widespread private support, that growth isn't possible. The more support we receive, the greater our artistic power and the bigger and better our productions can be.
AJ: And hopefully we can start to compensate our faithful servants. Anyone that's interested can request a brochure from us, or they can visit the Fan Club page at APRICOTT.COM. it gives all the information you need, including the different membership levels and benefits.

Where do you see Apricott Productions five years from now?
SB: I hope that in five years we'll have opened up some doors. I would like to be working on a sitcom. I want to steal Ray Romano's identity and do everything he does. I think he's brilliant. Marcie will have her own modeling campaigns and Adam will be working with Dave Matthews.
AJ: And I want to direct music videos. That's been a goal of mine for years and years because music videos are all about looks and styles, and that's what my background is in. One day all this work will, hopefully, pay off.
SB: Correction- it WILL pay off!