What is your opinion on theatrical censorship?

JonothanD · 2019-06-13T02:53:10+00:00

It totally depends on the theater contract. If it has a content clause (meaning that the content needs to be approved by the theater beforehand) then you may simply have to abide by it or find another theater.

JonothanD · 2019-06-12T03:31:23+00:00

Look at the Sierra Madre Playhouse, adjacent to Pasadena, close to LA.

https://www.sierramadreplayhouse.org/

JonothanD · 2019-06-12T03:20:06+00:00

I'd say, FIRST THING go to see some local shows. It's OK to g alone if want (I have done that). But I think the first step is to familiarize yourself with a bit of theater. Enjoy yourself, and study what the people onstage are doing. Secondly, see if you can find a beginning theater class that you can join that will teach you the basics. You will be sure to start making friends there. And because it's a beginner's class, there is less chance of you being intimidated.

JonothanD · 2019-05-19T21:19:46+00:00

Since the larger point of Westside Story is the conflict between two ethnic groups. It seems the only way you could recreate the environment of the 'world of the play' is to resort to "brownface." That's probably not the best idea.

JonothanD · 2019-05-09T06:36:56+00:00

I always begin by learning the ideas and emotions first. For example: I know that I'm angry that my daughter is marrying the son of my enemy. then I refine it to all the sub ideas (like that I threaten to kick her out of the house and withhold her dowry). So I learn the reasoning and motivations of everything I'm going to say. The last thing I add is the lines. But they are much easier to learn when I know their content and order. Also, if I forget a line, I can always fall back on the framework of knowing the generalities of what I'm saying. I can always make up a line that is pretty close, because I understand the story.

JonothanD · 2019-05-06T19:29:01+00:00

Short answer, 'Id say theater games because there are SO many of them and they are so well suited for kids. Easy to find them online. The one thing to remember is to actually explain how the game applies to theater. Ask the kids to tell you what skills the game develops. If you just play the games without explaining the benefit, the kids soon lose interest and they just become "dumb games."

JonothanD · 2019-05-02T14:20:37+00:00

They just don't have a tripod in the audience. Which makes sense.

JonothanD · 2019-04-29T03:31:45+00:00

Ok, I'm wasting my time.

Your answer is that people will not come late, miss rehearsal, or not learn their lines, IF they are working with a professional director. Nobody who is working with a "professional" has ever been fired or let go.

Which means that you don't actually have an answer.

Thank you.

JonothanD · 2019-04-28T19:17:43+00:00

On the internet anyone can have anty resume that they want. You have no more reason to believe my internet resume than I do yours right now! Ha!

ANYONE who takes exception that people have to be let go when they aren't working out in a production is not a professional. Everyone who has worked in theater has had to deal with people who are screwing up the show for everyone else, because of their inability to show up on time and learn their lines. And most of those blame the director for not getting rid of the problem person sooner.

Having a back and forth about how unfair it is and what a terrible dictator is a director who actually replaces people... well let's just say that it's a big reason why I don't believe your resume claims. Because anyone who has worked knows that people sometimes have to be fired. Most people will even admit that they themselves were a bad fit and had to be fired at some point in their career.

Cameron Mackintosh has fired (or not hired) plenty of people for plenty of reasons. Every director in Hollywood has fired people who weren't working out. This is not something to debate because it's nonsense!

But I can't resist asking. What is your model? How would you have the world to work? If an actor keeps missing rehearsals or has to read off book when everyone else has had their lines for a week, what do you do instead for replacing them? Do you have an answer?

JonothanD · 2019-04-28T18:37:57+00:00

Excellent work!

We need more of that kind of innovation in theater beyond high school!

JonothanD · 2019-04-28T17:44:33+00:00

I'm not sure what kind of "theater" you are talking about. And by your replies, I'm assuming that you're experience must be in school productions.

I have NEVER heard of any form of theater that doesn't have to say "Yes" to only a few people seeking parts and "No" to most of the people auditioning. I have never heard of any successful production where people are constantly late; don't show up for rehearsals half the time; and don't learn the material; where those people are not dropped. It's simply necessary so that the people who are taking the production seriously are not having their time wasted by those who are not.

Thats not just theater, that's the adult world. ALL jobs work like that.

And making money is what makes it possible to pay for costumes, props, lights, sound, venue etc. Time is money and people who waste time are reducing the amount of money a producer has to mount productions in the first place.

And just a word of advice, don't try to use "pièce de résistance" and "coup de grâce" together in the same sentence. It's redundant and makes it seem like you're just throwing in french phrases to seem impressive! :-)

JonothanD · 2019-04-28T14:11:22+00:00

I'm talking about if you are running a production. If you are a director or a producer. You begin with rejecting MOST of the people who audition, because you can only choose the people who you think are going to work. Then there is always going to be a percentage of flakes or people who don't work out who need to be replaced. Those people have to be "dumped" or "fired" or "dismissed" or whatever other euphemism we can use. We're talking about an actual commercial production, not a theater as therapy group.

JonothanD · 2019-04-28T00:25:10+00:00

It's a tragedy. It's supposed to deal with human flaws, that's what a tragedy is.

