Theatre

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  • Build audience with special performances

    Theatre Geeks
    dave@theatregeeks.com (Dave Dufour, John Shoup, Marcia Fulmer)
    3 Feb 2013 | 6:56 pm
    Special performances can benefit your community theatre in ways other than income The Geeks discuss their experience with special performances for corporate and other supporting groups, how they can... More info at the Theatre Geeks website

  • Are actors made or born?

    Theatre Geeks
    dave@theatregeeks.com (Dave Dufour, John Shoup, Marcia Fulmer)
    17 Feb 2013 | 8:32 pm
    Are community theatre actors made or born? Can anyone be an actor or does it take something special, an innate talent that only certain people have? How much can training overcome an aspirant's basic... More info at the Theatre Geeks website

  • Into the Woods Film Casting Update

    The Musical Reviewer
    Julia
    23 May 2013 | 3:55 pm
    Jake Gyllenhaal More casting news and discussion on the “Into the Woods” film adaptation front! The Two Princes Via the Hollywood Reporter, Jake Gyllenhaal (Off-Broadway in If There Is I Haven’t Found It Yet, “Brokeback Mountain,” “Source Code”) and Chris Pine (onstage in The Atheist, “Star Trek”), are in discussion to play the two Princes. They reportedly sang for Rob Marshall and it’s anticipated that they’ll receive offers. Cinderella Grammy-award winning singer Jewel has been tweeting… On May 10: “Stephen…

  • The Mamet Q&A: The Customer Isn't Always Right

    The Wicked Stage
    Rob Weinert-Kendt
    22 May 2013 | 6:31 am
    Remember when the most blazing controversy about David Mamet was his heterodox approach to acting training? The publication in 1999 of his terse, contrarian True and False, which posited, in essence, that 20th century acting training's emphasis on interiority and emotional truth had led actors astray, was the one occasion I had to interview him, for a piece in Back Stage West. I hadn't looked back on the entire Q&A until recently, and I think it's worth revisiting in full. I started by asking the obvious question about the acting school and theater Mamet co-founded, which, last I…

  • Tonya Pinkins, Gideon Glick and More Will Join Natalie Joy Johnson for Her Time of the Month at Joe's Pub

    Playbill.com : News
    Michael Gioia
    24 May 2013 | 10:30 am
    Natalie Joy Johnson, who was seen on Broadway in Legally Blonde, will celebrate her Time of the Month May 27 at Joe's Pub.
 
 
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    Theater News

  • Paramus Park Mall Gets OK for Movie Theater

    24 May 2013 | 8:50 am
    The addition of a movie theater is now in i»¿ Paramus Park Mall's future. The mall got unanimous approval Thursday night from the Paramus Zoning Board of Adjustment to use 88,000 square feet of previously approved expansion space for a movie theater and a restaurant.

  • Tony-nominee David Rockwell reveals his first love

    24 May 2013 | 6:40 am
    One clue to understanding how David Rockwell's mind works is by finding out what he collects.

  • Theater 101 Productions: 'Phantom' star to school young Temecula, Murrieta actors

    24 May 2013 | 5:40 am
    Matthew Malecki of Murrieta is spreading his love for the theater by hosting a special "Master Class" this summer, featuring former "Phantom of the Opera" star Thomas James O'Leary. O'Leary will teach a Master Class to interested students in the Murrieta/Temecula area from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 20.

  • New play, A Feminine Ending opens at Just Off Broadway Theater in Kansas City

    24 May 2013 | 1:26 am
    Inspiration and perspiration go hand in hand when trying to create something new from nothing, and for artists, that's exactly where genius comes-from the blank slate of their mind and inspiration through the hard work, labor, drafting, editing, polishing, countless revision, and so on until the final piece falls into place.

  • Theater review: Mount Tam alive with 'The Sound of Music'

    23 May 2013 | 9:21 pm
    MANY BAY AREA theaters have celebrated anniversaries in recent years, but it's hard to top the Mountain Play, which celebrates its 100th year on Mount Tamalpais this summer.
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    Backstage.com News

  • The Cannes Diary: May 24

    24 May 2013 | 9:34 am
    Note: Film critic Tim Grierson is attending the Cannes Film Festival for the first time. For Backstage, he’ll be filing occasional diary entries about his thoughts and impressions of the granddaddy of all film festivals. Thursday, May 23, 11:06pm Whenever an American wants to mock France’s supposed cultural and intellectual superiority, he’s likely to say something like “Well, you know, they think Jerry Lewis is a genius over there.” The idea, of course, is that a country that would regard Lewis so favorably must not know much about anything. It’s been a…

  • Upcoming Auditions: May 23-June 20

    23 May 2013 | 12:19 pm
    Backstage knows you have a busy schedule of meetings, auditions, callbacks, rehearsals, performances, and shoot dates coming up, so we're here to help! Our weekly "Auditions at a Glance" calendars conveniently organize projects by the date and day-of-the-week that the projects' auditions are taking place, to help you schedule your plans. Find this week's upcoming open calls and auditions in the New York Tri-state area, Los Angeles, and nationwide:   New York Auditions at a Glance California Auditions at a Glance Regional Auditions at a Glance Plus, don't forget to check out hundreds of…

  • The Cannes Diary: May 23

    23 May 2013 | 10:48 am
    Note: Film critic Tim Grierson is attending the Cannes Film Festival for the first time. For Backstage, he’ll be filing occasional diary entries about his thoughts and impressions of the granddaddy of all film festivals. Wednesday, May 22, 11:16pm For too long, Robert Redford has been around but not really present. Overseeing the Sundance Film Festival and popping up to introduce movies on the Sundance Channel, he’s still in the public eye, but for too long he’s seemingly been happy enjoying his emeritus status in the film industry. It’s not like he’s stopped…

  • Backstage Predicts the 2013 Tony Winners

    23 May 2013 | 9:30 am
    Tony season is upon us, and with only a few Hollywood stars on the ballot (hey, Tom Hanks!) the battle of the hard-working stage actors commences. We’ll learn the winners during the June 9 Tony Awards broadcast on CBS, but for now, here are our best guesses at whom we’ll be toasting on awards night.   CLICK HERE TO SEE OUR PREDICTIONS!

  • Best of the Week Ahead: May 23–29

    22 May 2013 | 1:56 pm
    “Hannah Arendt” at Film Forum; “Balanchine Festival Red”; a Q&A with Tony nominee Billy Porter; the Elton John installment of Birdland Jazz’s “The Pop Show”; and “The Scottsboro Boys” at the Ahmanson Theatre are some of the things we’re looking forward to this week.     CLICK HERE TO VIEW SLIDESHOW
 
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    Backstage.com Interview

  • 5 Tips From Dave Franco on Carving out Your Own Career

    23 May 2013 | 11:08 am
    In just a few short years, Dave Franco has managed to carve out his own niche with Funny or Die videos and memorable turns in films like “21 Jump Street” and “Warm Bodies.” The younger brother of actor James Franco will be seen on the big screen this weekend in “Now You See Me,” making magic with Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, and Jesse Eisenberg. He spoke to Backstage about how to make your mark in the business. Be willing to fight for it.Franco says his role in “Now You See Me” was the rare case of just meeting with the director, Louis…

  • Tony Nominee Patina Miller Makes Magic in ‘Pippin’ on Broadway

    23 May 2013 | 9:00 am
    Patina Miller is two for two. Two Broadway shows. Two leading roles. Two Tony nominations. Oh, and she became engaged to the love of her life on her opening night. If she were a ballplayer, she’d be batting 1.000. So how does it feel to be Patina Miller right now? “You couldn’t ask for a better time in your life,” says the luminous actor, resting in her dressing room on the third floor of the Music Box Theatre, where she is starring as the Leading Player in “Pippin.” “I happen to be one of the luckiest people on earth right now.” It’s…

  • Patina Miller on the Cover of Backstage This Week!

