Plaza Theatricals

[Almarëa Mordollwen]

Plaza Theatricals

So I went ahead and created it, because someone had to! This is a thread for all of us who love theatre, so we can chat about shows we're watching, working on, or looking forward to.

Cast & crew list:
[TBC]

[Almarëa Mordollwen]

First question: what has everyone been up to in lockdown? I have a running list of sources for theatre to watch online, which I will try to edit into the OP at some point, but the latest project is actually adding a new Shakespeare monologue to my audition repertoire (Imogen, Cymbeline) - the Oxford theatre society decided to run a monologue festival online, and I am not good at saying no to things. So I have to work out how to film that sometime in the next ten days.

@Moriel @Mor Toast @Queen Nerwen

[Veowyn]

I know my local theater has started this sort of theater underground thing. They moved to a new location that was audacious to open early April. Well they did start having shows, to small audiences, no advertising, just invite only, and they've left some of the "construction' stuff out, so they can say they're just working i haven't been able (or willing) to go yet, but i think it's super edgy that they're doing it. Their first play was supposed to be set prohibition era anyway

[Eldrith]

Trying to perfect my new piece. I was also planning on working on one of Mark Anthony's monologues in Julius Caesar, but time has not been with me. I have a new work from home job, two kids to keep alive and one with lots of therapy needs so.. theater has to take a backseat during corona, which is too bad! In a few weeks I would have been teaching at the Known World Theater Festival, which is now moved to next year.

[Burnt Toast]

@Almarëa Mordollwen Excellent! The stage awaits! I relate way too much to the not being good at saying no game. It's been a skill I've been working on for a long time, and... will probably always be working on. :)

I have to admit, however, that, well, after doing theatre for many years with no break, and working as a teaching artist, performer, and every odd and end job (never truly able to say no, in order to make enough income), I'm frankly a little relieved to have a break. Obviously the circumstances aren't great, but, well... I can tell I needed the break. Burnout is such a constant challenge in this profession. I've honestly been avoiding all the digital / online theatre stuff, because it's not the same, and while I look forward to seeing the various leaps technology can make for the field, I also don't want to be pushed into it due to circumstances.

I think it's excellent for people if they want to do it- post videos, etc. I did a few at the top of quarantine (my fav was a night of recording a bunch of music for fun, in particular, a quick hot mess of a take of me singing Agony from Into the Woods, doing both parts... XD), but I'm at a point of not doing much of any of it-- since for a lot of theaters they seem to feel they *need* to be producing all the time. I'm glad if people want to, but man... let us rest. XD

The monologue festival sounds fun! I'm glad it's giving you a chance to do performance. What a time this is.

@Veowyn Ooof.. I hope they are taking every precaution to keep people safe. That seems unwise.

@Eldrith That's a lot! You're a champion.

[Eldrith]

@Mor Toast It would be a lot if I actually got it all done. Marc Anthony has been on the calendar for about ohhhh.. let's see... nine months, and I simply haven't gotten to it. (I also had surgery at the beginning of the year, an injury last.. October.. and surgery the year before that in January -both January surgeries related), so between that, a new job in the museum that I loved.. well theater has been at the bottom of the list.

I last performed in October, I think.. that was the debut of my new piece. Then there was the Mari Llewellyn in December for Yule Toy Tourney. Surgery in January .. I had one event in February.. but I wasn't recovered enough to perform, plus they needed me more as a photographer than performer..
And then everything halted.

I was supposed to teach two or three classes at the Knowne World Festival but yeah that's moved to next year. Also.. this year I would have crossed off a theater bucket list item and go to the Oberammergau Passion play..

[Durien]

Oooh.... I like the idea behind this thread. I’m not an actress, but I maintain several different theater subscriptions and am constantly going to various plays. I’m fortunate enough to to live 3 hrs from NYC, 1 from Philadelphia and 2 from D.C. so I get lots of variety. It is torturing me that everything is closed. I’ve been watching the National’s online shows, but it’s not quite the same. The last live show I saw before everything started getting messy was Pinter’s Betrayal with Charlie Cox and Tom Hiddleston. I hated the previous version I’d seen live, but someone gave me two tickets since they knew I like Charlie Cox as an actor. I ended up really liking it. Anyway....I adore a good Shakespeare performance...are the monologues being broadcasted or are they just for participants?

[DEATH]

THERE IS A PLAZA THEATRICAL CURRENTLY ON IN MORDOR. IT IS VERY GOOD.

