Listen & Be Heard Weekly Archives

In the spirit of the season, I began drafting some personal resolutions when something occurred to me. Good things happened in Bay Area theatre this past year, but there?s definitely room for improvement, even in our own backyard. Here are some suggested resolutions to help our performing arts community grow and thrive in 2007.

For those who make the magic happen?
Renew your passion. Remember when you were first bitten by ?the bug? and just knew you had to be a part of the magic of theatre, even if it meant you were essentially scenery, holding the third spear from the left? The fainter that memory, the more you need this resolution on your list. Resolve to see other artists? great work, and talk with them. It?ll help you avoid the bloated ego that sometimes comes from countless years of applause. Or have you become a cynic ever since the regular paycheck turned a fun pastime into a job? Just talk to any of us who aren?t in our dream field of work, and you?ll know how blessed you are to be doing what you love. If you?ve lost the passion, it?s probably time to look outside of yourself, and draw from the beauty and energy that other people bring to the art form. Theatre is collaborative, and your passion was born in that spirit. If you can?t rekindle it, take a break.

Try something new. No, new does not mean producing work so obscure and ?artsy? that any meaning in your vision is lost in a jumbled mess. Trust me, that?s been done. Instead, add a single new element to an old work that helps some aspect of it resonate in a different way. A recent example was John Doyle?s interpretation of ?Sweeney Todd? in which the actors, sans orchestra, played the score themselves. Or try environmental theatre. There are venues besides the big houses that could be really interesting. One of the most memorable productions still vividly in my memory was Eugene O?Neill?s ?Four Plays of the Sea? performed aboard a schooner in the SF Bay. Another new option is producing lesser-known plays. Everyone does Yasmina Reza?s ?Art.? How about ?Life x 3?? You can strike a balance between the traditional and the less mainstream.

Expand your horizons. There are numerous companies in various performing arts groups all working in complete isolation. Why not partner with other organizations? Kudos to those who have started the ball rolling (Solano Rep/Benicia Old Towne Theatre Group and Solano College Theatre/North Bay Opera), but know that even more partnership opportunities abound. I?m surely not the only one who?d like to see concert performances of musicals combining local stage talent with the Solano Community Symphony? Or an annual concert featuring vocal, instrumental and dance numbers presented by the many local companies and studios? What a show that?d be! A special resolution for the Cities of Fairfield and Vacaville: ?Expand? your horizons by supporting more local talent. The FCCA and VPAT stages are woefully absent community theatre artists while money goes to traveling troupes who come through for a night or weekend at a time.

Hire performers/directors we haven?t seen before. It?s a risk, no doubt, to give new blood a try, but there are some marvelous artists who will get missed if never given an opportunity. There are also directors who inexplicably keep working and working. These folks no doubt have great hearts and make wonderful friends and colleagues, but they may not be best suited to the theatrical helm. Beware that not all audience members know to avoid a director?s work, and may instead choose to avoid either the producing company or live theatre as a whole. Resolve to use the greatest talents regularly but not exclusively.

Practice humility. The part of artistic humility most in need of repair: honoring the audience. Without us, you?d be performing in an empty hall or not at all. If you?re one of those who think it?s a well-guarded secret that too many of you say, ?Audiences are stupid,? think again. We can tell by your work. Suspension of disbelief is not a symptom of stupidity but a gift that the audience gives an artist. Appreciate it. While you?re at it, appreciate each other, because (this bears repeating), it?s a collaborative art with all elements equally important. Last but not least, resolve to get rid of the indulgent curtain call. Not only are bows meant to be a show of respect by the person bowing, but the audience has already thanked you with laughter or tears, applause and energy throughout the night. Curtain call is your chance to humbly thank them.

Have fun. This is connected to renewing your passion, but there?s a little something extra in this resolution. For those who are taking themselves too seriously, remember that it?s called ?play? for a reason. Resolve to watch children performing onstage and off. You can?t help but be inspired by their creativity, imagination, and sheer joy in the world of make-believe.

Look for resolutions for my fellow audience members in the near future, but until then, here?s wishing you great joy in 2007. Happy New Year!

[tags]theatre review, theatrical resolutions[/tags]