    22 May 2013 | 12:44 pm
    "Pippin" star Patina Miller is on the cover of Backstage this week! She chats about how she prepared to play the Leading Player - it involves the trapeze! - and why she feels lucky to be on Broadway. Here's a sneak peek at the story, and the full version will be available online and on newsstands on Thursday! The Leading Player of Her Life Just like the Leading Player encourages Pippin on his path to self-discovery and fulfillment, Miller looked to her mother along her journey. “She’s totally my leading player,” Miller says. “She never let me give up.” Miller…

  • 4 Tips On Creating Your Own Work From Katie Aselton

    22 May 2013 | 12:33 pm
    Katie Aselton is most associated with lighthearted, improvised fare, such as the FX series "The League," in which she plays a foul-mouthed sports widow, or her film "The Freebie," which she directed and starred in opposite Dax Shepard. Her new film, "Black Rock," opening May 17, marks a siginificant departure for the actor/filmmaker. The story centers on three childhood friends--Abby (Aselton), Lou (Lake Bell), and Sarah (Kate Bosworth)--who find themselves terrorized by a trio of crazed hunters while vacationing on a remote island. Calling the film the most challenging of her career as both…

  • 5 Tips On Being an Indie Film Darling From Jess Weixler

    17 May 2013 | 9:00 am
    Though Jess Weixler has been working steadily for the last few years, she is still often referred to as an up-and-comer in the press. It’s a label the actor doesn’t mind. “I think you’re just an up-and-comer until you break out,” she says with a laugh. Recently seen as private investigator Robyn on “The Good Wife,” Weixler stars in “Free Samples” as Jillian, a bitter law school dropout forced to pass out free treats in an ice cream truck. The offbeat comedy is available on video on demand May 21 and hits theaters May 31. The versatile…
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    BroadwayWorld.com Featured Content

  • VIDEO: Elisabeth Moss Calls Jeremy Piven 'Unprofessional' for Leaving SPEED-THE-PLOW on WATCH WHAT HAPPENS LIVE

    24 May 2013 | 11:27 am
    On last night's WATCH WHAT HAPPENS LIVE, former SPEED-THE-PLOW star Elisabeth Moss had some choice words for Jeremy Piven, who made headlines in 2009 for exiting the show due to mercury poisoning.

  • LUCKY GUY Star Tom Hanks Set for CBS THIS MORNING on Tuesday

    24 May 2013 | 11:17 am
    LUCKY GUY star and Tony nominee, Tom Hanks will appear on CBS This Morning, on Tuesday, May 28. Locally, the program airs on WCBS2 between 7-900AM. Elsewhere, check local listings.

  • BWW TV EXCLUSIVE: Claybourne Elder Talks VENICE at the Public Theater- Go Behind the Scenes at Rehearsal!

    24 May 2013 | 10:49 am
    The Public Theater will present the new Public Lab musical Venice, with book by Eric Rosen, music by Matt Sax, lyrics by Matt Sax and Eric Rosen, additional music by Curtis Moore, and choreography by Chase Brock. Directed by Eric Rosen, Venice will run Tuesday, May 28 through Sunday, June 23 in The Public's Anspacher Theater, with an official press opening on Thursday, June 13. BroadwayWorld visited the cast and creative team in rehearsal and you can catch a performance preview and a special interview with Claybourne Elder, who plays 'Michael Victor', below

  • Tony Committee Decides to Take No Further Action on WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? Infraction

    24 May 2013 | 10:29 am
    UPDATE Executive Director of the American Theatre Wing, Heather Hitchens, and Executive Director of The Broadway League, Charlotte St. Martin, released the following statement on the results of the meeting 'The Tony Awards Administration Committee met, considered the infraction and have issued a serious warning to the producers of 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf' The infraction which involved using abbreviated quotes from the critical reviews, were consistent with the overall intent of those reviews, and therefore the committee determined that no further action would be taken on this issue.'

  • Salonga-Led THE VOICE PH Releases Blind Auditions Trailer

    24 May 2013 | 10:12 am
    ABS-CBN, the Philippine television network that bagged the rights to adapt the hit reality show 'The Voice' from Talpa Media Group, based in the Netherlands, has just released 'The Voice PH' newest blind auditions trailer, which features coaches Lea Salonga, Apl. de. ap of Black Eyed Peas, Bamboo Maalac, and Sarah Geronimo-all four have carved out solid music careers and have huge fan bases in the Philippines.
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    Jane Fonda

  • CANNES 2013

    Jane
    21 May 2013 | 12:37 pm
    There are several things different about the Cannes Festival this year. For one thing, the weather has been horrible. I’m told it’s the worst weather of any festival in memory–rain, big wind, cold. As a result, the Mediterranean, shimmery glow that gives the festival its party vibe was missing. For another, it’s the first time I’ve traveled to such a scene with my publicist, Pearl Servat, I usually travel alone. This trip with her has shown me the value of having someone who has your back. Another thing that made Cannes different was personal. This year, I left a…

  • MY FIRST DAYS SHOOTING

    Jane
    15 May 2013 | 5:07 pm
    That's our director, Shawn Levy, in the middle with me and Tina Fey The film is “This Is Where I Leave You,” based on a novel by the same name. It’s very funny. My children, Tina Fey, Jason Bateman, Corey Stoll and Adam Driver, are amazing beyond belief. It is so exciting to be working with this cast of young, cutting edge actors who are so adept at ad-libbing. I have improvised a lot in many films but not in comedies. This morning, people gathered round the monitor watching a scene and were crying from laughing so hard. I feel like a Martian. Their rhythm, what they…

  • MY HAND AND FOOT PRINTS ON HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME

    Jane
    1 May 2013 | 1:54 pm
    Saturday was one of my happiest days—for many reasons. As I said at the ceremony, “I thought Hollywood wouldn’t give me this opportunity until the city poured a new sidewalk in front of my home!” I’ve been in this business for 55 years and I figured it just wasn’t going to happen. But then, to my surprise and joy, along came Turner Classic Movies and they honored me with this ceremony. BTW, my favorite ex-husband had nothing to do with it, though he created TCM . . . bless his heart. Like millions, I adore TCM and all it does to bring the classics into our…

  • GCAPP AUCTION WINNERS WITH ME IN NEW MEXICO

    Jane
    29 Mar 2013 | 10:53 pm
    I have spent the last 5 days at my New Mexico ranch with 8 wonderful women from Atlanta. Some I have known for a long time, some were new to me. Let me explain. Every year my non-profit, The Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power & Potential (GCAPP, which was recently renamed because we’ve expanded from an exclusive 18-year focus on teen pregnancy prevention to include health & nutrition), has a large, public fundraiser which includes a live auction and every year I auction off 5 days at my ranch with me. At this last gala, The Empower Party, when we honored Ted Turner with the…

  • A Day at Home With Oprah

    export
    21 Mar 2013 | 4:55 pm
    Mary Williams has been part of my family since she was 16. She came to our children’s camp from Oakland at age 13 and I fell in love with her. Both her parents were members of the Black Panther party. In time she’d move with me to Atlanta and Ted Turner became her stepfather. Quite a journey which she has written about movingly and insightfully in her book “The Lost Daughter,” due out this Mother’s Day. Oprah found Mary’s book interesting. In fact, she said she gained insight into her own early life reading it. So we agreed to be interviewed together for…
 
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    The Wicked Stage

  • The Real Malloy

    Rob Weinert-Kendt
    23 May 2013 | 8:59 am
    I first heard about musical Renaissance man Dave Malloy when I graded the reviews for Beowulf: A Thousand Years of Baggage for Critic-O-Meter back in 2009; the repeated comparisons of his rocking score for the show to Tom Waits piqued my interest. I finally met him doing this preview of Three Pianos, the oddball Schubert party he concocted with Alec Duffy and Rick Burkhardt, and we've exchanged our views about the state of musical both in person and online. Along the way somewhere he mentioned an opera based on War and Peace. And now, in a scandalously short amount of time for a musical,…

  • Lee Melville, R.I.P.

