News of a Thespian Sort

[toosuto]

So I am forming up a new theater group (of a sort) here in Spo-vegas called Anyone Anywhere (I get to have my own A.A. meetings!) I'm looking for easily accessible scripts for an extremely informal read through at the Empyrean Coffee Shop. This will be a monthly event where anyone interested can get involved in by volunteering at any of the read throughs (maybe even picking up minor characters the night of) so I'll need to get a rotation up running so I know what people can volunteer for as well. I'm also looking for a core group of people to read and/or lead at sessions.

Comments

[lovecarnievan.livejournal.com]

If every once in a while you can do it here, I'm so in. I can't act, but I can be your "special case".

[toosuto.livejournal.com]

Anytime you are coming into town (assuming we haven't left) I'll work you into a reading. "Not being able to act" makes you our target participant. The whole point is that theater can and should happen anywhere performed by anyone, becaause it is fun and accessible.

[mrsbrewer.livejournal.com]

Keep me in mind for any of these activities. What types of scripts are you looking for? (e.g. something from Samuel French that we could copy for our own entertainment, something written by a local playwright and never produced, etc.)

[toosuto.livejournal.com]

We'll be paying no royalties because we have no money (and will take none for the "performances"). Scripts that are readily available would be good as I'd like to get the people involved to simply pick up their own copies whenever possible. Ideally I'd like to get into the realm of shows that are unlikely to be produced here in Spokane stuff like Pinter etc. I'm not against locally written works but would much rather work with somewhat time-tested material. (Plus at this point I'm not interested in telling people their work isn't worth my time and have no desire to wade through those sorts of submissions.)

[mrsbrewer.livejournal.com]

Gotcha. I wasn't sure if it was ok to suggest works that are already published (hence, might require royalties). I've got some David Ives' stuff that is brilliant. (Several shorter plays in one book.)

[toosuto.livejournal.com]

I'd love to do Ives, except Ives is as edgey as Spokane gets and thus gets done every 2-3 years. I think once we get underway we could slip some Durang in though for sure.

[mrsbrewer.livejournal.com]

Yeah for Durang!

[mrsbrewer.livejournal.com]

I meant "Yea!"

[ng-nighthawk.livejournal.com]

This is an excellent idea, and fits nicely (at least in philosophy) with my new project which one of these days will have a name and a description. :)

[toosuto.livejournal.com]

Feel free to use A.A. I believe in sharing!

[cszbeast.livejournal.com]

i think you already know I want a piece of this... but just to make it official

Mr Josh, I would like a piece of this

[toosuto.livejournal.com]

so noted.

[gin314.livejournal.com]

I like Lorna's David Ives idea. "All in the Timing" is perfect for what you're going for! You might also opt for the James McClure route-- "Laundry and Bourbon" and "Lone Star" together. You may have to check, though, on the royalties thing with any published work, even if you don't take money. There was a discussion here recently on the same subject. So, you could do readings of new work, or else classics. Moliere, anyone?

[toosuto.livejournal.com]

Of course both of the David Evenings have been done to death here in Spokane so we're looking to go a little further afield.

As far as the royalties go: Enh. If I were to do something more official I would worry about it but since I'm not, I won't. It's true that the publisher will say that I MUST do it. However any playwright would probably be (8-9 out of 10) more understanding. Plus we'll hardly be on the radar for local theater groups much less publishers. Also the way we'll be working is much more like a book group of sorts rather than a "performance troupe." Which is kind of the point. People, everyday people, should be discouraged from participating in theater or exploring it becuase they are inside of the business of theater or because plays they might find interesting aren't brought to their attention because they aren't pofitable enough. The business of theater is getting too much in the way of theater being for the people! VIVA LA REVOLUCION!

*ahem* So yes I am aware that a publisher might disagree with me but that's kind of the point. Certainly if we ever mount a real production we'l actually pay royalties (because I do believe in paying artists) but a production is exactly what we aren't doing.