Tag: Musicals

Me and My Musicals: Maybe I Should Have Taken Those Singing Lessons
by David Burgess on 0

Me and My Musicals: Maybe I Should Have Taken Those Singing Lessons

ME AND MY MUSICALS

10. That’s how old I was when I saw my very first live play on stage and perhaps more importantly, my very first ever musical ? Miss Saigon, to be exact. At that age I loved every single second of it from the songs to the dancing to the sheer magnificence of watching those talented people perform in front of you live! But the songs, interspersed with the plot, was my very favorite part of the entire experience. As a Disney movie lover seeing real life people break into song like it was part of everyday was a delicious experience!

So Maybe My Playlist Isn’t Like Yours

But I like it anyway

From Sarah Brightman in the Phantom of the Opera to the award-winning Stephen Sondheim I scour record stores, secondhand video shops for any obscure CD, DVD of anything related to Musicals. At the advent of the internet, online shopping and, dare I say it, Youtube, I’ve had more opportunity to enjoy the wonderful world of musicals.
While my peers in high school and college filled their mp3 players with mainstream and pop songs I flooded mine with an eclectic collection of Sarah Brightman’s maddeningly gorgeous voice, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s catchy tunes, Sondheims masterpieces and everything else in between. You should have seen the looks I got on the tram when I would accidentally sing a part out loud – didn’t happen too often but I didn’t really care overmuch.

Those Singing Lessons

Maybe I really should have taken them after all
The Gloried Microphone by Tom8115 @flickr When my mother went to New York about 2 years back I was still in college so she made the painful decision of not bringing me along. When, in tears, I asked her why she hadn’t brought me along she answered simply that I would sing at her to death until we went to Broadway. She was probably right. But it still hurt.

I am one of those shower divas, meaning I can only sing in the shower and never anywhere else. When I was a child and one of my brothers had given me the ‘Cats’ soundtrack on cassette tape I was too in love with it to be embarrassed about singing in front of other people. When my mother suggested that I get a singing lesson I was too embarrassed to have some ‘expert’ tell me how to sing it. Again, she was probably right. Who knows, maybe I could have been in my own musical. (Or not.)

It’s All Heart

And a great deal of dancing
My limited exposure to musicals means that I don’t know much about it. Even with the internet I can’t see anything live although I try to get as much shows as I can locally. I never profess to be an expert, in fact I’m probably the exact opposite to that. But, for me, musicals whether I watch them or just listen to them, are an integral to me as a person. When I want to cry or when I simply feel lazy a simple listening or watching session is enough to energize my life. And, in the end, that’s the most important thing.

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Playwright Zoo
by David Burgess on 0

Playwright Zoo

Zoo playwriting?

A resource linking you to some of the coolest new trends as well as classics particular to playwrights and their craft. — And check out the Playwright Zoo Archive for past musings and featured artists.

Polar Bears

The coolest.
Michael R. McGuire is one of the playwrights whose opinion I trust. He’s a theater artist working within his community as a major contributor to the local arts scene in New London, Connecticut. He is a self-taught self-starter who also helps other theater-artists see their work produced. I’ve know Mike for a few decades, and we’ve worked together to co-produce new-play festivals and full-up productions. He founded a playwrights group that meets regularly throughout the year where members bring new work to have it read and discussed (then we all go out for food and beer). He’s the kind of guy you want to have around when you’re trying to get a new piece on its feet. Everybody should have a friend like Mike.

Michael R. McGuire has written plays for the past 16 years. His play SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE I MISSED THE TRAIN was part of The Lark’s 2004 Playwrights Week and showcased by The Planning Stage at The Golden Street Gallery in 2006. He was awarded a CT Artist Fellowship in 2005 for his play THE NEW GIRL with which he produced a showcase at the Avery Point Playhouse. His plays PERSEPHONE RULES! and THE MISJUDGMENT OF OENONE are published by Brooklyn Publishers.

McGuire founded the playwrights reading group Writers’ Roundtable in 2000.

The interview:

Michael R. McGuire – why the “R”?

There is another playwright in America named Michael McGuire. We were getting one another’s rejection letters returned. The other McGuire has been around longer so I added my middle initial. Plus, it sounds cooler.

You’re a playwright based in Southeastern Connecticut. What are some of the challenges to you as a playwright not being in a big city?

The biggest challenge is the lack of opportunity to network with theater professionals. Literary managers have no face to put with my name. Of course this might also be an advantage…

What are the benefits?

I enjoy being an outsider. Because so many playwrights live in NY, they tend to have a New York sensibility. My New London, CT sensibility is a bit different and informs my writing.