    Rob Weinert-Kendt
    23 May 2013 | 8:52 am
    One of the subtexts of the recent news that Backstage would discontinue theater reviews altogether is that it was never inevitable that an actors' trade paper would review theater. Clearly Backstage's corporate overlords had looked at the metrics and at their readership—basically, beginning actors—and asked the common-sense question, Why are we covering all this theater? This anomaly could be particularly glaring in film- and TV-dominated Los Angeles, where the local theater scene gets about as much respect as head lice. But when I started up Back Stage West in 1994,…

  • The Mamet Q&A: The Customer Isn't Always Right

    Rob Weinert-Kendt
    22 May 2013 | 6:31 am
    Remember when the most blazing controversy about David Mamet was his heterodox approach to acting training? The publication in 1999 of his terse, contrarian True and False, which posited, in essence, that 20th century acting training's emphasis on interiority and emotional truth had led actors astray, was the one occasion I had to interview him, for a piece in Back Stage West. I hadn't looked back on the entire Q&A until recently, and I think it's worth revisiting in full. I started by asking the obvious question about the acting school and theater Mamet co-founded, which, last I…

  • Breaking Silence!

    Rob Weinert-Kendt
    21 May 2013 | 6:32 am
    Jenn Harris and Paul Kandel in Silence! (photo by Dixie Sheridan) Last week I got a news release that Silence! The Musical just clocked its 500th performance, and I couldn't be happier for the show, albeit for weird reasons. Let's call it reverse (or perverse) vindication. When I was sent to review the original production of this unauthorized parody of The Silence of the Lambs at the New York Fringe Festival in 2005, I had just arrived in Brooklyn from L.A., and had begun freelancing for the New York Times. I didn't much care for the show, and I think my review lays out my case…

  • Ann vs. Imelda

    Rob Weinert-Kendt
    20 May 2013 | 6:54 am
    For America magazine I've done a combined review of two entertaining and popular shows about iconic women leaders at either end of New York's nonprofit stage spectrum: The Public Theater's Here Lies Love, the dance-party musical about Imelda Marcos (which I already posted briefly about here), and Lincoln Center Theater's Ann, the old-school solo show about Texas guv Ann Richards. The links between the these two women, it turns out, go beyond shoulder pads and immovable hair: Neither show is entirely successful, even on its own terms; but both are worthy efforts with their share of…
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    Jersey Boys Blog

  • Newsflash: Clint Eastwood to Direct JERSEY BOYS Movie; Shooting to Begin This Summer in Los Angeles!

    JB Blogger
    22 May 2013 | 10:50 am
    It’s official! Clint Eastwood will be directing the film adaptation of JERSEY BOYS! According to a recent Equity casting notice, the legendary actor/director has signed on to helm the film adaptation of JERSEY BOYS, written by John Logan. The film is currently slated to begin shooting this summer in Los Angeles. The news comes a [...]

  • @JeffMadden Shares His Top 5 Jersey Boys’ Moments…

    JB Blogger
    21 May 2013 | 8:45 pm
    Jeff Madden After nearly four years, JERSEY BOYS Australia will be ending its run in about six weeks. Jeff Madden, who currently plays Frankie Valli in the JB Oz company, is reflecting on his many years with the show on his Taking the Wheel blog. In his “Jersey Boys Top 5′s: 5 Moments That Make [...]

  • @JerseyBoysOz Four Seasons Make Music & Meatballs!

    JB Blogger
    20 May 2013 | 8:47 pm
    The four men who play The Four Seasons in the Perth production of the stage show tracing the ‘60s pop sensations’ rise to fame took time out between performances this week to tackle frontman Frankie Valli’s famous meatball recipe alongside Merrywell’s chef de cuisine Robert Ryan. Jeff Madden,Declan Egan, Anthony Harkin and Glaston Toft delighted [...]

  • Jersey Boys Broadway Box Office Update for Week Ending 5/12/13

    JB Blogger
    19 May 2013 | 9:28 pm
    For the second week in May, JERSEY BOYS grossed $891,835 at the Broadway box office and had an 90.4% attendance rate. The 29 shows on the boards grossed $24,246,233, up slightly over 3% from the previous week’s totals. For full coverage of Broadway box office totals for the week ending 5/12/13, visit BroadwayWorld.com.

  • Video: Frankie Valli’s Fabulous ‘American Idol’ Performance with Top 5 Guys!

    JB Blogger
    17 May 2013 | 8:22 am
    The Top 5 guys from this season’s “American Idol,” Burnell Taylor, Devin Velez, Paul Jolley, Lazaro Arbos, and Curtis Finch Jr., performed a medley of Frankie Valli & The Four Season’s classic hits with the pop icon himself! Enjoy!
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    Parabasis

  • Adrian Chen is Outraged by Fact Checking

    Parabasis
    7 May 2013 | 7:42 am
    By Isaac Butler Over at Gawker, Adrian Chen has the scoop on the CIA's involvement with the making of Zero Dark Thirty and it turns out-- get the smelling salts ready-- that screenwriter Mark Boal ran some things in the screenplay by them to see if they were factually accurate. Propaganda! Fascism! Joseph Goebbles! Now look, whether or not you'd trust the CIA to tell you if these moments were accurate or not is fair game, but... well... let's roll the tape: The much-discussed opening scene of Zero Dark Thirty features the main character Maya, played…

  • Assumptions Shape The Narrative

    Parabasis
    4 May 2013 | 10:29 am
    By Isaac Butler Sorry to break my long blog silence with something a bit grouchy-- especially since, well, it's my birthday-- but this morning I was listening to NPR's Weekend Edition, and they were talking about the recent news that Apple is declaring the original iPhone obsolete. It has been on the market for just six years. They will no longer provide customer support nor manufacture parts for it. Scott Simon then said in passing, "in just six years the iPhone has gone from cutting edge to antique. That's just the pace of progress these days," before…

  • Sam Thielman on "Matilda"

    Parabasis
    22 Apr 2013 | 5:22 am
    By Sam Thielman (Once again, we are happy to have Ad Week's Sam Thielman reviewing for Parabasis, this time he shares his take on "Matilda"): Early on in the April 6 performance of “Matilda” at the St. James Theater there came an accidental moment so perfectly of a piece with the writing of Roald Dahl that I caught my breath and just sat there gaping for a moment. Ridiculous Mr. Wormwood (Gabriel Ebert), brandishing a cigarette, barged into the delivery room where his selfish wife was fretting about having to give birth to the title character when she’d much rather be…

  • We Have Moved Beyond Parody

    Parabasis
    17 Apr 2013 | 4:32 am
    By Isaac Butler First it was discovered and announced yesterday that austerity economics is based on an excel spredsheeting error and now Brooks Brothers is introducing a Great Gatsby collection. I pity satirists. 