YOU WILL BE SORRY IF YOU DO NOT ATTEND. BY THAT I MEAN THAT YOU WILL OWE US AN APOLOGY.

viewtopic.php?f=14&t=145

[Moriel]

HOORAY THEATRICALS

Let's see, when the theatre world shut down I was
-rehearsing Little House on the Prairie, the Musical in which I was playing Ma Ingalls
-the day of the shut down I was supposed be working my first shift as a qualified spot op (I've been qualified for ages but there enough qualified people more senior than me that it's REALLY HARD to get the shifts) for a concert at the main venue I work at as a stagehand (IATSE), instead got called in 7 hours early to work the load out after it was suddenly cancelled
-was about to start work on my next production as Master Electrician for the local opera, Tosca, for which I was also supposed to be the LBO, fight director/armorer, and intimacy director

Since the theatre world shut down I have
-participated in a (mostly) weekly play reading group, Theatre Thursdays
-worked on a series of Shakespearean adaptations by a friend of mine with performances over zoom, including King Richard in Richard II, Jacquenetta in Love's Labour's Lost, and coming up next week Hotspur in Chimes at Midnight, an adaptation which combines Henry IV parts I & II and Henry V.
-recorded another episode of Drama Without Drama: Dinner Theatre, an all female-identifying group that records Shakespeare readings podcast style. This time however we did it over zoom and recorded the video for A Midsummer Night's Dream: The Drinking Game. You had to drink whenever someone said "love" (which really nerfed us), someone said "ass", violence was threatened, someone cried, or in the immortal tradition of Super Troopers, whenever anyone said "meow"
-taken the first 8 weeks of an online footwork class from one of my favorite stage combat instructors
-taken an online rapier vs. rope masterclass from another one of my favorite stage combat instructors
-participated in a full weekend online stage combat workshop called the Social Distance Showdown

I think that's everything

[Durien]

@DEATH
Is that thread still open to newcomers? I assumed it was not...

[DEATH]

@DEATH
Is that thread still open to newcomers? I assumed it was not...

AUDIENCE MEMBERS ARE WELCOME. YOU WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HURL PROJECTILES AT THE CAST AND IN OTHER WAYS EXPRESS YOUR APPRECIATION FOR THE PERFORMANCE. ALSO BY WELCOME I MEAN YOU WILL NOT BE KILLED. PROBABLY.

[Almarëa Mordollwen]

@Veowyn That sounds daring - I hope they've thought through how to keep everyone safe. I think it's going to be a long time before we see most places re-opening.

@Eldrith Sorry to hear about all the stress and demands on your time! Is your new piece something you've written? A one-person show?

@Mor Toast I have been enjoying some of the online stuff, but it's definitely important to take breaks (and our industry is very very definitely not good at that) - hope the rest is restful and when this is all over you come back with renewed energy!

@Durien I think the monologues will be broadcast at some point. We have two weeks to work on & record them, and then I think someone from the society is going to edit them all together into a thing. I don't know when exactly it will be up online, but I can keep you posted :)

@DEATH I WILL COME TO THROW TOMATOES. OR ORANGES.

@Moriel That all sounds epic! Did you catch any of the Shakespeare readings from Read for the Globe? They spent 48 hours or so reading through (not all of, but many of) his plays. And I think I know the stage combat group you're talking about! :) I've done a few smallsword classes online with them in recent weeks (though did not make it to Social Distance Showdown ... have spent the last six months trying to be good and concentrate on finishing the thesis before I ramp up the theatre commitments again )



Also, everyone, because this is OOME, and silly/fun titles are the order of the day ... tell me what role you would want in an imaginary Plaza Theatre Company and I'll put it in the OP?

[Veowyn]

I haven't gone to see how it is set up yet. But I've been assured that they are taking precautions, and people can only sit with their family units, no one can sit in the front rows yet, etc. With masks and sanitizer offered, no cash exchanges... still seems risky, yes

[Dimcairien Luiniel]

@Moriel Please tell me that reading of Midsummer is available somewhere.

I dabbled a bit in theatre during high school and undergrad university. But I do enjoy taking in a show when I can afford it. And have been enjoying the National Theatre videos, and while it's not the same, I do enjoy the opportunity see shows I otherwise never would be able to.

[Moriel]

@Almarëa Mordollwen Humble Warrior Movement Arts? They're doing some heroic work producing online content! The owner was at the SAFD National with me this summer doing her CT and she's a delight. Are you taking Ian's Summer Smallsword class? He (and an incredible Australian fight master) were the instructors for the Advanced at NSCW last summer and he taught me smallsword, he's absolutely amazing and I love him.

