tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16876687.post68719244229737468..comments2024-02-27T16:59:54.089-05:00Comments on (The New) Theatre Ideas: On RantsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16876687.post-78538820214673643162008-02-28T10:54:00.000-05:002008-02-28T10:54:00.000-05:00One hard and fast example is Chicago set designer ...One hard and fast example is Chicago set designer Marcus Stephens, who I just encouraged to join the theater tribe ning group. He's designing more than I am but the conversation has resonated a bit differently as he grows older... he's become very interested in finding ways to encourage theaters to a) be more environmentally sustainable and b) more engaged in local communities, through some kind of community contract. Because he's collaborating with six or seven companies at a time, he's in another unique spot to be able to coordinate say, sharing platforms, lumber, set pieces so that stuff doesn't end up in the landfill. And, he's a master collaborator, so he already has the ear of a number of higher-profile artistic directors in Chicago, Indiana, and Iowa. I encouraged him to use the theater tribe site to develop this idea and perhaps his contract itself. <BR/><BR/>Like I said, small changes. But I think the change comes when the entire theater community starts to be aware that we're all listening and watching each other, and when we start sharing thoughts. A vision for positive change does actually propagate itself - as does vitriol, actually. <BR/><BR/>What may be difficult to see, and I think will come in time over the next year, is a really effective way to measure the success of the vision. Blog comments don't cut it, because it really only represents people who make the time to post back. That may be a danger we face as bloggers on this issue - when we're out on our own and we're not getting effective on-the-ground feedback, how do we keep focused and prevent ourselves from burning out? I think without that feedback we run the risk of running off the rails - which is what I've been thinking about as my blog lays dormant for the past week. If the goal is to build community momentum, some of us will need to keep careful lockstep with that momentum on a local level and help it along - and the mechanism for that may have to be local contact, not a web tool at all.Nick Keenanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06616166732562821631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16876687.post-21487555273538700562008-02-28T09:33:00.000-05:002008-02-28T09:33:00.000-05:00Nick -- You made my day. And reminded me, as I sho...Nick -- You made my day. And reminded me, as I should have been reminded by the other Nick as well, that a positive vision is what is going to be talked about, not the attack on the status quo. I hope you will keep your ear to the ground and let us know about others who are talking.<BR/><BR/>Tony -- That's a really good suggestion. I have a book about Theatre du Soleil (wow! how did you get all those accent marks to work?), and every once it a while it occurs to me that they might provide a real world example. Thanks for the nudge -- I'll check my bookshelf.Scott Waltershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04177922467901223790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16876687.post-60631052263549123662008-02-28T09:27:00.000-05:002008-02-28T09:27:00.000-05:00Nick - thanks for your comments. It is so incredi...Nick - thanks for your comments. It is so incredibly warming to hear that the day-to-day guys and girls are excited about the Tribe idea.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16876687.post-64338753535718919042008-02-27T23:01:00.000-05:002008-02-27T23:01:00.000-05:00Scott, I've been meaning to ask. Have you looked a...Scott, I've been meaning to ask. Have you looked at how Théâtre du Soleil functions as a company and creates work?<BR/><BR/>They do a lot of what you talk about with an extraordinarily high level of quality. Also built their theatre spaces in an abandoned bullet plant that now serves as an arts campus with several theatres alongside each other.)<BR/><BR/>If you're looking for real world examples, you could do worse. (Of course they're based in Paris, which is the French version of Nylachi rolled into one City.)Tony Adamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02141675073979325374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16876687.post-35632524612122889262008-02-27T22:46:00.000-05:002008-02-27T22:46:00.000-05:00I don't know, youse guys.In the past three months,...I don't know, youse guys.<BR/><BR/>In the past three months, I've done both talk and work. I've sat and wrote rants, diatribes and manifestoes and I've done four or six designs on $100 budgets (I can't remember at this point) and I'm sitting writing this while in tech for a production at a big LORT theater.<BR/><BR/>The more feedback I get from the lurkers, the more I understand that this discussion is important, even while it is not directly "productive." Blogs are not where theater happens, so to criticize a blog discussion for not taking action is in my opinion expecting way too much. This is a discussion about refocusing our collective actions, not about generating that change. <BR/><BR/>And no, everyone involved isn't going to be directly creating theater. Some people will be exploring the theory behind the theater. Is the theory healthier when it's being tested in the real world? Sure. <BR/><BR/>Frankly, from my view on the ground: it's working. Yes, Scott is entrenched in theory here, but it's generating a lot of real if small change in people's lives right now. No, it's not always the changes Scott anticipates, but it's in some ways even more promising. I have had about twenty discussions with theater professionals who have been looking at these conversations from afar (and don't necessarily have the stamina to think out and post a lucid and articulate response on a regular basis), but BOY do they get excited about the idea of the theater tribe.