  • Quote of the Day

    Parabasis
    2 Apr 2013 | 4:58 am
    By Isaac Butler   .@parabasis @zinoman @wendyrosenfield I've come to fear less for theater's future than for arts journalism's, which is new. — Rob Weinert-Kendt (@RobKendt) April 2, 2013
 
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    The Theater Loop - chicagotribune.com

  • In 'Roadkill' and 'h.g.,' powerful shows for small audiences

    22 May 2013 | 3:22 pm
    There's nothing new in Chicago about theater in small spaces — that's a crucial part of the city's aesthetic. If you glance at my recommended shows, you'll see several pieces staged in theaters with fewer than 100 seats, including "Rabbit," "Lascivious Something," "In the Company of Men" and the not-to-be-missed production of "The Knowledge" at the Steep Theatre, where, as one of my theater-loving Tribune colleagues recently noted, you are plenty close enough to see the veins bulging in...

  • 'Miss Neo' upends pageants with Futurist wit

    22 May 2013 | 3:22 pm
    THEATER REVIEWS: "The Miss Neo Pageant" at the Neo-Futurarium ★★★½ and "Lear" by Red Tape Theatre ★★½ NINA METZ reviews "The Miss Neo Pageant" at the Neo-Futurarium undefined9733;undefined9733;undefined9733;undefined189; and "Lear" by Red Tape Theatre undefined9733;undefined9733;undefined189;    

  • Summer 2013: 10 theater shows for a sunny Chicago

    22 May 2013 | 3:21 pm
    Here are 10 of what might well turn out of be the hottest shows of an essential Chicago summer. And after the kind of springs we get, aren't they all essential?    

  • Letts and Morton are headed to 'Homeland'

    22 May 2013 | 1:51 pm
    Steppenwolf ensemble members Tracy Letts and Amy Morton have been added to the cast of the Showtime drama "Homeland," TVLine reports. Letts will appear in the show's third season as a senate committee chairman, while Morton will have a recurring role as an attorney appointed to CIA operative Carrie Mathison (played by Claire Danes). Both Letts and Morton are nominated for Tony Awards this year, recognized for their acerbic do-si-do as George and Martha in the Broadway transfer of "Who's Afraid...

  • Reunion for 60th birthday of Playwrights Theatre Club

    22 May 2013 | 8:51 am
    (BY DOUG GEORGE) ... The Second City will host an event celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Playwrights Theatre Club — reuniting original members of troupe, which was the precursor to The Compass Players and Second City.    
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    Penny Plain, Twopence Coloured

  • Teacup Footlights

    Trish Short Lewis
    20 May 2013 | 10:40 am
    Fun toy theatre influenced images from an Alice in Wonderland production at the Royal Opera House...

  • A Visit to Pollock's Toy Shop

    Trish Short Lewis
    14 May 2013 | 3:47 pm
    The theatre on the counter is described by staff as "...German with scenery by Scholz""We don't like minimal at Pollock's"So writes the toy shop on their Facebook page today.  The above photograph was taken this week showing their updated lobby and some of the many fun toys, books, and theatres they sell.I laughed at that, because it's so true!  But it's also why their shop is so magical.  Although I have never had the privilege to visit yet, I know it would delight me no end.  I like to think of it as the best toy shop in the world...

  • GSW 10th International - Update #1

    Trish Short Lewis
    7 May 2013 | 11:10 am
    The Great Small Works 10th International Toy Theater Festival is only a little over a month away!The venue - St. Anne's Warehouse - has a page with all the information concerning tickets, location, etc.Also, GSW has put up a helpful (and comprehensive) Schedule.Be sure to check them out!Last, but not least, there's only 11 days left for you to part of supporting the festival!  Please visit the festival's fundraiser campaign page and see how you can help, and for a list of the wonderful "thank you" gifts they offer...

  • International Puppetry Museum

    Trish Short Lewis
    21 Apr 2013 | 10:17 am
    A wonderful photo gallery has been put up on line in celebration of  Alan Cook and the International Puppetry Museum in Pasadena, California.Despite a wonderful renaissance in puppetry in recent years, there continues to be a struggle to support important institutions like this museum, that not only serve as archival and historical repositories, but as an educational tool for the public.I encourage all who read this to consider supporting IPM.  There are many ways they offer to do this.

  • Toy Theatre Festival Benefit Gala

    Trish Short Lewis
    10 Apr 2013 | 12:30 pm
    Great Small Works invites you to join your friends and supporters of Great Small Works at the GALA TOY THEATER FESTIVAL BENEFIT on Thursday, May 23rd, at the powerHouse Arena in DUMBO, Brooklyn, to support Great Small Works' TENTH INTERNATIONAL TOY THEATER FESTIVAL, June 14-23 at St. Ann's Warehouse. The guest performers at this not-to-be-missed event include master puppeteer BASIL TWIST, toy piano virtuoso MARGARET LENG TAN and the inimitable musician and composer RIMA FAND. The powerHouse Arena storefront will also be filled with an ongoing spectacle of intimate paper theater plays created…
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    The Musical Reviewer

  • Clint Eastwood to Direct Jersey Boys Film

    Julia
    23 May 2013 | 4:45 pm
    This is interesting… Academy Award-winning actor-director (is there anything this man cannot do?!) Clint Eastwood will be directing the upcoming screen adaptation of the Tony Award-winning Broadway hit musical Jersey Boys. With him behind the scenes in films such as “Million Dollar Baby” and “Gran Torino,” I have the feeling he’s going to do a sensational job with the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons — if he sticks with some good musical direction. He’s a great director, but there’s a lot to this musical! The film adaptation…

  • Into the Woods Film Casting Update

    Julia
    23 May 2013 | 3:55 pm
    Jake Gyllenhaal More casting news and discussion on the “Into the Woods” film adaptation front! The Two Princes Via the Hollywood Reporter, Jake Gyllenhaal (Off-Broadway in If There Is I Haven’t Found It Yet, “Brokeback Mountain,” “Source Code”) and Chris Pine (onstage in The Atheist, “Star Trek”), are in discussion to play the two Princes. They reportedly sang for Rob Marshall and it’s anticipated that they’ll receive offers. Cinderella Grammy-award winning singer Jewel has been tweeting… On May 10: “Stephen…

  • South Pacific Remake in the Works

    Julia
    23 May 2013 | 2:06 pm
    Reports are coming in that an upcoming film remake of the classic musical South Pacific may feature Michelle Williams as Nellie Forbush. Rumors are also flying of possibly Hugh Jackman as Emile de Becque and Justin Timberlake as Lieutenant Cable. What do you think of that? I can totally see Hugh Jackman as Emile… not so sure I can see Justin Timberlake as Lieutenant Cable, though, but that’s just me. It’s all speculation right now. Who would you like to see cast in this film remake? Have you seen this show? Leave your review on our South Pacific page! photos by:…

  • How We (Finally!) Met The Mother!

