Theatre Geeks

In this episode, the Geeks chat with Bronson Bontrager, Elkhart Civic Theatre’s college intern for the spring 2017 semester. We discuss the benefits of internships, for both the theatre and the student.  

We are finally back on the pod. After a lengthy absence John, Dave and Marcia are recording episodes again. More will be coming your way, as there are several in the can and we have plans for more in the near future. In this episode we discuss a problem that plagues most of our theatres: do we do the old familiar shows, or risk something new that audiences are less familiar with? It’s hard because many audience members don’t like the idea of going to something that is outside their experience. We all know people who love seeing a classic . . . → Read More: 153 Return episode: Old or New? What sells best?

What do you do when you give a new actor a chance, based on a good or even great audition, but they never seem to rise to the same level in performance? The Geeks discuss.   Music provided by Music Alley.

Deirdre Lovejoy Ang Lee Deirdre (Dede) Lovejoy joins the Geeks to talk about the recent Patti Lupone cell-phone snatch, working with Ang Lee in the upcoming “Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk,” plus her own autobiographical play, “Bird Elephant China.” Join us for great conversation.   Music provided by Music Alley

Jill Olson of Funny Bones Improv and Storytown, Chicago Improv artist making a difference in Chicago Jill is the founder of Storytown, a Chicago improv troupe that performs every Saturday morning in an interactive show for young people. Through Storytown , she works to cultivate creativity and arts appreciation while introducing audiences to story structure and problem solving. Storytown uses the core improvisation fundamental of “yes, and” so every suggestion and idea is accepted, embraced and developed. Storytown is a interactive improvisational musical that gives children hands on ownership of the arts. Children are encouraged to take an active . . . → Read More: 150 — Interview: Jill Olson of Chicago’s StoryTown and Funny Bones Improv

Love of all art styles gives scenic painter Jeff Barrick a lot of inspiration to draw upon Scenic painter Jeff Barrick working on the grand olio for “Zombie Prom.” Jeff Barrick is a scenic painter working at Indiana University South Bend, but who also creates wonderful backdrops for The Geeks’ home theatre, Elkhart Civic Theatre in Northern Indiana. He has created backdrops and scenic elements for such diverse shows as Count Dracula, Assassins, Company and many others. Collaboration with the set designer, (in this case, Geek John Shoup) is critical to successful design, but so is research. Barrick almost . . . → Read More: 149 Scenic Painter Jeff Barrick

Aaron Nichols Aaron Nichols, Director of Audience Development for the Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival and other events at ND, joins us to talk Shakespeare, festivals and other things theatre. Great conversation with the Geeks.  

Live music, clicktracks and other music-making options This time the Geeks discuss use of live vs recorded music for musicals. Budget is always a concern when considering music on stage. But what about quality? Some musicians are very good, but they may cost money. You may be lucky enough to have volunteer musicians that are good — or not. Likewise, some recorded soundtracks sound good, others, are pretty chintzy. The Geeks talk about various options and considerations that can make or break your next musical.

Volunteers are the lifeblood of most community theatres. Michael Beatty has worked with volunteers in all types of not-for-profit organizations (including theatres). Listen to the conversation and Michael’s insights in this lively episode.   Music provided by Music Alley.  

Avery Brown, Drummer Boy of the Cumberland, Youngest Soldier of the Civil War Heartland: The Civil War comes to the stage in Northern Indiana later this year, and the Geeks asked Michael Beatty, the developer and playwright of this new original work, to tell us about it, and about the process of bringing history to life. Heartland is based on the experiences of Northern Indiana people, and is being produced as an artistic work with an educational component. It will be performed by South Bend, Indiana’s Acting Ensemble, as part of a five-month Northern Indiana arts & music commemoration . . . → Read More: 145 – Putting history on the stage — conversation with playwright Michael Beatty

All of us have attended a play or musical where the sound is less than perfect. This can be because of the facility or the actors themselves, among other reasons. And bad sound can harm the theatre experience for the audience. The Geeks discuss various sound problems, and possible solutions. Use our contact form to send us YOUR thoughts on this issue.   Music provided by Music Alley.

It’s been a number of years since California has participated in the AACT Festival cycle with its own state festival, so resurrecting the tradition presents a number of challenges. With the Geeks to talk about them are Andrew Vonderschmitt, Executive & Producing Artistic Director for the Long Beach Playhouse, and Gil Savage, AACT’s Region 8 Representative and AACT Board Member. Join us for some interesting conversation about the festival process. LINKS: American Association of Community Theatres Long Beach Playhouse

Ron Ziegler, Field Services Coordinator, AACT.org We already into the 2015 festival cycle and the excitement is building. Festivals are a great deal of fun, but also a lot of work for the planners. Ron Ziegler of the American Association of Community Theatre joins the Geeks with some great tips for states or regions mounting their first festivals, along with some interesting tidbits about the festival process, the reasons for some of the rules, and how some of theme have changed over the years. NOTE: This episode was recorded in November. Dave has been slow in posting new episodes . . . → Read More: 142 Festival tips from Ron Ziegler, AACT

Build more bars? This episode is part two of our discussion of Brendan Kiley’s, article in the Seattle-based The Stranger. “Ten Things Theaters Need to Do Right Now to Save Themselves.” In this episode the Geeks talk about Kiley’s suggestion that a little alcohol makes for a happier audience. There are pros and cons, not the least of which are liability, audience composition and of course the legal and licensing issues. Also, can a theatre really make money offering alcohol to patrons? All this and more in this episode. Music provided by Music Alley Link to The Stranger . . . → Read More: How to save your theatre, part 2

Enough with the Shakespeare already? A few months ago, the Geeks came across an article by Brendan Kiley, writing in the Seattle-based The Stranger. The post in question is titled “Ten Things Theaters Need to Do Right Now to Save Themselves,” and it’s a pretty good read, even though some of the content is more geared toward professional theatres rather than community theatres. This is the first of two episodes in which the Geeks discuss a couple of Kiley’s assertions, and part two will post simultaneously with this one. In this episode we talk about Kiley’s comment that maybe Shakespeare . . . → Read More: How to save your theatre, Part 1