<BR/><BR/>Just as research into atomic particles generated a lot of unanticipated practical advancements, this discussion shouldn't be thought of as "model" construction, it should be thought of as research, and seeing how these ideas can resonate. This isn't a conversation that's going to start a single theater or directly generate change. It's one that's going to spread ideas and shared conversation across the country and lay the groundwork for MANY tribes to coalesce and start sharing resources, time and ideas. <BR/><BR/>If you can't stand the meta, at least don't stand in the way of it. That said, your doubt is also both noted and valued as part of the developing conversation. Maybe instead of attacking each other, we should also look into the source of this doubt a little and figure out why that's resonating as well? Let's address it, and the models will form themselves dare I say organically out of the conversation.Nick Keenanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06616166732562821631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16876687.post-48599267238279385072008-02-27T20:56:00.000-05:002008-02-27T20:56:00.000-05:00And the vision means little to nothing if it can't...And the vision means little to nothing if it can't survive in the atmosphere of the planet it lives on. So, to test whether your notion can breathe the air of our time seems absolutely necessary.<BR/><BR/>On your second point, didn't you write an earlier post urging theatres to stop employing artists from other places? That seems like asking others to change their practice, which you say in the comment above that you're not doing. So...?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16876687.post-50013557856510723632008-02-27T19:18:00.000-05:002008-02-27T19:18:00.000-05:00Wow, Jess, that is a helluva story.Anonymous -- Ob...Wow, Jess, that is a helluva story.<BR/><BR/>Anonymous -- Obviously, I disagree. One of the things that leads to change is to create a groundswell based on ideas. Simply creating a theatre that works won't do it, because nobody knows about it except you. But sharing ideas, thinking through ramifications BEFORE putting something into action, that is a valuable and necessary process, it seems to me. As I mentioned in another post, Harold Clurman talked the Group Theatre into existence -- he did absolutely nothing, even when they were creating their first production "The House of Connelly" except talk. And everybody involved recognized that his talk gave them a sense of purpose and the courage to forge on. One has to imagine something new before you can create it. In addition, I am not asking anyone to change unless they want to. I am trying to bring together all the people who share a common frsutration and who have a desire to try something new. If you are good where you are, more power to you. But you can't create a movement without a vision.Scott Waltershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04177922467901223790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16876687.post-31794254978204789682008-02-27T17:59:00.000-05:002008-02-27T17:59:00.000-05:00This post led to a line of mental inquiry I found ...This post led to a line of mental inquiry I found interesting.<BR/><BR/>Short of physical abuse (i.e., your right to swing your fist ends at the tip of my nose) I don't think anybody has the right to require that somebody else change their behavior.<BR/><BR/>I think you have every right to say, "I'm unhappy! I need to change what I am doing."<BR/><BR/>I don't think you have a leg to stand on when you say "I'm unhappy! So YOU need to change what YOU are doing."<BR/><BR/>You want a new model? Start a theatre. Make it work the way you want it to work. This is what I think you're on to with your Tribe idea, but it also smacks of armchair quarterbacking.<BR/><BR/>Anything other than founding the model in the world, is just so much blather.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16876687.post-30968774503793752122008-02-27T16:38:00.000-05:002008-02-27T16:38:00.000-05:00I agree.And I am taking your suggestion of copying...I agree.<BR/><BR/>And I am taking your suggestion of copying your (and others, and my own) words to distribute to all of my contacts.<BR/><BR/>If I can't make theatre, at least I can make noise, right?<BR/><BR/>And it's not that I can't make theatre - I'm just refusing to make it via the way in which it is currently being made in Atlanta.<BR/><BR/>Perfect example:<BR/><BR/>Jennifer is SMing for a production of a new play being put up by Synchronicity Performance Group. They held auditions back in October. At that time, one of their leads accepted his role with the understanding that he would get one (one!) full day off every week - off from his day job and from the rehearsal process.<BR/><BR/>Now, Jennifer is busy making the schedule, and the director is insisting on Day rehearsals on Sat and Sun. Jen reminded her of their agreement with the lead - and she was told that she needed to pass along to the lead that he needed to 'suck it up' or not take the role.<BR/><BR/>That's some bullshit, right there, folks.<BR/><BR/>You know what? The theatre is the one that needs to suck it up. They are NOT paying this guys bills. They are LUCKY to get him to work for the pittance they offer ($200 for the rehearsals and one-month run - $200 TOTAL!)<BR/><BR/>I say "they," but I really mean "us." We need, as theatre artists, to NOT work in this bullshit rubric ANYMORE. We need to spend our time, if we have it, looking to create a new scenario for the creation of theatre - BEFORE we create the work. And if it can't work, then, fuck it, let's wait until it can. Let's concentrate on making it work.<BR/><BR/>My two cents.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com