So I'm sure you've all heard the news that in the coming months, the US will be sending 30,000 more troops into Afghanistan. I know that this is a part of a plan to build peace and eventually remove our troops in the country, but I think it's important that while we come with guns, that we also come with helping hands. That is why the work of Artfully Unforgotten is more important than ever!
Tomorrow (Friday) you can join us at the Best Buy Loft in Tribeca (394 Broadway, 6th Floor) for an evening of art, film, music, food and drink. Founder Heather Metcalfe, will premiere the film "Voices of Afghanistan" a documentary of women in Afghanistan, and art by Parsons School of Design graduate students will be auctioned. The event will be a great time, and you'll walk out witha fresh perspective on a country and culture that's greviously misunderstood by much of the American public.
Click here to buy a ticket!
I hope your able to make it, and I look forward to meeting you!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Bad Theatre vs. No Theatre
I've always been a huge proponent of getting people in the theatre. I don't care if it's Broadway or high school theatre, I want YOU in that dark room, because if I can get you in, I can probably talk you into it again. I've been involved in some baaaaad theatre, and I still love it, so shouldn't everyone?
I had a high school reunion this weekend, and after catching up with some old classmates, I realized something. I'm the only one working in theatre. What's more, many (including those previously involved in school plays) don't even go to the theatre. Huh...
Turns out, a bad theatre experience can really turn people off. My high school theatre program wasn't spectacular, I'll leave it at that. However, I was fortunate enough to be involved with an amazing community theatre as well. When I think back on it, I wouldn't be in the industry today if I hadn't participated in community theatre. So bad theatre can really be a dangerous thing.
What do you think is worse, exposure to bad theatre, or no exposure to theatre at all?
I had a high school reunion this weekend, and after catching up with some old classmates, I realized something. I'm the only one working in theatre. What's more, many (including those previously involved in school plays) don't even go to the theatre. Huh...
Turns out, a bad theatre experience can really turn people off. My high school theatre program wasn't spectacular, I'll leave it at that. However, I was fortunate enough to be involved with an amazing community theatre as well. When I think back on it, I wouldn't be in the industry today if I hadn't participated in community theatre. So bad theatre can really be a dangerous thing.
What do you think is worse, exposure to bad theatre, or no exposure to theatre at all?
Friday, November 13, 2009
Introducing The Cast Party.com
I had the very wonderful experience of working with Planet Connections Theatre Festivity as an intern this past summer. PCTF is an eco-friendly theatre festival headed by Glory Bowen that requires all participating shows to do a collection for a charity of their choice. Then I heard about Michael Roderick, a producer/blogger, who holds workshops and classes for theater professionals for low to no cost. There's Heather Metcalfe of Artfully Unforgotten, who in the past few years has dedicated herself to raising funds and awareness for vulnerable communities through the arts. Most recently I caught wind of composer, Seth Bisen-Hersh who holds benefit concerts twice a year for different charities. (His upcoming Broadway Can! benefits the Bowery Mission, more on that later.)
In just a few months, I've come across all of these amazing individuals and organizations, who have made serious commitments to serving the community. What does that tell me? That there must be THOUSANDS of you out there in the arts world who are giving back! And guess what? I want to tell people about you! I think that everyone should know about your hard work. So it's been in the works for some time, and I promise it ain't pretty, but check out www.TheCastParty.com and spread the word.
In just a few months, I've come across all of these amazing individuals and organizations, who have made serious commitments to serving the community. What does that tell me? That there must be THOUSANDS of you out there in the arts world who are giving back! And guess what? I want to tell people about you! I think that everyone should know about your hard work. So it's been in the works for some time, and I promise it ain't pretty, but check out www.TheCastParty.com and spread the word.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Special Edition: Today in History
Theater has become an integral part of my everyday life, because I was exposed to it at a young age. It doesn't have to be Broadway, but if you can bring a child to the theater, you are creating the audience of the future. Do you know what else helps? Films and soundtracks of plays and musicals. Like most families, we couldn't afford to go to a Broadway show every year (we went once when I was 12 to Beauty and the Beast), but we went to regional and community theater often, and rocked out to Les Mis on tape in the car and the Rogers and Hammerstein box set at home. Because those more affordable options were available, I go to Broadway productions today.
