actors

actors / collaboration / community / conversation starter / development / devised work / dramaturgy / ideas / new plays / partnerships / playwrights / producers / social media / the process

Devised Theatre: Apocalypse as sequel

So, here we are. Week two and hip-deep in the initial group dramaturgy of Bright Alchemy’s devising process, which started with the question “Why do we as a species feel compelled to tell stories of our own destruction?” It’s very early, but I’m already beginning to get that familiar feeling...

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  • March 14, 2011
  • 2
actors / conversation starter / development / devised work / dramaturgy / education / ideas / new plays / playwrights / producers / the process

Devised Theatre: There’s a 10:30 in the morning?

Wherein I blog Bright Alchemy’s devising process for its newest project. My living room is full of artists eating baked goods and mainlining coffee. The latter is not surprising, since it’s 10:30 A.M. on a Sunday. What is surprising is that a dozen theatre-makers chose to subject themselves to this...

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  • March 4, 2011
actors / advocacy / directors / producers / technical work

With Great Power…

I don’t think anything that’s really creative can be done without danger or risk. — Julie Taymor I’m not here to judge the merits of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark. I haven’t seen the play, I’ve only heard one less-than-thrilling song. But I do know the people involved are capable...

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  • December 21, 2010
  • 9
actors / audiences / conversation starter / follow friday / ideas / playwrights / rabble rousing / social media / the process / theatrical ecosystem

Follow Friday: 22 October 2010

Looks like everyone’s wrestling this week, whether it’s playwrights & critics, casts & audiences, critics & artistic directors, journalists & editors… We’ve also been thinking, arguing and questioning what we do and why we do it. We even get a little political, but only a little. And there’s no intermission....

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  • October 22, 2010
  • 3
actors / dramaturgy / education / ideas / Uncategorized

Like an old tale still

Last week, I coached an actor who had a big audition this past weekend.  It was of the ‘bring two contrasting pieces’ variety.  She came to me a little later in her process than I would have liked: I didn’t get a chance to consult with her about what pieces...

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  • October 11, 2010
  • 3
actors / audiences / directors / dramaturgy / education / ideas / the process

The Strip of (Textual) Terror

Collation line.  Apparatus.  Strip of terror.  Whatever you call it, it’s that somewhat inscrutable line or two of apparently Enigma code between the text and the annotations, particularly in a modern edition of, say, Shakespeare.  It might seem irrelevant or irretrievably geeky, but there are all kinds of important, dramatically...

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  • August 24, 2010
  • 2
actors / directors / dramaturgy / the process

Theatre behind the walls

“Theatre inspires me.” “Theatre teaches me about myself, and helps me to understand why other people do what they do.” “Theatre relaxes me.” “Theatre teaches me empathy.” “Everyone in my life was a backstabber or a deceiver.  I never knew what trust was until I started making theatre.” I didn’t...

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  • June 27, 2010
  • 9
actors / audiences / conversation starter / development / devised work / directors / ideas / major regional theatre / marketing / playwrights / presenting / producers / the process / theatrical ecosystem

A Theater Should Be Like A Bookstore

Not just any bookstore, but specifically this bookstore: Montague Bookmill in Montague, Massachusetts. Seth Godin sums it up well when he stated: This is the bookstore of the future, because it’s not a business trying to maximize growth and ROI. No, it’s a place, an attitude, an approach to an...

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  • April 11, 2010
  • 7