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Reading the few replies from RIP First Street got me thinking. I didn't do enough there to gain the usual contempt I feel for other theaters. But I know and have heard that some did. Dennis reminded us all to look for the good and overlook what we weren't satisfied with. But it's human nature to look for the bad in things, sometimes to the point that we become disenchanted with the people on the board or theatrical red tape and walk away. I'm guilty of that with many theaters, for many reasons.
There have been other theaters that bit the dust, sometimes to our shock and sadness, others causing a feeling of justification. Serves them right, we might think. But supposed the tables were turned; instead of the theaters closing, what if the actors quit acting? Not at just one theater, but quit for good?
So here's my question: What would cause you to abandon acting altogether? To walk away from theater? To become so fed up that you no longer want any part of it?
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I would tend to agree with Craig's items but would add one additional.
- there is a value within the company to keeping the Drama ONSTAGE and not let it run rampant OFFSTAGE. Some companies are more proned to the gossipy drama laden atmosphere than others..
Additionally I will add (and I fully anticipate being flamed for this thought):
I used to mourn the death of any community theatre company, but in recent years I have become convinced that evolution does need to work its magic in this realm. Quite frankly, in my opinion, there are too many companies getting away with doing mediocre work. It is my belief that we need to elevate the craft rather than worry about every community having their very own sandbox..
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Years ago I was cast as Miss Prism in "The Importance Of Being Earnest" for a Community Theater group in Villa Park-who shall remain nameless mostly because I don't recall the name.
They were a small and close knit group worked out of a school auditorium. Miss Prism was one of those dream roles of mine and I enjoyed the experience-even though the director was well...let's just say they should have stuck to directing traffic.
One thing I noticed right off is that they had a rather lofty(snotty)attitude toward other community theaters in the area. I had worked with several of they groups they had strong opinons about(trashed)but I held my tounge-because who needs that?
The cast was encouraged(begged)to help with the set, which I was happy to do and had a lot of expreience at. One day I overheard two people pondering how to make a set wall look like a brick wall. I suggested the old rectangular sponge routine and they looked at me as if I was...Yoda. After that, every problem came to me for a solution. I was surprised at how little these people knew about the simpliest tech.
The following production was a offering of one act plays and a play I had written was chosen.
I really enjoyed directing it-even though the other two directors kept coming to me with-you guessed it-tech. questions.
After that production ended, I started noticing that even though I had not been admitted to the inner circle, they would calll me periodically with tech. questions. I finally let the Pres. know that considering how they never called me unless they needed something from me, they could stop calling me.
Several years later I heard that they had folded-and it couldn't have happened to a nicer bunce of people.
Snark over-I now return you to your regular internet day.
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I plan on coming back to theater some day because i enjoy the creative outlet, the fantasy/make-believe and the people (usually).
I doubt the world will ever change so greatly that all aspects of that world would change drastically enough to ruin all of those aspects for me, but i do suppose it could happen internally. If i were to change in such a way (physically, emotionally or mentally) that i were unable to enjoy becoming someone else, supporting and seeing great performances, or helping create a good production, it would be time to quite.
Events that could cause such a personal change could include:
*Divorce
*Death of a loved one
*Physical disability
*Catastrophic/tragic event with resulting feelings of loss/trauma/catatonia
*Mental trauma/destabilization
*Major personality change
Whether any of these events resulted in a temporary or permanent "quitting" of theater, would depend on the unique circumstances, but i'm sure there'd always be chance of coming back to it!
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<font face="Times New Roman"><font size="4">There are three things I need from a production. If only one of the three is present, I may be disgruntled about the other two, but I'll keep coming back for more.
1. The process has to be fun.
2. The final product has to be good.
3. The audience response has to be there.
With The Pillowman, I had all three; so while I'm taking a break from theatre for a while, I'm not quitting permanently.
For me to walk away, all three of the qualifications would have to be absent for more than three productions in a row. Up til three, I'd probably keep hoping for Better Luck Next Time. With Taming of the Shrew, the process was reasonably torturous, though the large majority of the cast was comprised of dedicated, talented people. I fired the major disruptive element, but the damage had been done. However, the show turned out well and audience response was great.
With all the frustration of working at First Street, friends and relatives would ask me how long I would keep going back. My reply was "as long as the work turns out to be worth the trouble."
Or until the theatre closed, whichever came first.
Wherever they relocate and whatever they change the name to, I think the new management was pleased with both Shrew and Pillowman, and I was very happy working for them. So hopefully we'll get something going soon.</font></font>
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What concerns me is something everyone may face eventually. AGE. High on the list of rewards I receive from performing is the opportunity to test myself both physically and mentally. When I reach the point that I feel I can no longer learn my lines or perform the physical aspects of a role, that?s when I?ll quit.
(NOTE TO CASTING DIRECTORS: I?m not at that point yet. However, your experience with me may vary)
The last thing I want to do is drag a production down while other people try to figure out how to work around me rather then with me.
Now, if I were younger --- my long term concern would be future audiences. I wonder how the young people of today?s ?plugged In? world will ever learn to love live theater? Along those lines I wonder what theaters will be doing to bring in new patrons to replace the older ones. It?s bad enough today when an occasional audience consists entirely of relatives and friends of the actors. At least today you occasionally find genuine lovers of theater in the audience.
So, if I?m still around in fifteen years, ask me the same question and I may have an answer.
Dennis
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I have not been as active in theater as I would like for the last 10 years, I had a travel job then got off the road and had children. So those life events have taken me away for some time.
I have been dabbling back into the scene again and I have been reading the NICOTH message boards this board and thanks to Craig, have been able to take advantage of a couple of opportunities through his email posts to do some performing while still being able to be the dad I want to be to my young kids.
I always joke that I truly love doing theater, I just don't always love "Theater People" I can also say with as much respect as possible that reading this message board and NICOTH, many people posting reinforce that belief for me and many others give me faith that all is not lost.
My new criteria for doing a show are:
Material that I want to do.
A group that has the ability to create quality
A group that does not take itself so seriously as to create an unpleasant experience.
I have recently done a musical with a wonderful group that does this stuff for the right reasons and there were a lot of people doing this because they love it. As long as that is still around, you may see me pop up here and there.
<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ November 28, 2007 08:17 PM: Message edited by: Bigmuskie ]</font>