@Dimcairien Luiniel (et all, enjoy), here is the link to Midsummer the Drinking Game. I'm playing Bottom

[Fairy Nuff]

hello fellow thespians and theatricals!

My amateur theatre group have been holding weekly play read throughs via Zoom. Its a lot of fun as we get to play something different every week, with no committment, and we have found some plays we will probably aim to perform when we can get back up and running. It also means I can be involved again, as I was taking a break due to foot surgery. It is nice to slow the pace a bit and really just read the plays - something we rarely do as we literally start the next production the day after the last one finished.

[Eldrith]

@Almarëa Mordollwen Shorter than that, just a monologue, but yes, I wrote it. Most of my performances these days are in the context of the SCA, which has it's own challenges when it comes to the theater. There is a lot of emphasis on Commedia del Arte because we have some really enthusiastic performers in that area and it lends itself better to a lot of our settings, but.. it's not my style. It's such a specialized skill set, and outside of Shakespeare or some of the Greeks a lot of the material is either hard to connect with the audience with in a short notion, so I started developing new material. This is my second piece.

[Almarëa Mordollwen]

@Moriel Yes! I took a few of Siobhan Richardson's workshops (she is also amazing) on smallsword footwork. And I'm planning to take a few of Ian Rose's classes this month - he was an instructor at the very first stage combat workshop I ever attended, back in 2010. I am loving the option for online classes!

@Fairy Nuff Those readthroughs sound like really good fun and a great way to keep people engaged and connected - and cover a wider range of material. Hopefully that gives everyone some good ideas for shows to stage once the theatres reopen!

[Moriel]

@Almarëa Mordollwen I love Siobhan!! I took a fantastic S&S class from her a few years ago at WWW, and and Intimacy masterclass, and her Intimacy class at SDS! And she made my fight cloak :smiley8: "Uncle Ian" is such a sweetie. More than once at the Advanced last summer when smallsword was our first session he showed up with coffee and taught with it in hand Goals.

[Fairy Nuff]

I have to say I am perpetually envious of those of you who have had fight choreography training. One of the first plays I directed was Terry Pratchett's Mort, and the fight scene between Death and Mort was the hardest part - comedy directs itself, fights need skill and practice. I have since focussed more on the comedy side of direction, but I sorely want to learn more about fight choreography as I feel I am missing out on some fantastic plays by being wary of messing that side of things up.

[Moriel]

@Fairy Nuff, a couple of my cohorts did that scene for their quarterstaff certification last summer and it was SICK.

As far as messing up fight choreography goes- that's why you hire a professional. Generally speaking the director shouldn't also be the fight director anyway! You work in partnership with the FD to ensure that the final product matches your vision for the scene/show, but the specialist takes care of the choreography and training for the actors. And even if the director is a specialist, it can lead to conflicts of interest that create a less safe environment for the actors. One of my projects last season was a big fight show being directed by a stage combat mentor of mine, who was able to recognize this and decided to hire me instead of doing it himself. Lemme tell ya the pressure was on through :shock:

That said, it's never a bad idea to get some training for yourself. If you are actually competent as a director to, say, choreograph a slap and that's the only bit of violence in your show, maybe you saved the theatre some money by doing it yourself.

But ONLY if you are ACTUALLY competent- all too often situations happen like the show I was called into at the last second last year, where there was a slap and the director thought he could do it, and then shoved it off on to someone else on the crew who had some training, who fortunately was a student of mine and called me, because the space was hell for sightlines and she was stuck. I came in and fixed it pro bono in five minutes, but if I hadn't been there, it would have been a terrible slap, or worse, a contact slap.

More training = better knowledge of what you can do yourself, and when you need to hire a professional. The number of times I've been called in because a director got to a point in the show where someone needed to fall down and realized they didn't know how to teach that..

[Eldrith]

@Moriel An intimacy class is on my 'list of things I want to do' pretty soon. Well.. as soon as things are safe again and I can fit it in!!

[Almarëa Mordollwen]

@Fairy Nuff It is really fun! :smiley8: And definitely some training in stage combat would give you as a director a better idea of what can be done and what the main considerations are in terms of safety - but I completely agree with everything @Moriel said; the director and the fight choreographer aren't generally the same person. Just like a musical would have a dedicated choreographer, or a film with intimate scenes should have a dedicated intimacy coordinator, the fight choreographer should be a specialist.