    Julia
    23 May 2013 | 1:41 pm
    Cast of How I Met Your Mother We’ve been waiting 8 (!) seasons to “meet” the mother on NBC’s “How I Met Your Mother.” Monday, May 13, we finally got a glimpse of her face, not just the yellow umbrella. (Video footage below…) And this mother has ties to Broadway! The long-awaited revelation of the mother on “How I Met Your Mother” is none other than Cristin Milioti, a 2012 Tony-nominee for her performance as Girl in the Tony Award-winning Best Musical Once. CBS entertainment chief Nina Tassler has confirmed that all of the remaining…

  • Zachary Levi’s “First Date” with Broadway

    Julia
    23 May 2013 | 1:16 pm
    Zachary Levi (star TV’s “Chuck,” Disney’s “Tangled”) has a “First Date” with Broadway, as he makes his Broadway debut opposite Krysta Rodriguez (“Smash” and The Addams Family) in the new Broadway musical comedy First Date. Here are a few descriptions of the upcoming musical, which is set to begin previews July 9 and open August 4, 2013. When tightly wound Aaron (Levi) is set up with serial-dater Casey (Rodriguez) a quick drink at a busy New York restaurant turns into a hilarious, high-stakes dinner. As the date unfolds in real…
 
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    The Theatrefolk Weblog

  • Comprehension Exercise: The Dark Ride

    Lindsay Price
    24 May 2013 | 9:00 am
     A dark ride  is an indoor amusement ride where riders in guided vehicles travel through specially lit scenes that typically contain animation, sound, music, and special effects. – Wikipedia As a frequent visitor to Disney World I have been on my my fair share of dark rides. You sit in a ride vehicle (on Peter Pan’s Flight it’s a miniature pirate ship, on Winnie the Pooh it’s your own hunny pot, for the Haunted Mansion it’s a “doom” buggy) and travel throughout rooms. The rooms portray scenes that could be a tableau but more often than not has…

  • With Flying Fingers

    Lindsay Price
    23 May 2013 | 4:38 am
    These past two months I have seen a one act play go from idea to production. Yes, that’s right two months. We started with two brainstorming sessions, I then went into the class (the production is for a class project) two weeks later with a first draft. And then went in five days later with another draft. And then submitted a rehearsal draft three days after that. I’m going in next week to see how things work on their feet, and then it goes up in front of an audience. That my friends, is fast. Which I knew full well going in, and in fact I proposed. It’s interesting, I…

  • Episode Forty-Two: Miracles Happen in This Classroom – The Theatrefolk Podcast

    Craig Mason
    22 May 2013 | 2:00 pm
    Episode Forty-Two: Miracles Happen in This Classroom Lindsay talks to drama teacher Tracy Garratt about the difference between drama and theatre in the classroom. Show Notes What should we do when we hit 10,000 likes on Facebook? Tell us here! Subscribe to The Theatrefolk Podcast On iTunes. On Stitcher. Music credit: ”Ave” by Alex (feat. Morusque) is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

  • Can Improv Change the World?

    Lindsay Price
    21 May 2013 | 2:00 pm
    “If more people improvised there would be no war.” Here is an interesting question to ponder. Can Improv create change? I’m not talking small step interpersonal change, which is something I fully stand behind: Improv can create a level of self-confidence and quick thinking in an individual that changes lives. Improv is a viable skill. But to say that it is a skill that promotes big change? Global change? No war change? Over at Good.is that’s the correlation that’s being made in an article entitled “Best-Kept Secret to Creating Social Change:…

  • Movie Monologue Monday: Kirk Douglas in Paths of Glory

    Craig Mason
    20 May 2013 | 2:00 pm
    Kirk Douglas in Paths of Glory Today’s Movie Monologue Monday takes a look at Kirk Douglas’ speech in Stanley Kubrick’s Paths of Glory. There is no shortage of movie monologues that take place in a courtroom. This, in my opinion, is among the finest. Douglas plays Colonel Dax, a French commander whose soldiers are on trial for refusing to take part in a suicide mission. The trial is unjust. Everybody knows it’s unjust, and yet it continues. Douglas Douglas does the opposite of what you would expect from a grand courtroom speech. Rather than building to a climax, he…
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    Greenroom

  • Review: A Tender Thing – Full Circle Theatre at Visy Theatre, Brisbane Powerhouse

    Kate Foy
    10 May 2013 | 5:21 pm
    Images: Full Circle Theatre (supplied) Of course I loved it. There’s very little not to love about an intelligent, heart-felt play, fine performances, and sensitive direction in a space that seems so absolutely tailor-made for this show. Brisbane Powerhouse’s Visy Theatre is an intimate, welcoming space where the audience is never far from the on-stage action and A Tender Thing, Ben Power‘s play (originally commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company) fits it like a glove. Linda Davey directs Flloyd Kennedy and Michael Croome as the contemporary, 60-something,…

  • Brad Jennings and Steven Maxwell: Markwell Presents (Interview 37)

    Editor
    9 May 2013 | 12:58 am
    Image: Brad Jennings & Steven Maxwell – (c) Greenroom One December day, about 5 years ago I interviewed Brad Jennings and Steven Maxwell as part of Apple’s Create World Conference. That year I was part of the Create World team using podcasts and blog posts to capture the points of view from creative people working in (mostly) higher education. I remember at the time thinking how interesting was the aesthetic concept of what they were calling ‘cinematic theatre.’ I managed to see a snippet of the way Brad and Steven integrated it into performance via a short…

  • Review: Frankenstein – Fractal Theatre at Brisbane Arts Theatre

    Kate Foy
    5 May 2013 | 4:00 pm
    Images: Geoff Squires Frankenstein, written at the start of the 19th century, has taken deep root in our culture. It’s a sprawling, gothic-romantic novel, considered by some to be the first science-fiction story. In a way it sits at the door of contemporary literature and points the way to the genres we now take for granted. It’s a challenging novel to read, and its cinematic and theatrical spin-offs are legion as artists across the decades, fascinated by its subject matter, have attempted to set their own stamp upon it. Millions of words and perhaps as many hours have been…
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    The Bad Boy of Musical Theatre

  • Expose Yourself for All the World to See

    Scott Miller
    22 May 2013 | 1:33 pm
    I used to worry, at this point in our process, whether I have made all the right choices. It's a little hard to tell right now, because the cake just isn't baked yet. But I learned a number of years ago I was worrying over nothing. There really are no right choices. There are only choices. There are only this road we're on and other roads we've left to others. We just go where the show takes us. If I've picked a great show for us to produce -- and I have -- it'll take us somewhere great. You gotta just trust it. And I have some remarkably kick-ass traveling companions on this journey with me.

  • I Will Strap on Mine

    Scott Miller
    19 May 2013 | 12:04 pm
    I love this show. We had our second run-through of Bukowsical Thursday night and it was such fun! We've got exactly the right cast for this vulgar, hilarious, sweetly old-fashioned, neo musical comedy -- a bunch of fearless New Line All-Stars who earned their stripes on bizarre shows like Bat Boy, Urinetown, Return to the Forbidden Planet, The Wild Party, Cry-Baby and Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. They're all fully at home in this weird, dissonant, hybrid style. The content is dark, dark, dark, but the style is light and playful. Even in this slightly rough state, I laugh at so many…

  • Just Pull Your Nuts Out

    Scott Miller
    13 May 2013 | 9:16 am
    The ending of Bukowsical is as unconventional as the rest of Bukowsical. The last big number is "Twelve Steps of Love," in which Bukowski goes to an AA meeting and is convinced to turn his life around. Except that never happened. There is a grain of truth here -- after treating a bleeding ulcer, Bukowski's doctor did tell him he'd die if he didn't give up alcohol. But he didn't, and he didn't. So why this AA number? Probably mostly because it's a giant Fuck You to narrative convention and structure, and also to the recent string of bio-musicals. Bukowski wasn't interested in…

  • You've Got Sondheim, But We've Got Charlie Sheen

    Scott Miller
    10 May 2013 | 11:21 am
    About halfway through Bukowsical, a lawyer stops the show dead in its tracks. He says, "I represent the estate of Charles Bukowski and have been retained to halt this unauthorized production. There can be no fictional or non-fictional representations of Charles Bukowski and/or the events of his life, nor can there be any discussions or references to his novels, poems, short stories, songs, slogans, or screenplays based on or inspired by the events of his life." It's a really weird meta-moment in the middle of an already weird meta-musical. The conversation goes on. The narrator says to the…

  • I Think I've Got Crabs

    Scott Miller
    7 May 2013 | 11:44 am
    There are a lot of very funny musicals, even more now that we've moved away from the bombast of the (musical theatre) British Invasion and back toward the original form of the American musical -- the musical comedy. These neo musical comedies (Cry-Baby, Spelling Bee, Shrek, Lysistrata Jones) are more self-aware, more political, more ironic, and more vulgar, but they capture the joy, the chaos, and the muscle of classic musical comedies. It's a perfect blend -- a uniquely American blend -- of innocence and irony, idealism and cynicism. Maybe the funniest aspect of Bukowsical is…
 
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    TDF STAGES: A THEATRE MAGAZINE

  • This Musical Needs It’s Own Universe

    Mark Blankenship
    24 May 2013 | 8:14 am
    As much as any show currently playing in New York, Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 takes place in a separate universe. That’s partly because writer-composer Dave Malloy has turned a section of Tolstoy’s War and Peace into an electro-pop opera, inventively blending 19th century Russia with sounds of the modern world. And more »

  • Are Those People Acting or Fighting?

