Our Blogs
In the Moment
American Idol
A confession, a slightly embarrassing one: I love American Idol. I never miss an episode. Even when I’m working, it’s always there for me later because I’ve got my DVR set on “record series.” I speed through commercials, and every other moment, I inhale.
I think the show is tremendously entertaining, but more than that, I find something useful to me as a teacher of actors and singers in every minute of this amazingly overproduced spectacle.
Playwright Now
Why do we laugh?
I’m part of a writing group that I love called Lab Twenty6.
Collectively, the notes are invariably smart and helpful, but last week I got one that was wrong.
I’m writing a high school one-act called This Is a Text, a spin on a play I wrote a long while ago called This Is a Test.
Strut and Fret
Playworks: spike in midnight oil sales
Good thing we like to read plays around here.
Critic At Large
Look Back in Anger
As I was waiting for the bus home, I ran into someone who often writes about the theatre who had also just emerged from seeing Look Back in Anger. She was in a rage. Why was the Roundabout Theatre putting on this old, second-rate British stuff?
I didn’t get the feeling she would be particularly receptive to the answer I could give her, so I only said a few words that I knew she would shrug off. She got on one bus, and I got on another.
I think there are indeed reasons to revive this play.
Thespian Officers
January travels
Hello everyone! The beginning of the year has gone quickly, it seems to me, and I just wanted to keep you updated on my travels as an ITO. The second week of January, I was invited to go to the New Mexico Thespian Festival. After I got off the plane, I was greeted by Lana Hagan, a theatre educator at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville. She was the EdTA representative for this trip, and also my go-to person when I needed help or advice.
Design & Production
Outside the box
Prior to beginning this post, let me assure you that I am not a great user of the latest “catch phrases.” As a high school teacher for twenty-plus years you would think contemporary phrases and terminology would have entered my vocabulary but much to my students’ dismay (and occasional confusion) I still speak like the fifty-four-year-old man I am.
Advocacy
Arts in Education week
In July 2010, the U. S. House of Representatives passed a resolution declaring the week following the second Sunday of September Arts in Education Week. Here’s a list of twenty-five things you and your students can do to make your voice heard. This is just a starting point. We know that you will come up with plenty of ideas too. Feel free to share your ideas below, using the comments feature.