@Moriel, do we know the same directors? The number of times I have had to explain to someone that 'no, you can't ask the actor to just hurl themselves at the floor repeatedly, that is not okay' ...

[Eldrith]

@Moriel, do we know the same directors? The number of times I have had to explain to someone that 'no, you can't ask the actor to just hurl themselves at the floor repeatedly, that is not okay' ...

Oohhh flashbacks to when I started ehm almost..30 years ago. So good that some things HAVE changed.. There was one play where I had bruises for the entire three month run! (to be fair, I bruise easily but still..)

[Moriel]

@Eldrith That's fantastic! Highly recommended. I work as an intimacy consultant/director in my small market because I'm one of two people in it with ANY training, but hope to pursue actual ID certification soon. Even having access to someone like me, and my fellow practitioner, has made real change for actors in our area. IDC it absolutely the way to go if you can get access to their workshops or any classes taught by their instructors. They evolved from Intimacy Directors International, the real founding body of intimacy work for performance.

@Almarëa Mordollwen Such things seem to be common traits among directors

[Fairy Nuff]

@Moriel, do we know the same directors? The number of times I have had to explain to someone that 'no, you can't ask the actor to just hurl themselves at the floor repeatedly, that is not okay' ...

Oohhh flashbacks to when I started ehm almost..30 years ago. So good that some things HAVE changed.. There was one play where I had bruises for the entire three month run! (to be fair, I bruise easily but still..)

I can't believe directors do that! I'm fortunate never to have worked with a director who has asked anything unreasonable of me or my fellow cast, I thought that was representative of all theatre but I guess there are some less considerate/less sensible directors out there too.

@Moriel @Almarëa Mordollwen - I hear you, though in amateur theatre on my level, there is no budget full stop (ticket sales just about cover production costs, we take no money ourselves or as a company), so if the director doesn't have experience in something it just doesn't get done or gets done badly - even in our musicals the director is stage and musical director and choreographer which is why I've never directed a musical. Our whole company is only about 30 people including wardrobe, tech and backstage.

[Lúthien Tinúviel]

I was supposed to see Come From Away in March, but the Rona shut it down. Dallas County actually closed everything down one day before I was going to see it.

They have been able to reschedule for January 2021, though! So hopefully the apocalypse doesn't bring more waves.

This past year, I also got to see Hamilton and Dear Evan Hansen. :smiley8:

[Burnt Toast]

@Moriel So glad you're working as an ID, and that it's catching on. There's a good group down here in Minneapolis, and it's definitely growing.

Yeah.. I've been in a lot of shows that ask (or often assume or demand) unsafe things of me. It's honestly been rare that I've worked for companies who have really done their work and are creating the best space for performers (and technicians, designers, etc.)-- of course, with actors a dime a dozen, it's ever so easy to take advantage.

Also-- the number of stage slaps or other "small" things I've seen make something go to hell because somebody thinks they can "just do it" because it's "just a slap", or whatever... ergh..

It's a full time job in and of itself speaking out and making sure everyone can be safe during productions. I've been going to meetings (or was, before the covid-pocalypse) to create theatre standards outside of equity for our theaters. It's a tough battle-- and not to get into equity here, but it sucks having essentially zero protection if you're not in it.

Have any of you used the Chicago Theatre Standards in your companies you've worked with?

[Almarëa Mordollwen]

@Lucifer The professional shows that I have worked on have generally been pretty good - you run into the odd issue, but at least the companies I've worked with tend to already know what a fight director is, how to work with one, and so forth - which makes my job (either as an SM or as someone involved with the fights) so much easier. The student shows, on the other hand, were a constant battle. Part of the reason I stopped doing student shows a couple years ago So much more sanity restored after that.

No, I don't believe I've run into the Chicago Theatre Standards before - but I've also never worked in the US, so am not entirely surprised. Are they online somewhere?

[Burnt Toast]

Here is a bit about them-- they're not a legal document, but a group a theatres in Chicago essentially got together and created the standards after some incidents of abuse in the theatre.

Here are the documents themselves.

They can be an excellent resource for language about dealing with harm & abuse and reporting, and a whole variety of things in a production. They are missing some things that need updates (like language speaking about transphobia and protections for trans actors)-- but I've found them to be a good starting place.

Even in the U.S. They're not necessarily used all over, but I've found theaters who are using them tend to be better run or at least listen to actors/tech/crew and deal with issues of abuse, etc. that arise; often have more effort going into creating a good space, and paying fairly (or putting every effort toward getting there).