    Eliza Bent
    23 May 2013 | 8:06 am
    Shadows drops audiences in an immersive world — Welcome to Borough Play, our exclusive series on theatre in Brooklyn, Queens, and beyond. For Alec Duffy, artistic director of the Obie-winning theatre group Hoi Polloi, watching a DVD of John Cassavetes’ Shadows provided a light bulb moment. “About halfway through watching I was like, ‘Damn. This more »

  • The Not-So-One-Man “Macbeth”

    Linda Buchwald
    21 May 2013 | 9:08 am
    Why Alan Cumming’s Co-Stars are Crucial to the Broadway Revival — The current Broadway revival of Macbeth is often called a one-man show, but that’s not entirely accurate. Yes, the production takes place in a mental institution where Alan Cumming’s character reenacts most of the play by himself, but he is not alone. Jenny Sterlin more »

  • VIDEO: Meet the York Theatre Company

    Mark Blankenship
    20 May 2013 | 9:09 am
    From time to time, TDF Stages will highlight exciting Off and Off-Off Broadway theatre companies with exclusive “getting to know you” videos. Today, we’re featuring the York Theatre Company, which specializes in musicals new and old. (Along with York staff, the film features Stephen Temperley, whose play Souvenir premiered at the York before moving to more »

  • Learning “Murder” Fast

    Mark Blankenship
    17 May 2013 | 12:43 pm
    Caissie Levy hurtles into the revival of Murder Ballad – Welcome to Building Character, TDF’s ongoing series about actors and how they create their roles It’s almost necessary to describe Murder Ballad with urgent words. A rock opera about a love triangle that ends in blood, it hurtles forward like a bullet. With book and more »
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    Encore Atlanta

  • Rialto lines up Buena Vista Social Club, Bela Fleck

    Kathy Janich
    24 May 2013 | 9:33 am
    The Rialto Center's 2013-14 lineup features more than 15 events over seven months, from the Buena Vista Social Club to "The Crucible" as an opera, from the Trey McIntyre Project to Johnny Mercer.

  • This weekend’s best bets: May 23

    Kathy Janich
    23 May 2013 | 7:11 am
    If you're staying inside this weekend, check out "Seminar" at Actor's Express. If you're headed outside, perhaps to the Atlanta Jazz Festival or Decatur Arts Festival, check out the latter's Saturday's theater events. Here's the best of what's coming, going or staying for a bit.

  • $1 HELPS OKLAHOMANS CLEAN UP

    Kathy Janich
    22 May 2013 | 3:08 pm
    For every $1 donation — just $1 — the nonprofit Clean the World will send a basic hygiene kit to an Oklahoma family left homeless by this week's tornadoes.

  • Sacred soil ceremony part of Atlanta History Center’s Memorial Day

    Kathy Janich
    22 May 2013 | 7:13 am
    The new Veterans Park will be publicly dedicated at 5 p.m. Monday. Soil from every major U.S. conflict — including the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Spanish American War, World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan — will be then distributed on the grounds near the flagpole.

  • Express season features Yockey return

    Kathy Janich
    21 May 2013 | 7:00 am
    The 2013-14 season at Actor's Express features "Venus in Fur" by David Ives, "Pluto" by Steve Yockey, "Six Degrees of Separation" by John Guare, "Maple and Vine" by Jordan Harrison and "The End of the Rainbow," a play with music about Judy Garland's final days, by Peter Quilter.
 
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    Lois Backstage: A Look at Life Behind the Scenes

  • The New Home: Before & After Renos

    Lois
    10 May 2013 | 10:55 am
    I’m back in Vancouver after my nearly six months away, have moved into my new place, and finally got the internet up and running. These are all good signs that I will be returning to blogging! First, here’s a little glimpse at what’s been keeping me busy for the past 10 days: Home renos and Moving.   Living Room: It’s still missing the new couch   Dining area and Kitchen: Complete with tile backsplash   Bedroom: I have missed my bed so much.   The bathroom: Sophisticated with a touch of Silly   I am so pleased with how it looks now!

  • Five Tour Must-Haves

    Lois
    5 Mar 2013 | 10:01 am
    I’m now into month number three of the Ride the Cyclone tour. Add my five and a half weeks in Europe onto the front of that and that is a long time to be living out of one suitcase and one carry-on. There are some things you know that you are going to need like a computer, comfortable shoes, and enough clothes. But on top of all that, despite limited space, I’m so glad I have these things: 1. Portable Printer This is the one item on this list that is fairly stage manager/production manager/producer specific, but having a portable printer with me on tour has saved me many hours and…

  • Who Stage Manages the Oscars?

    Lois
    26 Feb 2013 | 11:09 pm
    Ever wondered who the folks are who stage manage the big TV events like the Oscars, Grammys, and other major awards shows?  I know that I have. I always watch to the end of the credits to count how many they have (for example, most episodes of American Idol credit anywhere from four to eight stage managers). Well now I don’t have to wonder any more since the LA Times ran a great profile of Dency Nelson, the man who has stage managed the Oscars for the last 25 years (among a long list of credits). “An anonymous but critical piece of the Hollywood awards season machinery, stage…

  • The First Step to Being a Grown Up

    Lois
    16 Feb 2013 | 12:17 am
    I remember reading books as a pre-teen where the protagonists were in their early 20′s and did things like own houses, get married,  have real jobs, and have kids. And I remember thinking how far away that seemed. And now here I am at 26 with a real job that never quite feels like a real job,  but I’m finally about to check off the first thing on my being a grown up check list: I’ve bought a condo! With the very generous help of my parents, I have purchased a one bedroom condo in Vancouver. It’s just blocks away from my old apartment and has everything I wanted…

  • Ride the Cyclone Tour Stop #1 – Calgary

    Lois
    12 Jan 2013 | 12:59 am
    All of our travel items have the Cyclone logo spray painted onto them I’ve been in Calgary for four very busy days now and am having a hard time believing that my first week of Ride the Cyclone is coming to an end. It feels like we’ve been in Calgary both longer and shorter than we have. Because our appearance in Calgary is part of a festival, our load-in/tech time was limited and so there was no time to go through and Q2Q the show here. Instead, I got my first chance to ever see the lighting cues, costumes and props in a dress rehearsal as I called the show for the first time…
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    atlantatheaterfans.com

  • Stage Door Players Announces 40th Anniversary Season

    admin
    23 May 2013 | 6:14 pm
    Stage Door Players has announced the theater’s 40th anniverary season. The Andrews Brothers A Madcap Musical Salute to the Swinging ’40s by Roger Bean A USO show is threatened with cancellation when a certain famous trio of singing sisters fails to show, and it’s up to three earnest and determined stagehands to go on with ...