So think about the people that exposed you to theater, thank them, and then go bring your kids (or somebody elses) to a show. Invest in the soundtrack and play it in the car on your next family vacation. Go rent Singing in the Rain and watch it with your nephew. Captian von Trapp sang with his kids. It's not just about butts in seats, it's about sharing an experience and being present with another generation.
Thanks and Happy Birthday Dad!
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
The Amazing Shrinking World!
The older I get, the more I realize how undeniably small the world is.... especially if you work in theatre.
Monday, in the midst of the never ending scurry that my life has become, I found myself in a hallway at Chelsea Studios face to face with one of my college classmates whom I hadn't seen since graduation.
Me: What are you DOING here?
Friend: I have an audition, I moved here yesterday!
I graduated from a theater program with about 10 other students. In a city of several million, I can run into one of those 10 people within 24 hours of arrival. Have you ever noticed that at every industry event you run into the same people over and over and over again? Ever hear about that actor who was such a pain to work with that he/she never worked again? Yeahhh. We've all been there.
This principal really made me think about the larger interconnectedness we have with theater artists all over the world, and the responsibility we have to challenge and collaborate with one another. We all share a common language, yet there are millions of different environmental factors that have shaped our perspectives. That is a recipe for some seriously amazing work. Let's find new ways to reach out to our global counterparts and make some magic!
Already doing it? Get your mind out of the gutter, I mean are you collaborating on a global level? Let me know and I'll post your story!
Monday, in the midst of the never ending scurry that my life has become, I found myself in a hallway at Chelsea Studios face to face with one of my college classmates whom I hadn't seen since graduation.
Me: What are you DOING here?
Friend: I have an audition, I moved here yesterday!
I graduated from a theater program with about 10 other students. In a city of several million, I can run into one of those 10 people within 24 hours of arrival. Have you ever noticed that at every industry event you run into the same people over and over and over again? Ever hear about that actor who was such a pain to work with that he/she never worked again? Yeahhh. We've all been there.
This principal really made me think about the larger interconnectedness we have with theater artists all over the world, and the responsibility we have to challenge and collaborate with one another. We all share a common language, yet there are millions of different environmental factors that have shaped our perspectives. That is a recipe for some seriously amazing work. Let's find new ways to reach out to our global counterparts and make some magic!
Already doing it? Get your mind out of the gutter, I mean are you collaborating on a global level? Let me know and I'll post your story!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Great Opportunities this Week!
So I know it's halloween this week and everyone's got lots of parties and haunted houses to go to, but consider supporting a good (theater related) cause this week and attending one of these great events!
Founded by a New York City based actress, ForPinksSake.org "is an organization committed to raising funds for breast cancer awareness, research and eradication. We bring people together for fantastic functions with the underlying purpose of charitable giving."
Their inaugural event, this Wednesday at 6, cosponsored by BeWellLiving.com and Janet Waddell Salon, will involve wine, chocolate, hair, makeup, and skincare consultations, networking and a raffle!
After you get all dolled up and relaxed, head over to Hold for the Laughs where some fabulous comedians will be making you laugh to support Small Pond Musical Theatre Writing Lab from 9:30-11:30. The Writing Lab was started to help new composers , book writers and lyricists by providing them with a space to work and exposure to the industry.
So get out there this week and support theater people that are making a difference!
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Cultural Diplomacy
There's been a bit of debate on The Huffington post this month regarding cultural diplomacy (one of my favorite concepts), so I thought I'd share it with you and give you my perspective, and hopefully get some responses from you!
The kick-start article here was this one, posted by Micheal Kaiser, President of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. His take is that traditional cultural diplomacy, in the form of state supported performing arts groups touring abroad, is not effective. What he's been working on, since his years at the Kennedy Center, is a new kind of cultural diplomacy, in which arts managers go abroad and teach marketing, fundraising, and other best practices employed here, to their foreign counterparts.
