“We’re expanding the size of the theatre; we’re not creating a competitive product." Now, with unions across the field adopting streaming provisions, the second-best seat in the house might be at home. - American Theatre
Skipping the interval (as they call it over there) is somewhat controversial: some producers and directors think that offering a shorter evening may bring back patrons who've been staying away since the pandemic, while many theatres depend on the income from bar sales during the break. - The Guardian
"These natural basement-dwellers have been flushed out of their venues by various fire alarms and outages, including a city-wide power cut that caused the partial deflation of the giant purple cow inflatable in George Square. Oh, the humanity." - The Guardian
Two hundred years ago, Lafayette arrived for a year-long tour of the country he helped create. The guy who has played him for years at Colonial Williamsburg is prepared for 13 months of celebrations, including a triumphal visit to Manhattan. - The New York Times
Despite raising $500,000 in emergency funds, Aurora Theatre in Berkeley “has shed five full-time workers, including one co-managing director and its entire marketing and development teams.” - San Francisco Chronicle (MSN)
"Escape From Godot … is a play where audience members become participants, the game requiring patrons to hop on the dials and interact with props to propel the narrative forward. Puzzles are hidden in the script, ensuring that the players become actors and are in abstract communication with the performers." - Los Angeles Times (MSN)
Of course he enjoys being the new artistic director of the Ruhrtriennale Festival of the Arts, which produces shows “in former industrial sites, like power stations or coal plants, among cities in the Ruhr region of northwestern Germany.” - The New York Times
"Written by Swiss and Taiwanese creators and produced in Switzerland, This Is Not An Embassy deals with Taiwan’s lack of global recognition as a country and the diplomatic challenges it faces as a result." It premiered in Switzerland, had a sold-out run in Taipei, and will tour Europe this fall. - The Guardian
“The things we will try have not been tested. The new ideas will seem too radical to implement. The work will necessitate giving up unearned privilege and power. Theatres do not operate in a vacuum, and neither do theatre workers.” - American Theatre
"Giving an audience member 'a hand in guiding the show' is key to the success of a one-person performance. 'You have to sort of walk a tightrope between delivering a scripted show and being flexible to an audience member.'" - The Guardian
The surprise hit film is going to be a stage musical! But you knew that. The true news is that the Hugh Jackman passion project is finally in serious development for the stage, with Disney. Do we hear the sound of a million theatre kid dreams soaring? - Variety
At the American Players Theater, about an hour west of Madison, they do around nine mostly classic plays (no musicals) each season, running in repertory, with no microphones in a 1,075-seat amphitheater. Audiences love it, with many people returning season after season. - The New York Times
At American Players Theater, “banking on the glory of the human voice is primarily an artistic decision: Nothing comes between the actors, their words and the public.” - The New York Times
“Broadway, still adapting to sharply higher production costs and audiences that have not fully rebounded since the coronavirus pandemic, is betting big on star power, hoping that a helping of Hollywood glamour will hasten its rejuvenation.” - The New York Times
How can we fix this? Gloucester, England, has one (extremely dreamy) idea - give artists money, and tell them you don’t expect an outcome. “This is about dreaming and developing and forming relationships and partnerships, and those things take time.” - The Stage (UK)