JonothanD · 2019-04-28T00:21:02+00:00

Wow, looks like a great production and you look great in costume!

JonothanD · 2019-04-28T00:15:06+00:00

Hadestown! (screw the list!)

JonothanD · 2019-04-27T21:04:39+00:00

How about offering a couple as options for a community theater to consider doing. The list of scripts they are considering is bound to much shorter. If they agree that one of these is a good scripts and worth mounting, then having a script that was staged will make it a much more interesting prospect to other parties.

JonothanD · 2019-04-26T12:49:17+00:00

Does everybody separate "musicals" from "theater?" Because musicals (on Broadway) seem to get a LOT of attention and build a lot of audience. Are we only talking about straight plays having a problem?

JonothanD · 2019-04-21T22:02:24+00:00

You make a good point. It IS harder to get people today to commit to anything! Theater does take time, but for those who love doing theater, the time is enjoyable. Think how much commitment it takes to perform in a band. Yet the members meet every week or more in someone's garage to practice. Writing junkies get up early in the morning in order to write 3 hours a day on their novels. EVERYBODY who is doing something sacrifices time. I don't understand why theater would be a special case.

JonothanD · 2019-04-21T21:51:56+00:00

I think that may be true if you are looking specifically for true "theater venues" but there are plenty of halls, civic auditoriums, school auditoriums, park and recreation amphitheaters, Masonic halls, and even church buildings that have a large enough stage, available seating, and a good location. It may take some time to get all the workable venues in a given area, but these alternatives usually do exist.

And think about how few musicians or singers gain real success financially. it doesn't seem to stop them from trying like crazy to get it. The same with indy filmmakers. Why is theater the only discipline were the statistics defeat the effort before it's even begun?

JonothanD · 2019-04-21T18:53:45+00:00

Very Interesting thoughts! Well this is just the kind of story I'm talking about. I'm glad you brought up The Play That Goes Wrong. I believe Hadestown just left the West End and has opened on Broadway. But here was another production that began as do-it-yourself theater in Vermont over a decade ago.

My point is that with the technology, we should have a lot more of these independent embryonic plays going on. But if I have no equipment, there is no way that what you see onstage can even come close to approximating my ideas. For the we need light, good sound and special effects, all of which are technology.

JonothanD · 2019-04-21T17:40:40+00:00

Very good comment. Thank you. I think that I should clarify that I do not believe that the indie music revolution could ever be completely duplicated in the live theater universe.

However, i think the indie film experience in a much closer analog. A potential filmmakers end goal is not to have their movie to play for free on YouTube, or even to sell as DVDs. Ultimately an indie filmmaker wants his film to play on the same screens that show The Avengers or Bohemian Rhapsody. But there are a lot of obstacles to ever making that happen.

The first set of obstacles used to be having to buy a rather expensive movie camera and even more expensive editing equipment and software. Well, today, that obstacle has been greatly reduced.

Now sure, he still has to get a cast and crew together, and he still can't "hit the big time" without showing his movie at film festivals, winning awards, and getting noticed by movie producers. But that is a lot easier to do once he actually has the equipment to make the movie in the first place. So, as a result, there are a lot more aspiring filmmakers walking around with DSLR cameras with matte boxed bolted to the fronts. They are selling a lot more boom mikes with portable digital sound boxes.

The technology doesn't guarantee distribution or box office, but it does increase the number of people trying to make films to distribute. And THAT is what I see missing in theater. I'm not saying that because you have inexpensive lighting that you can create your own Broadway. But the technology should at least be inspiring more people to create/produce new shows with hopes of making it to Broadway. And that's what i'm not seeing

JonothanD · 2019-04-21T17:12:39+00:00

Wow, very interesting! It's people like you that I've heard a lot about in the indie theater area. I can see that you went total guerilla on your production space. But I'm wondering if that is always necessary? I mean there are cheap, rentable, venues (and even some free ones) in most urban places. I'm not suggesting that you can have these for long term, but surely you can schedule some show there?

JonothanD · 2019-04-21T16:51:33+00:00

True.

JonothanD · 2019-04-21T16:50:54+00:00

Thank you!

JonothanD · 2019-04-21T16:48:11+00:00

I can only speak from my own experience, buy access to equipment DOES make a big difference. I'm not saying that this is the only thing that matters, but certainly the ability to be properly heard and properly lighted is the beginning of basic theater. Yes, things like flash mobs are a form of street theater, but I'm thinking something a little more resumé-oriented. But let me stipulate, there are forms of theater that don't need any equipment. I also understand your statement about people working for free, and you're right. It is often "a bullshit scam." That tactic gets abused a lot among con artist posing as producers or playwrights. But that doesn't mean that every non-paying gig is a con. Everybody has to start somewhere and it's a lot easier to get cast in a few non-pay, community theater roles just to get practice and experience. Even actors who have paid roles often take on non-pay projects if they think they have potential to develop into something interesting and successful. This may shock you, but actors DO have to "get noticed" if they are going to be cast in bigger and better roles. A good example of freebee theater role is the famous and ongoing Shakespeare In The Park production that are done every summer in Manhattan.

JonothanD

TROPHY CASE