DECEMBER 1997 ----------------------------In this issue------------------------------------------ NEW COLUMN: Life in the Theatre by Gil Osborn Voices: The Cargo Cults, Dilbertism, and Orlando Theatre A Case Study The Play's the Thing: Dear Santa CyberTheatre Monthly: Very Special Art Rubin's Corner: Tickets, Tickets, Tickets TRE Trivia, Gossip & News -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A Life in the Theatre by Gil Osborne If you like it I think this is going to become a regular feature in TRE.....My Life in the Theatre by Gil Osborne. It sounds so pompous somehow, but I keep forgetting that for the past 30 years that's pretty much where I have lived my life....in the professional theatre. I've also managed to get married, have two wonderful sons, get divorced, swear off men for life and then get re-married this past June. But when I think back it's theatre that I remember. Shows, people, magic and nightmare, opening night elation and also opening night despair. I've worked with some wonderful actors and some terrible excuses for actors. I've been so in tune with my designers that I've hardly said a word to them, and I've had to fire a designer 10 days before we opened. I've made some horrible mistakes in selecting shows, and I've also gone on pure instinct, programmed a play that hasn't even been written yet and have it turn out to be a hit. There are no finite answers in theatre, and I think that's why I love it so. You keep learning. And if you make a mistake, well, the show closes in a few weeks and you've learned a lesson for the next one. So I guess over the next while I'll try and share some of my experiences with you, both good and bad, and see where we go. At this Christmas time I can't help but think of all the Christmases I've spent in the theatre, and there have been a lot of them. It seems that over the past 12 years I've always been in the middle of directing a show over the holiday season. It's always a scramble. First of all you have to face the eloquently pathetic eyes of your acting company as they plead for at least 2 days off. Then you have to put up with your stage manager scheduling impossible rehearsal days so that we can get ahead of ourselves and therefore have no excuse not to take some time off. Plus you have to get your own shopping done and remember to buy that darn turkey. But there is something special about Christmas in the theatre. I remember quite recently doing a show in which all the actors were wonderful singers. We finished rehearsals at 6:00 PM on December 23rd, broke out a couple of cases of beer, and sat around singing carols and telling stories until 2:00 AM. It was warm and funny and the voices were stunning.. We were in the early stages of technical rehearsal, so our lighting designer ran up to the booth and created some magic on the half-built set and we all sat around weeping with nostalgia for Christmases and lovers and family we had known and loved. There's nothing quite as emotional as a half-drunk theatre company trying to outdo each other with nostalgia and old Christmas carols....especially when half of them have to jump on a plane the next day with desperate hangovers as they stagger home for Christmas. But I think it was the shows that I had to perform on Christmas Day that I remember with the most affection. . It's only been twice, once to do an Alan Ayckbourn in Canada and once to do a pantomime in England, but I'll never forget them. The audience for the Ayckbourn was full of senior citizens with nowhere else to go on Christmas Day. They laughed and applauded and had such a wonderful time. We got a standing ovation just for being on the stage! And the pantomime? Well, with an audience of kids and parents completely hyped for Christmas and thoroughly loving every minute of it who wouldn't have a ball? Although I do remember that our Prince Charming was so enthusiastic that he flung open his mouth for a high note and his two false front teeth fell out. Unfortunately they fell under his cloak so he couldn't see them, but luckily the audience had a great time screaming directions while the rest of us on stage collapsed in laughter. There's nothing better than a joke we actors onstage can share with the audience, suddenly we're all in it together and the bond across those footlights (and there were footlights in this pantomime) is stronger than anything we can rehearse. I think the good ones among us do theatre for the audience. We don't do it as therapy, we don't do it because it makes us feel important. We do it because we can't help it and because we love to tell a story to an appreciative audience. And what could be a better Christmas gift than making an audience laugh on Christmas Day. And what could be a better gift to a theatre company on Christmas Day than to hear the applause coming back at you. Have a Happy Christmas everybody and a wonderful New Year. --- GIL OSBORNE Until recently Gil Osborne was the Artistic Director of English Theatre at the National Arts Centre of Canada. She now lives in Houston, Texas and is in the process of setting up a business teaching acting and public presentation. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Voices in Contemporary Theatre: The Cargo Cults, Dilbertism, and Orlando Theatre A Case-study During World War II South Seas Islanders saw cargo planes landing with crates of food and materials. For decades afterwards, they would try to make it happen again: they built a runway, set up torches along both sides so it was lit just like before. They built a little wooden hut off to the side, where a man would sit with a bamboo headset fastened to his forehead. The form is perfect. It all looks exactly like it did before. But it doesn't work. The airplanes never land. Throughout the 80s and 90s thousands of intelligent, well-educated executives fashioned mission statements declaring their business's intention to become the acknowledged industry leader by producing the highest quality goods and services - undoubtedly this came as a a revelation to hundreds of thousands of befuddled employees who thought the aim was to slowly go out of business by producing low-quality garbage nobody would want to buy, ideally while squabbling among themselves about who's cubicle would the chair with the