  • World Premiere Musical Shakin’ the Rafters at Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Company

    admin
    23 May 2013 | 5:46 pm
    Kenny Leon and True Colors Theatre Company are proud to announce the World Premiere of Shakin’ the Rafters a gospel musical written and directed by David H. Bell.  Shakin’ the Rafters will run from  July 9 to August 4, 2013 at the 14th Street Playhouse located at 173 14th Street, Atlanta, GA 30309. A touring ...

  • Sister Robert Anne’s Cabaret Class at ART Station

    admin
    23 May 2013 | 5:40 pm
    ART Station will present Sister Robert Anne’s Cabaret Class by Dan Goggin June 6 to 23, 2013. This is a “One-Nun-Sense” musical event where Sister Robert Anne, a street-smart not so typical nun, and her accompanist share songs from the popular NUNSENSE series. Whether she’s giving out clues on how to fashion your own cabaret show, ...

  • Men Are From Mars – Women Are From Venus Live! Playing The Buckhead Theatre on June 1

    admin
    23 May 2013 | 5:37 pm
    the one-man fusion of theatre and stand-up starring Peter Story and based on the New York Times #1 best-selling book of the last decade by John Gray, will play The Buckhead Theatre on Saturday, June 1st at 8:00 PM. Moving swiftly through a series of vignettes, the show covers everything from dating and marriage to ...

  • Wild, Wooly, & Wonderful at the Center for Puppetry Arts

    admin
    23 May 2013 | 5:30 pm
    Center for Puppetry Arts® is pleased to announce its newest special exhibit: Wild, Wooly, & Wonderful opened in April. The wonders of nature have long inspired art, writing and performance. Puppeteers everywhere, from Africa to South America, use animals to tell stories about their cultures, traditions and everyday life. This exhibit showcases different ways animals ...
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    Theatre Geeks

  • Chicago Comedy Film Festival

    dave@theatregeeks.com (Dave Dufour, John Shoup, Marcia Fulmer)
    29 Apr 2013 | 11:48 am
    Festival founder Jessica Hardy tells us all about this unique comedy event Chicago Comedy Film Festival Logo Now in its third year, the Chicago Comedy Film Festival encourages and rewards... More info at the Theatre Geeks website

  • Indiana Repertory Theatre’s Artistic Director, Janet Allen

    dave@theatregeeks.com (Dave Dufour, John Shoup, Marcia Fulmer)
    14 Apr 2013 | 7:14 am
    Turns out Indiana Repertory Theatre faces many of the same issues community theatres do, including audience building and retention, dealing with changing demands, new vs old works, play selection and... More info at the Theatre Geeks website

  • Improv in community theatre and beyond

    dave@theatregeeks.com (Dave Dufour, John Shoup, Marcia Fulmer)
    8 Mar 2013 | 8:00 pm
    Our old friend Jessica Hardy joins us to talk about the value of improv as a discipline for community theatres.  Jessica trained at The Second City, and now teaches improv classes in Chicago and... More info at the Theatre Geeks website

  • Are actors made or born?

    dave@theatregeeks.com (Dave Dufour, John Shoup, Marcia Fulmer)
    17 Feb 2013 | 8:32 pm
    Are community theatre actors made or born? Can anyone be an actor or does it take something special, an innate talent that only certain people have? How much can training overcome an aspirant's basic... More info at the Theatre Geeks website

  • Build audience with special performances

    dave@theatregeeks.com (Dave Dufour, John Shoup, Marcia Fulmer)
    3 Feb 2013 | 6:56 pm
    Special performances can benefit your community theatre in ways other than income The Geeks discuss their experience with special performances for corporate and other supporting groups, how they can... More info at the Theatre Geeks website
 
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    Tim Bauer | Tim Bauer

  • →3 Myths That Are Killing Literary Culture | Medium

    Tim
    13 May 2013 | 4:05 am
    3 Myths That Are Killing Literary Culture » By Michelle Richmond on Medium. A good read.

  • Reading at the Make-Out Room

    Tim
    6 May 2013 | 9:19 pm
    In keeping with my latest trend of being asked to write stuff really, really quickly and then immediately present it to an audience – see last post about the Instant Play that I helped create for the Magic Theatre’s gala – on Sunday I was one of the participants in the Portuguese Artists Colony’s live writing challenge. For new readers, I’m a member of a literary group called PAC. We are not Portuguese, and we are not a colony, but we do present occasional evenings of art: readings, music, and something called live writing, where four writers are given a prompt and ten…

  • So, I Was The Entertainment…

    Tim
    3 May 2013 | 8:35 pm
    Thursday ended up being a really fun night: Can you guess who I was in this description? EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED Artistic Director Loretta Greco and an acclaimed Bay Area playwright are conjuring the ingredients for an Instant Play and cooking up a scheme for party-goers to become playwrights. THE PLAY’S THE THING Forget the usual pre-dinner cocktail-hour silent auction — you’ll have the chance to cast your vote for the THEME, SETTING and PROPS for a crowd-sourced INSTANT PLAY to be written and performed THIS VERY NIGHT! Yup, I was the “acclaimed Bay Area playwright,”…

  • Discoveries at a Literary Reading

    Tim
    27 Mar 2013 | 12:49 pm
    Last Sunday, I hosted the latest Portuguese Artists Colony literary event at Hotel Rex. I’ve met and discovered so many interesting and amazing writers and musicians through PAC in the past — people like Ethel Rohan and Will Boast and David Berkeley — and this show was no exception. May I urge you to check out: Patricia Ann McNair, a writer from Chicago whose book The Temple of Air I picked up on the way out and started reading as soon as I got home Siamak Vossoughi, a writer from San Francisco who read some short pieces, and who has a short story coming out soon in Glimmer…

  • Quote: Marissa Skudlarek

    Tim
    22 Mar 2013 | 10:51 pm
    “The unexamined life may not be worth living, but the over-examined life can make you feel like there’s nothing to live for.” - Marissa Skudlarek
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    Shakespeare Geek

  • My Interview with "Hamlet Supercut" Creator Geoff Klock

    20 May 2013 | 10:28 am
    Last week a good part of the Shakespeare fan universe was knocked on its collective Bottoms (see what I did there :)?) by the discovery of what's best called a Hamlet Supercut - a 15 minute retelling of Hamlet made up entirely of 200+ movie and television references.  If you've not yet seen it, you're in for a treat.  Warning, there's a bit of NSFW dialogue so you might want to grab the headphones (more on that later): Amazing, right?  Everybody I showed said the same thing.  I got a number of "I thought I knew a few references to add but he already had them!" and even one…

  • Could It Be, Hmmm, I Don't Know ... SEYTON!?!?!

    15 May 2013 | 10:25 am
    (Does a "Church Lady" impression date me pretty badly?) Bardfilm wanted some academic discussion on Twitter today, and knowing that it's very hard to learn anything permanent on Twitter (try Googling for it later!) I'm summarizing in a blog post but you can check to see if the #SeytonSatan hashtag is still active. Question : In Macbeth, would "Seyton" be pronounced like "Satan"?  And, if so, would that have suggested some sort of desired audience reaction?  When Macbeth calls, "Seyton!" would the audience have been all, "He's calling SATAN?! Dude's evil!"   (My paraphrase.

  • Drop Everything

    14 May 2013 | 11:45 am
    ...for the next 15 minutes and go watch this insane "supercut" that tells Hamlet using 200 tv and movie references. I don't even know what to say about it. The amount of effort is insane.  You've got the Monkees, the Addams Family, Head of the Class, Clueless, Simpsons, Cookie Monster and on and on and on.  Monty Python references I just saw on Bardfilm yesterday?  They're in there. And he even lists the credits, in order, at the end! You know that feeling you get when you're just minding your own business and then you randomly hear a snippet of conversation come from over the…

  • Sonnets Simplified?