It's just a thing I run into, being non-equity-- (because going equity where I'm at, while doable for some, would cut me out of A LOT of work, and, well... anyway, actor's equity has its own issues, though I'm of course glad it exists) -- but being non-equity, there's even less protection available (re: essentially none), so it's something I try to bring into spaces as a starting point, if they don't have anything.

[Almarëa Mordollwen]

That looks really useful, @Sil’s Fool - I've only started reading through but it looks like a very thoughtful and comprehensive resource! I am not equity at present but usually end up using Equity guidelines / rules regardless - the whole 'switching countries on a regular basis' thing has made unions an interesting conundrum. (IATSE does not exist in the UK, for one thing!)

But for the (non-student) shows I've worked on the UK, the actors have usually been on Equity contracts (Edinburgh Fringe excepted ... which is a whole other kettle of fish - if you want to talk about ridiculous hours and expectations and pay - I will spare you the rant). And for all the shows I've SM'ed in Canada, they've been done under Equity agreements (they do have policies for student shows, festivals, and for small-scale independent venues) - so even if part of the cast is Equity and part is not, we run under union rules / the Canadian Theatre Agreement for breaks, schedules, disputes, audition codes, and so forth. Think I'm pretty fortunate in that regard - though as SM I'm also usually in a position to have some sway, at least in terms of basics like safety and such.

[Burnt Toast]

It's definitely a really useful starting point. And I'm all for using the equity guidelines / rules as well (we've always added things like a non-equity dep, off of the equity deputy postion, for instance). It's also nice to have something that's unrelated, since sometimes theaters can be ... resistant... to equity rules when they are a non-equity theater.

Oh, I bet you have some stories. This field is rather fraught with them.
I would dearly love to check out Edinburgh Fringe-- though I guess it's unsurprising that a Fringe festival would have its issues.

I'm really glad you've been able to use the position of SM to implement various safety protocols/breaks and such. It's not an easy thing to bring forward as an actor (and even SM's can only do so much)

[Allacan ob Burzum]

ONLY ONE WEEK TO GO BEFORE HAMILTON ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST IS AVAILABLE ON DISNEY PLUS.

So excited, screaming and bouncing, no words, AAAARGHH!!!

Apologies. As you were.

(Disclaimer; no I do not work for Disney advertising)

[Almarëa Mordollwen]

@Allafyrefleorhtlig YES!! (For anyone who has not seen it live: I am so excited for you all to finally get to watch it!!!)

(also does not work for Disney)

[Burnt Toast]

OOOH I forgot about this! Thanks for the reminder @Allafyrefleorhtlig! (I'm glad the Plaza autofills names.. bahaha) I have never gotten to see it... EEE!

[Moriel]

To quote Lin himself.... I HAVE NO CHILL WHATSOEVER *screams and runs in circles* I AM SO EXCITE

[Burnt Toast]

Group watch with le popcorn and drinks! (I don't know if that would be unfeasible- I haven't done a group stream or whatever the way to do such things is) Sync up your computers? Push play on the count of 3!

[Dimcairien Luiniel]

If someone wants to share their screen over discord for this Hamilton fest, I probably won't have anything better to do. July 4th party anybody?

[Almarëa Mordollwen]

The UK is opening pubs on July 4th, so I will assuredly be hiding inside, far away from All The Chaos that will probably ensue. I am totally down for a Plaza watch party!

[Burnt Toast]

The UK is opening pubs on July 4th, so I will assuredly be hiding inside, far away from All The Chaos that will probably ensue. I am totally down for a Plaza watch party!

Ergh yes I'd be hiding, too. (As I demonstrably have been XD)

I may not have reliable internet the fourth, but if I do, I'll be there!

[Allacan ob Burzum]

I’ve done a couple of small group watches of films and stuff; syncing is never precise but good enough to almost laugh/gasp/cry in tandem. Video calls are trickier than type-meets because sound, but fairly certain a few people have done a hobbit watch on Discord together. @Queen Nerwen didn’t you do one?

I also highly recommend the National Theatre at Home’s production of Midsommer Night’s Dream - that one is on YouTube now but only available until next Thursday.

[Nerwen Nuke-queen]

No I can't do it cos I run discord on a Mac. We have done them though.

The NT stuff has been a real saviour in my opinion.

[Moriel]

*resurrects thread*

Pour one out for the year anniversary of theatre as we know it shutting down. How is everyone?