armrests. A few weeks ago the Orlando Theatre Community had a town meeting organized by the newspaper, which boasted a turnout "larger than the audiences at most theatres in town." - a dubious honor to say the least. After various would-be Dale Carnegies proclaimed "what we are talking about is something that's going to help us now but down the road it's going to make this city great" and "This is something that's important to me and it's imortant to the city and I'm going to make it happen." The paper's critic was good enough to bring a little order to the chaos by explaining to everyone that what the meeting had called for was an alliance of small and large theatres - like those which "have formed in many cities like our own" and a downtown theatre district. I did not attend this meeting myself. Why? Am I not for good theatre? I am. In the same sense that I am for Education, Employment, Flossing, Sunshine and Puppy Dogs. I didn't go to their pep rallies either. There are some harsh realities in the above 3 stories - and you cannot create art by denying harsh realities. Harsh Reality #1: Having a dozen buildings to point to and call a theatre district, even if they house a 50 or 60-company "Alliance" of theatres who perform all these shows every year and have their very own annual awards ceremony, does not mean you have a thriving theatre comunity producing quality theatre. No more so than having someone you can call a director, choreographer, music director, designers, and cast guarantees you a good show - even if you pay everybody, even if they all have these little asterisks next to their name showing they belong to all the best unions. No more so than sitting in your driveway with bamboo strapped to your head will cause a plane of supplies to land. Harsh Reality #2: You cannot create good or bad ANYTHING by saying you're doing so, did so, will do so, want to do so, meant to do so, or that the world would be such a beautiful place if someone did so. No more than a gold-plated mission statement will make keep a failing company from going out of business. Harsh Reality #3: Orlando, like many small cities, does not now have a great theatre community. For it to achieve one will mean change - some people used to playing leads will have to retire to the chorus or the wings, some directors and playwrights will have to expand their understanding of their craft, some theatres will have to overhaul the types of shows they choose to produce and how they select creative teams, and some accustomed to standing center stage and pontificating must learn to shut up and listen. There is a lot of work, soul-searching, humility, and more work ahead for everyone who plans to be a part of this transition. Creation is not a feel-good exercise; it hurts. And there's no way out of the hurt. Diet books don't help you lose weight unless you eat less and exercise more. Cassette Tapes don't help you lean a language unless you put in a lot of time and mental energy. Cargo planes don't land because you build a runway. And even if you've been very, very good and Santa Clause does bring you a theatre district/alliance for Christmas, if you don't use it to make good theatre with it, the audience still will not come. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Santa, by Caprice Woosley Dear Santa, How are you? I hope the elves and Mrs. Claus are doing good. Is Rudolph ready to shine his nose for you this year? I hope he and the other reindeers ate lots of good hay so they are strong enough to pull your sleigh this year. I have been a really good theatre this year and have a list of things I would like for Christmas. To begin with, I hope that you will let that nice Rosie O'Donnell host the Tony Awards again this coming year. She was so nice and did a good job. She really loves theatre and I think I would enjoy having her represent me again as people give awards to the best and brightest on stage. I would also like for those Disney people to keep produing more shows like The Lion King. This musical serves as a signpost to what is ahead in the world of theatre. When I saw portions of this on television (as I don't live close enough to see it in person) I was overwhelmed by its beauty and creativity. Please Santa, shows like this will get more families involved in the theatre experience. Second on my list Santa is a request for a new play from playwrights like Marsha Norman, Sam Shepard, Tony Kushner and August Wilson. With playwrights like this, how can the theatre world go wrong. Sure, Neil Simon was once the standard, but it is time for new standards from various voices in the theatre community. I also ask Santa that you whisper to more theatres to develop and try out new playwrights. New voices can only come from a theatre ready to assist them in their growth and development. Santa, I would also like to see a way to keep the small theatres alive. Many barely hang on in this age of flashy movies, high overheads for productions, and low ticket sales. It is the small, intimate theatre that brings me the greatest joy. The audience and the cast can bond in a ritual of the theatrical experience. The small theatres are wonderful ventues for mounting productions of old classic theatre. They provide a way for those who can't afford $50 to $100 tickets to big show to paid $6 and see a show. They provide young actors with a stage on which to test themselves and grow in their craft. And Santa, please give us more exciting productions of Shakespeare. Do you think that nice Kenneth Branagh will be returning to the stage soon for another go at the Bard? I hope we haven't lost him totally to film. Oh, Santa, more festivals in the summer would be nice too. People really seem to enjoy Shakespeare outdoors. Santa, can you also help me find a way to bring more plays to video so that we can share our craft with students in classrooms. If they can see the production while reading the play itself, more and more students will begin to understand and appreciate the world of the stage. Santa, I have another special request for those nice people on the Microsoft Network Theatre Forum. Will you send them lots of people online who will come to the chats, and access the richness of information contained in their forum. They all work really hard trying to spread the joys of a theatrical experience over the internet and I kow they would appreciate any help you could give them. (Psssstttt, Santa, you are a member of the Microsoft Network aren't you?) Well, Santa, that's about all I have for this year. The stage door will be left slighty ajar for you (since all we have are prop chimneys), a ghost light will be burning, and there will be a plate of cookies and milk left downstage center just for you. Sincerely, The Theatre --- Caprice Woosley is currently pursuing her BFA in theater (directing and playwriting), after 25 years working in and around the theater. She is a produced playwright, actress, and amateur dramaturg who enjoys researching plays. She is a host in the Writing Forum where she co-hosts a Writing Discussion Group. She also hosted "Shakespeare Unplugged" and "Murder and Mayhem" in the Theatre Forum. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CyberTheatre Monthly Very Special Art www.vsarts.org Art-lovers with special needs to know the offerings of theatres, performing arts centers and museums in their own towns. When traveling, it's nice to know in advance what to expect. Enter the State Directory of Very Special Art, a non-profit created to promote arts, education and creative expression among children and adults with disabilities. The emphasis of VSA-run programs is mostly on children, but adult art-lovers and artists will be surprised at the offerings a perusal of the State Affiliate pages at www.vsarts.org. Monologue-Development for Teens The Learning Bridge Five exercises for the young writer wanting to create a monologue will be even more enlightening for the young actor wanting to audition with one. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rubin's Corner - Tickets, Tickets, Tickets One of the questions asked of me by E-mail or during on Broadway Chat on Tuesday at 10 PM EST is, "Are there tickets available to ...?" It would be wonderful to see Bebe Neuwirth in the very popular revival of Chicago. You would really enjoy taking old friends to that young people's show, "Rent". How about taking the kids to The Lion King during the Christmas holidays. It is not going to happen in most cases. Two of the shows sell about 30 late-minute $20 tickets each day, but the process requires standing in line all day, if you want to see Chicago. You can hope that your name is drawn out of a hat at 5:30 PM each afternoon for Rent. You can always get in line at 6 PM and hope that someone will cancel their reservations for The Lion King. However there are many enjoyable shows on Broadway that did not require you to take all day to obtain tickets. Beauty and the Beast, Cats, Bring In Da, Noise, Bring In the Funk, The King and I which now stars Marie Osmond, The Scarlet Pimpernel, and 1776 all have tickets available except for the busy holiday week. However, all thse shows have added performances for that week so try at the box office for tickets. The best part is that children will enjoy these shows too. Jackie, Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, Smokey Joe's Café, Proposals, and Triumph of Love should have tickets available on a regular basis. Titanic is doing 95% business, however some performances seem to have tickets available so check at the box office. Side Show, a new musical that opened on November 9th is not doing well at the box office. On opening night this show had tickets available at TKTS. It is worth the price of admission to see the performances of Alice Ripley and Emily Skinner. For those who wish to see Jeyll & Hyde, The Life and The Last Night of Ballhoo should be able to get tickets. Remember that these shows are in small theatres and tend to see out rapidly. The Phantom of the Opera has tickets available expect for some weekend performances. For those who want vintage Simon they can get tickets for the Sunshine Boys with Tony Randell and Jack Klugman. "The Capeman" will have some tickets available during the month of December, however word of month is that this will be a hit so try early in the month to see it. Of course, Ragtime, even before it begins previews, is already a sellout. There are some Off-Broadway shows that will always have tickets available and have received good reviews. As Bees in Honey Drown a new comedy at the Lucille Lortel Theatre is the story of a young gay man who meets a straight women. Filumena, and its very unusual set is at the Theatre Four on 55th Street. This is actually based on the film Marriage Italian Style. Gross Indecency, the story of Oscar Wilde, is a gripping drama, which is performing at the Minetta Lane Theatre on Minetta Lane. Mojo, an import from the London Fringe, takes place in a London nightclub in 1958. This David Mamet type play is at the Atlantic Theatre on 28th Street. Speaking about Mamet there are many tickets available for his new play, The Old Neighborhood. Since this is a show for the serious playgoer there are many tickets for purchase at the Booth Theatre on 45th Street. Which ever show you pick start off you year right by seeing a Broadway or Off-Broadway production. Quote of the Month In an interview with Associated Press writer Michael Kuchwara, Stone said of his craft, "Musical book writing involves two things: concept and structure. You have to know how to get to a song, specifically what to do in order to get to a song. If you can do that quickly and with some sure footedness, you'll probably come out all right." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRE Trivia * Watch on the Rhine - A Doll's Life - La Cage Aux Folles George Hearn * Seascape - Dracula - Design for Living - Cyrano de Bergerac Frank Langella * Private Lives - Night and Day - Lettice & Lovage Maggie Smith * On the Town - Goodbye Girl - Into the Woods Bernadette Peters * West Side Story - Sweet Charity Debbie Allen Answers to last month's TRE Trivia: Amneris - Aida Violetta - La Traviata Rosina - Il Barbiere de Siviglia Gilda - Rigoletto Nedda - Pagliacci Cho-cho-san - Madama Butterfly Nannetta - Falstaff Floria - Tosca Brunhilda - Die Walkure Mimi - La Boheme The Queen of the Night - The Magic Flute Countesa Almaviva - La Nozze di Figarro Freia - Das Rheingold Desdemona - Otello -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 1997, Mersinger Theatrical Services