Living in a small arts community like New London County, how essential to you and your work has been the acquisition of production skills?

I have produced, directed and also acted in many of my own productions. It is essential for a playwright to see the work in front of an audience. If opportunities do not present themselves, you must create them.

What makes you want to produce the works of others as well as your own?

I sometimes come across a script that I simply must see on stage. Your play TO DIE FOR WANT OF LOBSTER was one of these. (That it had a great role for me had nothing to do with it)

I do not consider myself an especially skilled director of the works of others and prefer to leave that to others when I can.

Being outside of the mainstream loops and circles that life in New York or another theater hub could offer, how do you get your work out there? Do you have a marketing plan? If so, how does it work?

I wouldn’t call it a plan so much as a dogged tenacity to submit my work to every theater I can find that might be appropriate. In addition to Dramatists Sourcebook, I also search online and scour the resumes of playwrights I admire for theaters they began in.

I keep a database of all my submissions and mail frequently. How does it work? I’m not so sure it does!

While the stereotype of the struggling playwright places him/her in a room, alone, flushing out genius across pages, waiting for discovery – how does it really work from your experience? Are you alone or do you depend on others?

I write in coffee shops. I need a bit of hubbub to write. Silence is deadly to me. I read a great deal and consider all writing as part of a larger conversation. Nothing is created in a vacuum. Our playwrights group Writers’ Roundtable has been a valuable resource for feedback and inspiration.

How did you find other artists in your small-town community to work on your plays?

Mine is a theater-heavy small-town due, in part, to our proximity to The O’Neill. New London has an artistically thriving if financially struggling community. I am also fortunate to have an actress girlfriend, Heidi Harger, who has inspired imagery for more than one of my plays.

What resources are do you use to expand your knowledge of writing? What’s available when you’re off the beaten path?
Given Amazon.com everything that is available elsewhere is available here. The works of Gary Garrison, Jeffery Sweet and Stuart Spenser have been valuable, especially early on. Reading the works of current playwrights has also been important. I have to travel a bit to see professional theater, but every playwright should watch live theater.

You recently participated in a 24-hour play experiment, which was the first of it’s kind in the New London area – what was that like? What was unexpected?

We were given an assignment in the evening and had to have a 10 page play written by morning. The plays were handed off to randomly selected actors and director who rehearsed and had the play before an audience that night. It was fun for me because I didn’t have to direct it myself, a rare treat.

Unexpectedly my director, unknown to me before the project, is interested in an on-going collaboration on future plays.

You’ve also participated in the now defunct Local Playwrights Festival at the O’Neill Theater Center, which was produced and performed by all Connecticut and Rhode Island based volunteers to present workshops of plays by local authors – how relevant was that earlier experience for you?

Having an early play (WHAT’S GONNA SET YOU FREE?) selected for that festival was the encouragement I needed at that time to let me know I might be in the right business. It also introduced me to other playwrights and the local theater community at large. It is impossible to overstate the importance of that event. You may blame them for all my subsequent scribbling.

Any plans for the short play that came out of that?

I’m not much of a short play writer in general, but I may send it out here and there.

What are some recommend reads for playwrights?

I mentioned some writers above, and of course read any play you can get your hands on, but also read magazines, novels, comic books, essays and everything else. Ideas are everywhere. I could live ten lifetimes and not run out of ideas.

What do you recommend a playwright order from the bar when being taken out after a showing of one of his/her plays?

If the show went well, have a Guiness or two. Remain sober enough to absorb the praise. If the show went poorly, start pounding whiskey. I accept no responsibility for anyone who follows this advice.

Anything else?

Learn the rules and then break them with style.

The Monkey House

Musings on the state of theater-arts

A Playwright & Web Forums: How to Use Them for the POWER OF GOOD
(your good & others)
from the mind of Kato McNickle

There are a lot of playwright specific forums, groups on Facebook or MySpace, and other web-based cyber-groups floating around. One thing I’ve noticed from participating in these forums and groups is that about 1 outta 50 playwrights actually knows how to interface, interact, and maximize the potential of these virtual porticoes. How savvy are you when it comes to participation thru posting? Are you that one or the other 50?

If that forum your a member of was a theater — what would you do with it? Would you really only tap on the mike once our twice, see if it was on, and only leave a brief calling card — or would you do more? Can you do something more memorable, more lasting, more significant with your stage-time?

I think sites such as these are like stage-time. How can you do more than leave a calling card? How can you use this forum to make a statement — to leave an impression? From impressions come connections. The connections are what we seeks as artists.

Visit the Playwright Zoo Archive.