The response blog written by Karen Brooks Hopkins of the Brooklyn Academy of Music argues that sending the managers without the performers/artists is like "sending a cookbook without any food" and further comments that "Americans are always trying to manage everyone and everything." Her viewpoint is that it's the artists who truly express the underlying humanity that connects us all, and that this element is missing when managers are just teaching best business practices abroad.
I really feel that there is value in both of these approaches. As someone who's had the opportunity to serve as a cultural ambassador as a performer, I agree with Ms. Brooks Hopkins, that there is an intrinsic value in sharing art with audiences abroad. As a realist, I understand that funding performing arts tours abroad is prohibitively expensive. For this reason, I support Michael Kaiser's stance that what is most effective, (and cost effective) right now is to train arts managers abroad.
During college, I performed in an original American Musical for 1,000 people in the oldest theater in Russia. As a performer the experience was life changing, but I feel that the performance itself had the least impact on the community. What was most amazing to me were the Master Classes my company took with Russian theater students. For an entire semester, both groups had worked on two pieces, Chekhov's Three Sisters and Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie. As groups we were able to show the work we had done, and exchange our expressions of the same pieces. Later in the class, we put some of our students in scenes with some of the Russian students. The synergy was explosive, and it was amazing to watch. Did I mention the language barrier? Yea, no one in my class spoke Russian, and no one in their class spoke English. We were performing and viewing bilingual theater, and it worked!
Maybe it has to do with being young, but those moments really bonded us in a short time. As students and performers we held a common bond, and we got together on our own time and interacted without translators. We understood one another through our art.
It is my opinion that the exchange of managers is a wonderful way to collaborate within the constraints of a budget. I also feel that it leaves room for foreign arts communities to develop and present their own art. However, I think that whenever possible, the most effective form of cultural diplomacy is when managers and artists from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds work together. Instead of exporting our performances and importing performances from others, let's hold extended exchange programs where companies can develop together and create a common culture of collaboration.
I should probably start fundraising now.....
The kick-start article here was this one, posted by Micheal Kaiser, President of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. His take is that traditional cultural diplomacy, in the form of state supported performing arts groups touring abroad, is not effective. What he's been working on, since his years at the Kennedy Center, is a new kind of cultural diplomacy, in which arts managers go abroad and teach marketing, fundraising, and other best practices employed here, to their foreign counterparts.
The response blog written by Karen Brooks Hopkins of the Brooklyn Academy of Music argues that sending the managers without the performers/artists is like "sending a cookbook without any food" and further comments that "Americans are always trying to manage everyone and everything." Her viewpoint is that it's the artists who truly express the underlying humanity that connects us all, and that this element is missing when managers are just teaching best business practices abroad.
I really feel that there is value in both of these approaches. As someone who's had the opportunity to serve as a cultural ambassador as a performer, I agree with Ms. Brooks Hopkins, that there is an intrinsic value in sharing art with audiences abroad. As a realist, I understand that funding performing arts tours abroad is prohibitively expensive. For this reason, I support Michael Kaiser's stance that what is most effective, (and cost effective) right now is to train arts managers abroad.
During college, I performed in an original American Musical for 1,000 people in the oldest theater in Russia. As a performer the experience was life changing, but I feel that the performance itself had the least impact on the community. What was most amazing to me were the Master Classes my company took with Russian theater students. For an entire semester, both groups had worked on two pieces, Chekhov's Three Sisters and Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie. As groups we were able to show the work we had done, and exchange our expressions of the same pieces. Later in the class, we put some of our students in scenes with some of the Russian students. The synergy was explosive, and it was amazing to watch. Did I mention the language barrier? Yea, no one in my class spoke Russian, and no one in their class spoke English. We were performing and viewing bilingual theater, and it worked!
Maybe it has to do with being young, but those moments really bonded us in a short time. As students and performers we held a common bond, and we got together on our own time and interacted without translators. We understood one another through our art.
It is my opinion that the exchange of managers is a wonderful way to collaborate within the constraints of a budget. I also feel that it leaves room for foreign arts communities to develop and present their own art. However, I think that whenever possible, the most effective form of cultural diplomacy is when managers and artists from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds work together. Instead of exporting our performances and importing performances from others, let's hold extended exchange programs where companies can develop together and create a common culture of collaboration.
I should probably start fundraising now.....
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