the Rantings of a Theatre Nerd
When we make theatre about theatre, who are we writing it for? When we limit our audiences exclusively to those who are in our field, we are signing the art form's death certificate. What is at the heart of these plays and how can we create work that brings those together instead of alienates?
As all of us know, this pandemic has not been very kind to the arts. Performers, Designers, Directors, and many other artists are out of employment all across the country. How can we create while distanced? Thankfully, Fringe Arts refused to let the pandemic halt the 2020 Fringe Festival. This year, the festival will be… Continue reading It Takes a Village(r): How a Group of Artists is Overcoming COVID in the 2020 Fringe Festival
Sofia Coppola's portrayal of Elvis Presley epitomizes the human experience of existing in opposite: Monster and Lover.
Loosely building on Aeschylus’ Oresteia, Merry Me promises a night of raucous laughter and sapphic horniness, but attempting to be a statement on society might be its undoing. On an island not so far away from the vulnerable coasts of the enemy state, a mysterious blackout makes it impossible for Agamemnon to pursue his war… Continue reading Merry Me: a sapphic romp through an ancient classic
Shaina Taub’s new musical, Suffs, follows Hamilton and Take Me Out in the Public Theater’s tradition of pointing at intersectional conflict without investigating it. Shaina Taub in SUFFS Suffs tells the story of real-life Women’s Rights activist Alice Paul, played by Taub herself, as she fights for women’s suffrage toward the ratification of the 19th… Continue reading “We Won’t Wait Another Day!” But Apparently, Intersectionality Still Has To
As theatre creators scramble to create during the panoramic, I’ve seen most virtual productions fall into separate camps. There are shows that are desperately trying to be a ‘regular’ production and are either ultimately unsafe or fall flat completely. Some shows end up completely messing with our idea of what “theatre” can be; while these… Continue reading New Light Theatre’s “Songs for a New World”
The gender binary is inherent to our understanding of almost everything. We evaluate how humans interact with each other in response to our understanding and perception of the gender binary and heteronormativity. The simplification of our understanding of gender leads to stereotypes and archetypes that are instantly recognizable. Many forms of media rely on these… Continue reading The Last Five Years: an exploration of gender stereotype
I recently got into a discussion with a few of my friends about the focus and purpose of theatre. I expressed intense dissatisfaction with shows that use a political movement as a backdrop for a love story. I critiqued musicals like Hairspray, Aida, and Miss Saigon for this reason. I believe that shows like these… Continue reading The Rolling Stone: A Political Love Story
The continued power of August Wilson's Pittsburgh Cycle in the film age. Why stop at Fences and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom?
The last couple of months seem to have been a wake up call for a lot of people. People of all ages and races are opening their eyes to the systemic racism that terrorizes and oppresses the black members of society. All over twitter, facebook, and instagram people are declaring their allyship with #BlackLivesMatter, demanding… Continue reading Racism: It’s Not Just Hate Crimes and Slurs
Sincerely, Däv 