The Stage Media Company Ltd’s Post

Open Book Theatre Company is calling for PITCH IDEAS from playwrights for our 2024 season of Driveway Theatre. Playwrights may pitch more than one idea. The deadline for submitting a pitch is Friday, February 23. Please submit to driveway@openbooktheatrecompany.net Pitches should include a minimum of several sentences that give the general plot and feel of the play, as well as brief character descriptions. Playwrights who are new to Open Book should include a resume and 2 writing samples of 5-10 pages each. Playwrights who have worked with OBTC before, we already have these on file, although if you’d like to submit an updated resume or writing sample you are welcome to. Chosen playwrights will write a 30 minute, 2 person play, and commit to developing the script with Open Book Theatre staff, director, and hired performers. Chosen playwrights will be given a stipend of $400. We are looking for high energy, fun, uplifting scripts that are appropriate for all ages (audiences are generally adult, but there are often children present, and we're outdoors, and don't want to offend the neighbors!) Shows are performed outdoors for small gatherings, usually in driveways or backyards, but we have also performed in parking lots, parks, and the green spaces of retirement communities. Scripts need to be able to be performed without any tech (lights, sound, amplification) or scenery and with minimal props. Actor’s “costumes” will be either reasonable street clothes, or pieces that can be put on and removed over base clothing in public spaces. There is no “backstage.” Actors are seen by the audience before and after the show, so the show could incorporate some sort of introductory beginning and ending (think about the shows at a Renaissance festival and how the performers introduce and close the shows). High energy, comedic shows with heart play well. Actors can play multiple characters, as long as they can change those characters right there "on stage." Preference will be given to local, Metro Detroit playwrights.

Interested in theatre, but not necessarily musicals? I may hear from you all about this, but I'm the same way! That's exactly why we've compiled a list of the best non-musical productions to put on, with help from numerous actors and directors. Read our latest blog post if you're interested in learning more! #TicketingSystem #OnlineTicketSalesforNonProfits #TicketSales #besteventticketingsystem #Tickets #Sales #FreeOnlineEventTicketingSystems #BestEventTicketingSystem #TheatreTicketingSystems #Theatre

Theatre is a performing art that involves live actors presenting stories, dramas, or other forms of performance before an audience. It encompasses various elements, including scriptwriting, acting, directing, stage design, and lighting. Here are some key aspects of theatre: 1. Genres and Forms: Theatre spans a wide range of genres, including drama, comedy, tragedy, musicals, and experimental theatre. Each genre has its own conventions and styles. 2. Scripts and Playwrights: The foundation of theatre is the script or play, which is written by playwrights. Classic playwrights include Shakespeare, Chekhov, and Ibsen, while contemporary playwrights continue to shape modern theatre. 3. Performance Spaces: Theatre performances can take place in various settings, such as traditional proscenium theatres, intimate black-box theatres, outdoor spaces, and even site-specific locations. 4. Acting and Direction: Actors bring characters and stories to life through their performances, while directors interpret the script, guide actors, and shape the overall vision of the production. 5. Production Elements: Theatre involves several technical aspects, including set design, costumes, lighting, sound, and props, all of which contribute to the storytelling and audience experience. 6. Cultural and Historical Impact: Theatre has been a crucial part of cultural and artistic expression for centuries, reflecting societal values, exploring human experiences, and challenging norms. 7. Community and Educational Theatre: Theatre can also serve educational and community purposes, providing opportunities for people to engage in the arts, develop skills, and address social issues. Overall, theatre is a dynamic and multifaceted art form that continues to evolve and impact audiences around the world. #snsinstitutions #snsdesignthinkers #snsdesignthinking

This is a big song for me. I've loved musical theatre since I was a kid, but when I first heard this song during my degree I forever changed my view of what it could be. A great medium for telling outrageous, fantastical tales, thrilling audiences and bringing joy and laughter? Absolutely! But my first viewing of Company taught me that it could tell small stories as well. Stories about people, normal people with average lives who are going through something. It also highlights a key element of musical theatre writing that has forever been a part of prose but is often ignored in verse. That is to advance the journey of a character or the story in a song. For actors out there, the journey or arc of a character is fundamental and whether performing a monologue, dialogue or a song they should be connected to the text and what it means to them and their character. #acting #musicaltheatre #voiceacting #singing --------------------------------------------------------------- Every story needs a voice. For a warm, dynamic and malleable voice to tell your story, hire a Bard. www.eloquentbard.co.uk

