TheatreFace

Catch Me If You Can Christmas Tree

2016-05-17T20:10:38.752Z

I'm looking for suggestions as to how to create Paula Abagnale's Christmas tree for an upcoming production of Catch Me If You Can.

Shakespeare Flow Chart

2016-05-02T19:25:17.622Z

Peace, Good Tickle-Brain, is a Shakespeare web-comic I have written about before. Mya, the writer of the blog, is a librarian. And while I'm not sure she would qualify herself as a Shakespeare scholar, she is definitely a very avid, very knowledgable -- and very FUNNY -- fan. Her latest work I wanted to share is her "Which Shakespeare Play Should I See? An Illustrated Flowchart."

That's just the start of it -- for the whole, hysterical thing -- head over to Peace, Good Tickle-Brain.

Do you have a decision making tree when deciding what Shakespeare show to see? How about deciding what Shakespeare monologue to memorize for auditions? How have you decided what Shakespeare role you wanted to dive into? Let me know in the comments!

Dangerous Theatre

2016-05-02T19:17:37.208Z

There's a post on HowlRound today about "Bro Theatre" and its dangers. Holly L. Derr does a good job describing this trend in theatre, and while the commenters may disagree with some of her generalizations and press her to more specifically clarify what she's talking about, I had an immediate shock of recognition: a physically dangerous, artistically undisciplined, demagogue approach to theatre.

I have seen theatre like that recently, and wondered at what was happening as well. Theatre, after all, is supposed to take audiences on an emotional journey to places that aren't comfortable. It's supposed to feel dangerous. But the key word there is FEEL -- it's not supposed to actually be dangerous.

Of course, for many "bros," feelings ARE dangerous. Reading Derr's article I was reminded of a recent NY Times article, Teaching Men to Be Emotionally Honest. The author, a teacher at college, like Ms. Derr, writes about "how boys are taught, sometimes with the best of intentions, to mutate their emotional suffering into anger."

So how much of this is being translated into their approach to theatre? Theatre is a safe space for people to explore emotions, and express them in ways that normal society rules don't allow for. But the outer society still exists. If "bros" have found a space that allows for emotions -- but are simultaneously restricted from actively exploring and expressing those emotions, could that not explain these twin pulls of yearning for dangerous emotions, and the societal pressure to conquer them through displays of physicality and danger?

Unfortunately, the problem with this is that this just leads to even more disassociation from emotions, once again burying true emotional reaction under the bluster and violence of a societally accepted way of dealing with emotions. E.g., lots of yelling, posturing and violence.

These are just some random thoughts -- I have no data to back any of this up, so this is all theoretical -- but I have seen the type of theatre she's talking about.

How about you? Have you run into this kind of theatre? What has been your experience with it?

And for fight choreographer's or other directors out there: What is the best way to cope with this? How can you stand up for your right to have a safe "fight" on stage?

The Great Outdoors

2016-04-04T19:41:14.729Z

I went hiking in Zion National Park this past weekend, and one of the most popular hikes is the River Walk up to the Narrows, where the Virgin River cuts through sandstone and you feel like you're walking into another world. It's quite beautiful -- even if the Narrows were closed to hikers. (Most of the hike takes place in the water, and right now it's still ridiculously cold from winter snow melt. Hiking in the Narrows for any length of time was a quick trip to hypothermia town this weekend.)

The hike starts at a stone cliff called "The Temple of Sinawava," which is a natural amphitheater. So of course this interested me almost as much as the river did. Could you actually put on a show here? Would the sound carry? What would it be like?

In short, the Temple is not really a bowl amphitheater like you'd expect, but the echoes are pretty amazing. So the sound would be weird, and the sightlines wouldn't be that great for the audience. But hey! Sound like a lot of outdoor theatre!

Outdoor theatre can be endearing with its quirks, or brutal with its schedule and heat. I have never worked summer stock or outdoor theatre, so there are many tales of raccoons, spiders, generators and rain that I simply can't compete with -- so I want you to share them with me! What's the craziest thing that happened to you working summer stock? What was your biggest snafu? How hot did it actually get on the stage deck? What are you most proud of accomplishing? What do you wish you could forget?

Sources for breakable vases etc.

2016-03-16T12:20:17.360Z

Hey folks

Need to locate a source for vases, "glassware", etc that will break on stage but not shatter into dangerous shards. A while ago I asked you guys for edible newsprint and you saved my useless butt, I'm hoping you can do that again.

Thanks

Weasel

Glad to be a member of TheaterFace

2016-02-22T23:54:53.550Z

Hi Friends - I am happy to have found a place to connect with other professionals active in Arts & Entertainment.

As a professional in the business for many years as a performer and educator, I am always seeking to assist others in gaining the information they require to become successful in their area of creative expertise. To that effect I am pleased to share with you my book entitled:

OWN YOUR PROCESS: Key Steps to Creative Success

Success is in the doing and in the planning. For those of you who would like to improve their time management, marketing, and business skills this 99 page guide and journal maps out a methodology for realizing your short and long term goals!

Purchase directly through my website at www.tigerkatpublishing.com/books, learn more about me as an author at www.stefanieaugustwrites.webs.com and view me in action as a performer at www.ahfactorband.com

Purchase of the book entitles you to a free email consultation on a topic therein in.

Here's to your success and thank you Stage Directions for being a great resource for independent artists in all media!

What colors do you use in your moving head lights

2016-02-04T02:18:43.311Z

Hello,

I have a question for the people that use moving lights. When you have fixtures that the colors can be changed out. What colors do you like to use? Do you have a standard go to color wheel?

Thanks

What Grease Got Right

2016-02-01T21:02:04.557Z

So Grease: Live hit Fox last night, and blew away all the ratings for live theatrical events. I'm not surprised -- while I'm not a huge fan of Grease, that production had a great cast, technical wizardry, and one big secret weapon: A live audience.

Grease didn't totally eliminate the awkwardness of having a stage show filmed live, but it was a far sight more relaxed and less clunky-feeling than NBC's live musicals, which have seemed stilted and dated. Having an audience highlighted the sheer theatricality of it all, rather than try and ignore it, and it made it easier to accept the theatricality of it for me.

Playbill has a list of 15 Things Grease: Live did right, and it's worth a look. I completely agree with a few of them, including shout-outs to David Korins' set design and William Ivey Long's costumes. The opening sequence walking through all the set pieces and backstage areas was exhilarating, setting the energy and world of the show, while Long's costumes were dazzling throughout -- and when they worked together, like in the "Freddy My Love" number, it really was some amazing theatrical magic.

Did you catch the show? What do think they got right? What made you cringe?

Create a Hamilton Meme

2016-01-11T20:37:07.934Z

Have you got the perfect theatre text for this image? You could win a copy of The Backstage Handbook.

Theatre memes are a world unto themselves. Whether they're riffing off a popular meme image:

Or taking a more directly theatre bent:

They capture the bathos of working in theatre in a way guaranteed to make you chuckle.

Well we weren't content with just reading them! We want to make some too! At the top of this post is an image from Hamilton. Caption it with your best theatre meme, and then re-upload it! (Or just leave your best meme text as a comment...) We'll gather the best ones next week and let our members choose a winner!

The lucky winner will receive a copy of The Backstage Handbook -- which even if it doesn't have any memes in it certainly will help your backstage skills.

Meanwhile, here are some more memes to get your creativity going! (Or at least make you laugh...)

Athens,GA

2015-12-31T16:40:48.389Z

I have recently relocated to Athens, GA and am seeking a writer's group, theatre discussion, outlet for creativity, etc.

thanks in advance!

Charlene::smile::