Green is the New (Great) White (Way)

 

Green Theater

Green Theater

It was recently announced that major construction on Henry Miller’s Theater (the first new Broadway house in 20 years) is finally set to open in September with a production of Bye Bye Birdie.  The bigger news: it’s an all green performance space.  With walls made of recycled material, waterless urinals, and local materials making up the marble flooring, all that’s missing is a giant light board-powering hamster wheel (you know, because actors love running on hamster wheels).

While the construction effort has been a big step for the green movement in the theater world, I wonder, is it enough?  Whether or not Roundabout Theater Company chooses to maintain their green standards for productions, it’s important for any theater company to be ecologically conscious and Earth-friendly.  It may cost an extra penny (and even a penny makes and theater producer sweat), but with a few ground rules, it’s easy for a production to leave it’s green thumbprint.

A few ideas after the jump. (more…)

Published in: on May 8, 2009 at 12:45 pm  Comments (1)  
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The TONY nominations are an OUTRAGE!!!!

TonyHave you seen the Tony Nominations? Can you even believe how INSULTING they are??? It’s supposed to be the most prestigious award for American Theater, and THIS is what they come up with???

Sure, it’s bad that the Tony Nominations consistently favored Hollywood, big-selling, money producing names and shows over their more talented New York counterparts….

Sure, it’s bad that out of the nominees for Best Musical, the only one that is completely original is Next to Normal, and it might not beat out its competition in the form of a farting ogre.

Sure, it’s bad that [title of show] got snubbed.

Sure, it’s bad that Carla Gugino’s overall excellent, wrenching performance in Desire Under The Elms went ignored.

But that’s not really the issue.

The ISSUE, the category in which the Tony Committee REALLY f’d up, the oversight SO unforgivable I cannot even bear to post it on this blog’s main page, is….

 

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Published in: on May 6, 2009 at 4:08 pm  Comments (2)  

Uninspired Playwriting: Lessons from Julia and Julie and Manny and Kanye

Like our “producing guru” Lauren, the idea of blogging was unappetizing to me. Not out of a crippling self-doubt, but general disinterest. Then I saw the trailer for Julia and Julie.

This was it! My inspiration! I, too, am a sad-sack, cubicle-dwelling drunk! I would simply emulate someone who was already famous and blog about it and get rich when it gets made into a movie! But who could I emulate?

In a case of perfect timing, it turns out Personal Hero Kanye West has just released a book of aphorisms titled THANK YOU AND YOU’RE WELCOME

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Published in: on May 6, 2009 at 3:29 pm  Comments (2)  
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How To Date An Actress In Five Easy Steps

Jennifer Aniston Today I embark on the small but noble task of enlightening the world on the proper way to date  an actress. You might not think this applies to you, but a touring company could show in your  city, and while you are out for an innocent night with your friends, you could unwittingly end up  with a tongue down your throat because you were the first straight guy to look her way for the  last six months. So please read on….

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Published in: on May 4, 2009 at 5:31 am  Comments (2)  
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The Corner Office – Pro Bono Advice from a Producing Guru

Producing Guru

Producing Guru

It gives me tremendous pleasure to introduce myself to the world of blogging.  To be honest, when I was first asked to be a part of the ICBINS blog my initial feeling was that of aversion and quite frankly annoyance, but my distaste for the idea has now turned into genuine excitement.  As you may know, my game is producing, and to keep my expertise a secret would be a disservice to aspiring producers everywhere.  I’m sure you’re aware that it’s not easy to succeed in this business, but I’m here to show you the way, to shed a little light on the path to victory if you will.  I’ve never considered myself a mentor per se, but the notion that there is someone more qualified than myself to brave this task is laughable at best… (more…)

Published in: on May 4, 2009 at 5:30 am  Comments (2)  
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Playwright Is Poverty…But Babysitting Is Bank.

In what is probably a subconscious effort to piss off my parents, I decided at on my chosen path at a very early age. At 18, I enrolled into NYU’s Department of Dramatic Writing, and signed my life over to become an impoverished playwright.

Of course, even impoverished playwrights need to afford their self-indulgent pity binge drinking sessions, so over the past five years I have had a variety of different avenues of income, all with varying degrees of profit, success, and humiliation. In no particular order, I present to you:

Jobs I Have Had, That Weren’t Playwriting… (more…)

Published in: on May 4, 2009 at 5:30 am  Leave a Comment  

Submit To Our Reading Series!

icbinsHave a great play for ICBINS? 

 

Send it our way! submissions@icbins.com

 

Published in: on May 4, 2009 at 3:49 am  Leave a Comment  

New York Theater Wish List, May 2009

  When I moved to New York City, I promised myself I’d go see shows at every available opportunity, and while I was in college, I did just that. Unfortunately, now that I’m out of college, every available opportunity has dwindled down to “every once in a while when a friend has an extra/free ticket and I’m not working”.

  I do manage to go to a fair share of readings and workshops, but, if I had all the money and time in the world, here are the five current shows I’d want to see first:

our-town1       1. OUR TOWN

    I’ve loved this play, ever since Kevin Arnold and Winnie Cooper did it as their school play on “The Wonder       Years”. This production had me at hello, or rather, the Stage Manager’s opening monologue, that you can         see here. Yeah, everyone has seen it/read it a billion times, but…doesn’t it still sort of make you cry every      time? Just me? Ok.

 

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Published in: on May 4, 2009 at 3:47 am  Leave a Comment  
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the broody writer’s spring survival guide

 

you wake up with sun in your eyes, birds at your window and a song in your heart.  you feel light.  it’s april and you feel a warming in your breast and perhaps a desire to make new friends.

 

broody writers: this can happen to you.

 

spring is a dangerous time for us – a peak season for joy and jubilance. stay on your guard if you wish to maintain the image you have worked so hard to cultivate.

 

some tips to stay broody in even the nicest weather….. (more…)

Published in: on May 4, 2009 at 2:59 am  Comments (2)  
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