    13 May 2013 | 10:19 am
    So next week I'll at long last be heading in to a classroom to talk about Shakespeare.  In this particular instance we're talking about the sonnets, and I'm busy gathering material that I can use. I've been informed by the teacher that, in preparation for the lesson, they "studied" Sonnet 29.  That is, she read and paraphrased it to them.  They also read Sonnet 18.  This was done mostly as a lesson in iambic pentameter. Here's my question to you, loyal readers.  What are the best sonnets I can use for examples in class?  We'll be doing several games involving…

  • Last Day to Join the Shakespeare is Universal Campaign!

    13 May 2013 | 8:22 am
    Our revels will soon be ending, and our little lives will be rounded with a stunning new t-shirt because we hit our goal!  I just wanted to leave a note here for those people that really were waiting until the end, possibly to see if we made it (so there's no risk), possibly to see if we *didnt* make it so they could help put us over the edge.  Either way, you've still got (as of this writing) about 9 hours to go add your name to the list and get a shirt if you wanted one. For those that have already joined the campaign, remember that your payment will be charged so don't suddenly…
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    Voice Coaches

  • VO Behind-The-Scenes – Superman Unbound

    Mike Spring
    8 May 2013 | 8:30 am
    Yesterday, Warner Brothers and DC Comics released their latest animated adventure film, Superman: Unbound. There’s an amazing roster of talent providing voices, including White Collar‘s Matt Bomer as Superman, Castle‘s Stana Katic as Lois Lane, Fringe‘s John Noble as Brainiac, and Castle‘s Molly Quinn as Supergirl. Our first video features a clip from the film itself, followed by Matt Bomer and Stana Katic talking about their roles. In our second video, John Noble discusses portraying the alien conqueror, Brainiac. Finally, we have Molly Quinn discussing her…

  • VO Behind-The-Scenes – Star Trek: The Video Game

    Mike Spring
    19 Apr 2013 | 8:05 am
    By now, you’re probably aware that there’s a sequel coming out in May to the 2009 film Star Trek, which was a massive hit at the box office. What you might not be aware of is that there’s a tie-in video game coming out next week! What makes this game so exciting is that the producers managed to enlist every single main cast member from the films to voice their characters in the games! We’ve got a couple of videos giving you a look at the games and the voice overs! The first video is a making-of that focuses on the authentic sounds the producers were going for. About a…

  • Voice Coaches Radio Wins 2nd ADDY Award!

    Mike Spring
    21 Mar 2013 | 1:00 pm
    We are very pleased (and humbled) to announce that Voice Coaches Radio has won the ADDY Award for Best Podcast for the 2nd year in a row! “We’ve been producing the podcast weekly for almost 200 episodes, and it’s amazing to see that people still respond to it after all this time,” said Mike Spring, producer and co-host of the show. “Warren [Garling] and I really have fun putting the show together each week, and we’re extremely proud to be honored with this award a second time.” Voice Coaches Radio also won the 2012 ADDY for Best Podcast. The awards…

  • VO Behind-The-Scenes: Rise of the Guardians

    Mike Spring
    1 Mar 2013 | 8:31 am
    One of the biggest hit films of the holiday season was the animated adventure Rise of the Guardians. Featuring an all-star cast, the film tells the story of a group of legends (such as Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, The Tooth Fairy, and Jack Frost) who team up to stop the boogieman. With the movie hitting home video on March 12th, we thought it was the perfect time to show you what it was like behind the scenes! In the first clip, above, we get to see some really amazing footage of the cast recording their voices. It’s really impressive to see how some of them can read the same line of…

  • VO Behind-The-Scenes: Wreck-It Ralph

    Mike Spring
    18 Feb 2013 | 8:51 am
    One of last year’s biggest hit films was Wreck-It Ralph, the story of a video game villain who wants to become a hero. With the film about to hit home video in a couple of weeks, we thought it would be cool to share some great behind-the-scenes videos with you! The first video (above) is kind of your general “meet the cast” presentation. It gives you a nice look at who’s playing who and what the characters are all about. There’s no denying what a great cast this movie has put together! The second video is a really cool promotional video produced for the film…
 
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    Theatre People

  • Once Wins West End Eurovision Contest

    TheatrePeople.com Staff
    24 May 2013 | 7:28 am
    The cast of Once walked away with the top prize at the West End Eurovision contest at the Dominion Theatre last night, 23 May, after their James Bond- esque music video proved a hit with the judges and audience alike.  read more

  • West End Live Theatre Fest Returns To London 22 June

    Glenn Rice
    24 May 2013 | 4:12 am
    West End Live, the annual weekend of outdoor London theatre entertainment, joins the pigeons at Trafalgar Square on 22 - 23 June.  read more

  • Weekend of Theatre West End Live Returns to Trafalgar Square in June

    Glenn Rice
    24 May 2013 | 4:09 am
    West End Live, the annual weekend of free theatre that takes over London's outdoor spaces, is coming to Trafalgar Square on 22 - 23 June.  read more

  • Miss Saigon

    Glenn Rice
    24 May 2013 | 3:47 am
      The Classic Musical From The Creators Of Les Misérables Returns From the creators of Les Misérables comes this long-overdue West End revival of Miss Saigon, the epic love story of an American GI's marriage to a Vietnamese bar girl at the height of the Vietnam War. read more

  • New Harry Hill X-Factor Musical Opens March 2014

    Glenn Rice
    24 May 2013 | 1:47 am
    I Can’t Sing! – The X-Factor Musical will open at the London Palladium on 26 March 2014. The ‘musical about a musical’ will be directed by double Olivier Award- winner Sean Foley, whose West End credits include the successful production of The Ladykillers. read more
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    Thoughts on Theatre

  • A Thought on Growing Up

    thoughtsontheatre
    23 May 2013 | 4:12 pm

  • Starting the Experience at the Door: Theatrical Hors D’oeuvres

    thoughtsontheatre
    22 May 2013 | 12:21 pm
    You walk into a party and the host takes your coat, slings a drink into your hand, introduces you to a few people – makes you feel comfortable, gets you prepared for what the night has in store. Theatrical experiences should be no different. You are already prepared to enter another story for the evening –  best to ignite the senses the minute you walk in the door. The best example I have seen lately was the interactive wonderworld before a performance of The Nether, a show dealing with the danger and imperceptibility of the digital realm and its communities, at the Kirk Douglas…

  • You Have to Move On/ Il Faut Avancer

    thoughtsontheatre
    21 May 2013 | 9:00 am
    Theatre du Chatelet, renowned Paris institution headed by Jean-Luc Choplin, recently presented Stephen Sondheim & James Lapine’s award-winning and heartbreaking SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE. Lucky for those of us that weren’t able to hop on a plane to Paris during its run, the production was filmed and broadcast by Mezzo TV. And now, this new version is available to download for free, albeit for a very limited time. The original Broadway production of SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, directed by James Lapine, starring Mandy Patinkin and Bernadette Peters, was…

  • Hiding Amidst the Others

    thoughtsontheatre
    20 May 2013 | 3:23 pm
    Want to grow big and strong? Take a cue from Toronto-based street artist Aidan Glynn, who created these mushrooms and dropped them into a local grocery store. Glynn‘s other projects surround the video game world with nods to Pokemon, Donkey Kong, Mario and more:

  • Bite-sized Wisdom: Jonson

    thoughtsontheatre
    19 May 2013 | 12:00 pm
    This contemporary of Billy Shakes knew the importance of surrounding yourself with good company: “True happiness consists not in the multitude of friends, but in the worth and choice” - Ben Jonson Image Source You may also enjoy: Bite-sized Wisdom Hammerstein On Personal Growth Seven Good Reasons to Stop Whatever You’re Doing and Go for It
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