Archive for June, 2010
Last night, Scott and I witnessed an amazing night of physical theatre, “Move It!” at Here Arts Center, hosted by Parallel Exit. Most of the acts on offer were comedic in nature, from the graceful dancer and juggler Jennifer Slaw, to the mind-bendingly flexible Book Kennison, the silly Coney Island Chris, and antics from the irreverent Joel Jeske.
The most affecting part of the evening was the dramatic 10 minute presentation of Shana Solomon’s (and her troupe of dancers) interpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s epic film Ran (a riff on Shakespeare’s King Lear). There were barely any words spoken, more often than not, the words acted as conduits or a means of highlighting the action, which moved swiftly and deftly. On a bare stage, with minimal costuming, and only the bodies of six capable actor/dancers (which often times seemed to meld into one body), Solomon was able to convey the gravity and tension of this loaded story.
Being reminded of how powerful physical movement can be, and how integral it is to telling a story has reinvigorated me and shed a lot of light on the physically demanding play I’m currently working on. It was also wonderful to watch masters control an instrument most of us take for granted, our humble bodies.
–Sue
June 30th, 2010
The American Theatre Wing has some wonderful programs, many of which they make available on their website. I get notified about some of them in my inbox, and thought I’d share some of the advice that came across the transom with my actor friends reading this blog (though some of this advice could be applied to any profession or person).
Featured in Equal Exchange: Actors 2010, 5 actors answered what they wish they would have known starting out in the biz:
Alfred Molina:
“Don’t make up your mind too soon. Learn to think twice.”
Jan Maxwell:
“Respect everyone. Revere no one.”
Anthony LaPaglia:
“In the auditioning process, never walk into a room with your cap in your hand. Don’t go in like they’re doing you a favor. It’s an equal exchange: you’re giving them your talent, they give you money. That’s the equal exchange in being hired as an actor. So many actors go into auditions with this kind of begging quality – I think you have to respect yourself as an actor.”
David Alan Grier:
“There’s no ‘last part.’ When I was much younger I was like ‘I have to get this role, because there will never be a part like this, there will never be a production like this, if I don’t get this role, then my life will never be the same.’ There’s always another role, another part. Also, do not dress in character because if things go badly, that’s a long ride home.”
Laura Linney:
“Don’t be afraid of the fact that no one is one thing. You have to be careful of what people will say to you, because you can take it too intensely. People will say, ‘Oh you’re this type, you’re that type, you’re this kind of actress, you’re that kind of actress,’ and that can really stunt somebody. I think you can let people say whatever they want to say, but just realize that there’s so much more to every human being. Actors don’t do just one thing – we do a lot of things.”
What an amazing teacher experience is!
–Sue
June 29th, 2010
I have a deep appreciation for comedy in theatre. It’s a different animal than drama, one that still perplexes me. And though my family has asked me many times why I’m not writing comedies just yet, I hope to tackle at least one one day.
Yesterday, we saw a few themed short plays. Most pieces were no more than ten minutes, some hovered close to the five minute mark. I was surprised at what can be shared and learned in such a short amount of time, and one or two of the 10 pieces made me think…
One, which shall remain nameless, got under my skin in a very bad way for a very bad reason. I was with the play and playwright for a few minutes there… It was smart and funny in an ironic kind of way. And then, the last line of the play, “Now that’s theatre!”
That few seconds wiped away any good will I had built up in the last few minutes. There was no finesse there, nothing subtle about it. In fact, I felt like I had just been pounded over the head.
It demonstrated how convention can sometimes be detrimental. The last line of any piece is hard enough, but then trying to come up with a zinger for your last line… I can take this so many places, but I’m just going to leave it open.
Comedy, smart comedy, is usually about shedding a subtle light on something we know is true. That “zinger” flooded this piece with a spotlight, washing away everything that came before it.
–Sue
June 28th, 2010
Dina’s work will be featured in NYCPride PrideFest 2010. She will be selling her fine art photography (starting as low as $20.00 for a 5×7) throughout the day this Sunday, June 27th. Her booth, C3, is located on Hudson Street between Horatio and Jane Streets in NYC. Dina will be selling her pieces throughout the day, until 7:00pm.