As we embark on our theatrical plays next weekend, the stress levels are always so much higher than our musical theatre shows, and this is why! Every alternate year we either perform straight plays or a musical extravaganza, showcasing the strengths of our students. It’s our shop window where we work incredibly hard to make sure every corner of that display is polished, organised and sells the aspects of what we do best. It’s hours and hours of unpaid work, refining and pouring over every element! Now, the musical theatre shows usually include around 80 children, minimum… ticket sales are good because at least four members of the family attend and this helps pay for professional theatre hires with crew. It’s totally worth it to see the wonderment on every child’s face! We run two shows in the same day (albeit we also have to do a top and tail tech in the morning) just to get through costings, and within law of child work hours. It really is show BUSINESS! The plays however are a real push, ticket sales are low, we only have 8-12 cast members but the costs of the hire remain the same. There is no glitz and glamour, no snazzy costumes and tricks- it’s all in the technique of the actor, the writer of the play and the authenticity of the story. Other students, not performing, don’t want to attend to see these plays as they fear, it might not be their thing. Questions often asked are ‘Is the content appropriate’? ‘Is there swearing? Will it be funny….? I find it such a shame that students don’t love the idea of creating one (or several) characters and exploring their journey, albeit, in a scene that lasts no more than a minute, or a play which is clipped to one hour. That journey of the back story that no one ever gets to see and the future the actor of the character never gets to know is so beautifully precious. I wonder if the path is just not geared for some souls to follow. Acting is not an easy A, the technical study of portraying another human being so naturally and thoughtfully can be draining and yet inspiring. As parents, teachers and practitioners, we must come together and support all the colours of the industry, whether its’ not a passion we’re aligned with necessarily. To prepare an actor for the future, when we have them so young in our hands, is to show them that the career is complex, takes incredible intelligence and huge discipline and the theatre is where it begins! I urge everyone out there whose child attends a theatre school to stand back and observe the whole display and not just the bits they’re in! #theatre #leeds #plays #scripts #performingarts #actors #students #youngtalent

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When my husband was directing theatre he would always have a rehearsal towards the end of the process where he had the actors do two full run-throughs of the play: For the first one he would watch, but not listen; and for the second he would listen, but not watch. He did this so he could find holes that would otherwise be covered up, either by the distraction of the visuals or the bandaid of dialogue. I've been thinking about this lately when it comes to writing in another person's "voice." Achieving voice is all about listening--not just to *what* your client says, but *how* they say it. If all you're listening to are story, ideas, concepts...you're going to get the story, but you're not necessarily going to understand the story*teller*, and that's the person whose perspective you need the most. You have to close your eyes to *what the content is* and really listen to *how the content is being expressed*. The way people talk is a reflection of how they think, so lean in. Notice. How fast or slow do they talk? Are they like a steam train that just goes and goes, steady and ceaseless? Do they pepper their speech with long thoughtful pauses, because they like to say things exactly right the first time? Do they chug along until they get inspired and then letitalloutinarushofenthusiasm? What kinds of words do they choose? Do they have favorites--adjectives they use over and over? Do they slip into another kind of speech when they're "reenacting" moments in their lives*? (*this one's a special gift: that's a direct window into they talk when a writer's not listening.) How circuitous are their routes? Do they get right to the point, not a lot of fanfare? Or do they follow tangents and diversions, filling in every detail, until eventually wending their way to the destination? All of these things matter, and they are clues to you as the writer about how the other person views, processes, and expresses their particular world of ideas. If you can start to get underneath the *what* to the *how,* you're going to find a roadmap that will serve you, no matter what you're writing for them. Close your eyes for a bit, and just listen. #voice

✨Discover the Soul of Theatre Acting✨ In the words of Erika Jenko, "Theatre is a living organism, influenced by the audience and actors, evolving with every performance." Unlike film, where everything is set in stone, theatre thrives on the raw, real energy shared between you, your castmates, and the audience. Reaching out to the soul in the back row doesn't require exaggeration - it requires truth. Are you yearning to tap into the heart of theatre acting? 🎭 Want to make every performance as real as the emotions that drive it? Then don't just watch from the sidelines. 💡Read Erika's insightful blog about the nuances of theatre acting. Feel the difference, understand the soul behind every gesture, every word. FULL BLOG POST HERE: https://zurl.co/5hw1 🌟And if you're ready to leap further, join us for Erika's Theatre Acting Masterclass. It's not just about learning; it's about transforming. Sign up today for an unforgettable journey into the essence of theatre. Class spots are $25 each or grab the full course for just $80. TICKET LINK HERE: https://zurl.co/AFO3 Unleash your potential. Because acting is not about putting on a character - it's about finding the truth within.

Happy World Theatre Day! Today, we celebrate the magic of theatre! From ancient Greek tragedies to modern musicals, theatre has the power to transport us to different worlds, make us laugh, cry, and think. What are your favorite theatre memories? Whether it's seeing a professional production or participating in a local play, theatre has a way of bringing people together and fostering creativity. Let's show our appreciation for this incredible art form! #WorldTheatreDay #Theatre #PerformingArts #Creativity #Community #Dat #ContentCreation #Communication #Organization #DigitalMarketing #DataManagement #DataValidation #Accurac #MarketResearch #DataAnalysis #ResearchMethodolog #VisualCommunication #Storytelling #PresentationDesign #Copywriting #ContentMarketing

It's your first show and you've just received your script! But what do you do with it and what does it all mean? Discover the parts of a script and how to interpret them. www.stageagent.com #acting #script #rehearsals #theatrebasics #actor #anintroductionto #performingarts #musicals #plays #theatrekids #stage #theatre