Dramaturge seems like it’s spelled wrong and other observations.
This is the second picture that resulted when I searched "dramaturge." The first was two naked dudes in kneepads. Seriously, google image it.
As mentioned, this weekend we had a table reading of When you Die you Go to Target, over which I presided with both dignity and poise as dramaturge. This was my first experience in this role which can sometimes be a bit nebulous, and it struck me how similar a position it was to a constitutional monarch. Roll with me here. The power is all in the hands of the playwright, director and actors (as it would be with parliament, prime minister and the voters), while the dramaturge’s role is reserved for ensuring that the directive of the play (or a nation’s integrity) is honored all while wearing wonderful clothes and drinking. Like the constitutional monarch, the dramaturge must also make sure to never overstep his boundaries. Especially as a writer, I have to remember to keep my hand out of the pot, but make sure that the ingredients are all available for the chefs. I guess in that sense a dramaturge is more like a restaurateur. No, wait. Okay, the PERFECT analog for a dramaturge is (more…)
SPECIAL REPORT! A Scene from the Spider-Man musical has been found!
BREAKING NEWS!
Yes, the Tonys are over, but we can’t stop caring about theater just yet. There are a lot of exciting things in the pipeline for next season (A Trevor Nunn directed A Little Night Music! Uncle Jessie in Bye Bye Birdie!), but nothing has made people scratch their heads quite as much as the imminent musical, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark featuring a score by U2. Will it be an origin story? Will the score be self-indulgent? Will it finally get straight boys to the theater? Will singing make Peter Parker seem even more like a pussy than he already is?
Hopefully a few of your questions will be answered, now. In what comes as ICBINS’s first ever journalistic coup, we have managed to come across a few pages from the script. Transcribed after the jump! (more…)
Shakespeare in the Park: The Great Democratization of Theater; or How I Will Spend the Next Month Trying to Stalk Raul Esparza
Note the smoldering glance. Sigh.
Here’s the thing, we’ve already discussed some of the reasons why we don’t see the big shows, but probably my personal biggest reason is the cost. I love Dolly Parton. I have been known to drunkenly declare that my greatest desire is to be the Dolly Parton of theater (Yes, now that she is in theater, I definitely need a new aspiration.) Anyway, there’s no way I can afford 9 to 5. I have to eat! I have to save up for some Air Yeezys!
But next week begins Shakespeare in the Park! If Broadway represents one half of our American identity, the product-based, consumer-driven Lady Capitalism, then Shakespeare in Park is her intrepid, homely sister Democracy. Once a year we pretend these ladies don’t hold an epic resentment for one another and can cohabitate our great city. Like any Democratic endeavor, The Park doesn’t care if ye be rich or poor, young or old, able-bodied or differently-able-bodied, black or brown or white; you are all welcome into her Delacorte. Though they do offer guaranteed tickets for generous donors, have great handicap accommodations and as well as special days where they do outer borough ticket distribution at places like El Museo del Barrio.
But for us! Those of us of median income and courageous heart, the backbone of America, we have the tremendous opportunity to wait in line for hours and hours in the lovely New York City summer for free theater. Much like the pilgrims endured the months at sea for the promise of religious freedom or like the pioneers loaded up their wagons to hazard the Oregon Trial for gold and land, so, too, will we wait for Shakespeare performed by Anne “In My Opinion Her Goodwill Earned from Princess Diaries and Ella Enchanted Will Never Fade” Hathaway and Raul “Curiously Sexy…Oh and DIBS!” Esparza.
Now whether you’re a seasoned line-waiting veteran or if this will be your first attempt there are definitely some things you can do to ensure you nab those limited tickets. LIST! (more…)
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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