If you’re in town and want to drop in and say hello, and pick up a piece of fine art photography at reasonable prices while meeting the artist herself, I know she’d love to see you.
Visit Dina’s etsy shop here.
–Sue
June 25th, 2010
Always on the cutting edge with theatre, a UK theatre is currently under construction using reclaimed and recycled materials. The Jellyfish Theatre will first be on display for its architectural merit, and will then be used as a theatre for two upcoming plays.
One of the most important aspects of this project is that they are asking for community donations, ranging from kitchen cabinetry to anything else that might be of use. This crucial aspect takes the project from showpiece to a community centered space. And isn’t that the point? Making us all aware of the many resources we already have at our disposal, if we’re only willing to look at them in a new way?
Isn’t wonderful to know that even in this guise, theatre really makes you think?
–Sue
June 24th, 2010
It may sound like a fairytale, but it’s true. Arena Stage, a well known (and now well endowed, thanks to the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation) theatre in D.C. is putting playwrights on their payroll and the opportunity to get involved with the theatre as an artistic home.
Aside from the obvious benefits like health insurance, a steady income, and access to office supplies, the real benefit is the emotional and psychological feelings of being compensated and valued, and therefore free to focus on the work. Arena Stage might just be changing the tide for American playwrights, and American theatre.
–Sue
June 23rd, 2010
I’m writing in bits and pieces…making the most out of what I can get. At times, it’s a few lines of dialogue, or even just an image that will spark something.
I’m at a point where I’m not 100% percent sure of where I’m going, even though I have a pretty good idea of where I’d like to go.
Normally, this might frustrate me, but the reality of this situation is that the characters are in the exact same place. They are trying to make their way towards one another, but aren’t so sure of how they’ll get there, if they do indeed get there.
Slowly, slowly, the picture is getting a little more clear.
–Sue
June 22nd, 2010
Last night I had a nice long chat with my mother in law and she mentioned that she’d had a collection of beautiful dolls when she was a young girl. Unfortunately, her collection was given away due to a lack of space.
When writing today, I remembered our conversation, and my own doll, Becky, whom I carried with me wherever I went. I was inspired and ended up incorporating a childhood doll as a memory of the family’s past. I didn’t realize how powerful that memory would be, for both mother (who saved up and sacrificed to buy the doll and kept her as clean as she could), and daughter (who loved and carried the doll everywhere she went).
It’s wonderful to find inspiration in the memories we have in our daily lives.
–Sue
June 21st, 2010
Faithful readers, I did not post yesterday, and I apologize for the lapse. I spent much of my day running around doing errands, and by the time I got home I was exhausted.
When I had some time to pause this morning, I realized what a great gift taking a few minutes to write my daily blog is. It’s a time to sit and reflect, and it’s a beautiful thing that we can at times take for granted.
Theatre offers the same respite, and that’s probably why people are willing to pay for it. Buying those tickets, putting that time in a calendar, shutting off communication with the outside world to sit in the dark and turn one’s attention on someone, somewhere else. It’s almost meditative in a way, with many of the aspects of ritual built in.
To take that time as a special time, away from daily life, to be transported somewhere else, but to also very much reflect on their own lives — especially in our warp speed lives of today… How can you put a price on that?
If you’re tired and overwhelmed, take a moment and buy a ticket to a show. I know you’ll be glad you did.
–Sue
June 19th, 2010
I’ve spent the last few days just sitting with my play. It was only last night that I heard a few small snippets of dialogue.
Once I sat to type today, I realized that though the information the character was sharing was important, it wasn’t the whole picture. The audience already knows the information, and so it’s nothing new for them. But it is news for the other character in the scene/relationship.
It is her reaction that makes this scene, and helps move the story and character arcs to a new place. Knowing and understanding this helped me take the sketch of the scene I was hearing in those few lines of dialogue to form a more complete and satisfying picture. And before I knew it, I had a full scene.
Sometimes the best way of getting from point a to point b involves more than just a straight line.
–Sue
June 17th, 2010
Previous Posts