Creative Creatures

Workshops for the writer @ Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health

Writing as a spiritual practice, a creative path, or as a way to re-vision your life story helps you access the thoughts behind your thoughts and experience a new intimacy with yourself. Writing helps us make friends with our inner critic, freeing us to create and express without inhibition.

Kripalu provides a welcoming environment in which to turn inward toward the words that are calling you-and offers you a variety of skilled teachers to guide you on the next step of your writing journey.

FastLinks to theaters

These theaters accept unsolicited plays

Actors Theatre of Louisville
Louisville, KY. National 10-minute play contest.

Act II Playhouse
Ambler, PA. Full length plays, musicals, and solo pieces.

African Continuum Theatre
Washington, DC. Multicultural work relevant to African-American community.

Alabama Shakespeare Festival
Montgomery, AL. Plays from Southern writers with Southern or African-American themes.

Amas Musical Theatre, Inc.
NYC. Multicultural casts and themes.

ART Station
Stone Mountain, GA. Full-length plays, musicals, solo pieces that describe Southern experience.

Asian American Theatre Company
San Francisco, CA. Innovative rendrings about the Asian American experience.

Bristol River Theatre
Bristol, PA Cutting-edge works, plays that experiment with form.

Celebration Theatre
West Hollywood, CA. Plays not previously produced that provide a prgressive gay and lesbian voice in contemporary theatre.

Centre Stage-South Carolina
Greenville, SC. Full-length, unproduced plays.

City Theatre
Miami, FL. One acts only that represent a diverse mix of subjects and themes.

Columbus Children’s Theatre
Columbus, OH. Social issue one-acts acceptable for audiences in grades K-5.

Dad’s Garage
Atlanta, GA. Full-length nontraditional plays, comedies.

Detroit Repertory Theatre
Detroit, MI. Full-length issue oriented plays.

East West Players
Los Angeles, CA. Plays by or about the Asian American experience.

El Centro Su Teatro
Bilingual and/or Spanish language plays, plays dealing with the Chicano/Latino cultural asthetic or political experience.

Express Children’s Theatre
Houston, TX. Plays for young audiences.

5th Avenue Theatre
Seattle, WA. Adventure Musical Theatre: ongoing program that commissions original musicals performed for K-6 students.

Foothill Theatre
Nevada City, CA. Seeks full-length plays. New Voices of the Wild West: annual spring series of plays about the rural American West.

Growing Stage Theatre
Netcong, NJ. Accepts plays with a production history suitable for family audiences.

Hangar Theatre
Ithaca, NY. Accepts one-acts for for young audiences only.

Huntington Theatre
Boston, MA. Accepts plays from Boston area playwrights only; agent submission all others.

Jewish Theatre of the South
Atlanta, GA. Works on Jewish themes.

Jobsite Theater
Tampa, FL. Topical, politically and socially relevant theatre; plays appealing to 20- and 30- somethnings.

Kitchen Dog Theater Company
Dallas, TX. Plays from Texas and Southwest playwrights.

Kuma Kahua Theatre
Honolulu, HI. Plays set in Hawaii or dealing with Hawaiian experience.

Merry-Go-Round Playhouse
Auburn, NY. Plays for young audiences.

Mill Mountain Theatre
Roanoke, VA. Accepts unsolicited one-acts for CenterPieces reding series only.

Miracle Theatre Group
Portland, OR. Hispanic playwrights, plays that deal with the Hispanic experience.

Mu Performing Arts
Minneapolis, MN. Asian-American expeience, plays combining traditional Asian performance with Western theatre styles, short plays suitable for school tours.

New Georges
NYC. plays by women only, works with vigorous use of language and heightened perspectives on reality.

New Jersey Repertory Company
Long Branch, NJ. Work not produced professionally, social or humanistic themes.

A Noise Within
Glendale, CA. Translations or adaptations of classical material only.

Oldcastle Theatre Company
Bennington, VT. Accepts musicals and plays.

OpenStage Theatre & Company
Fort Collins, CO. Accepts full-length plays.

Oregon Children’s Theatre
Portland, OR. Plays and musicals for young and family audiences.

Playhouse on the Square
Memphis, TN. Full-length plays and musicals.

Playwrights Horizons
NYC. American writers only, works with strong sense of language that take theatrical risks.

Porchlight Music Theatre Chicago
Chicago, IL. Full-length and one-act musicals.

Sanctuary: Playwrights Theatre
Brooklyn, NY. Accepts playwrights with at least one professional production only; prefers plays with unusul structure, radical core ideas, epic form, work that’s off the map or otherwise seen as impractical.

Seattle Children’s Theatre
Seattle, WA. Accepts unsolicted plays for Drama Summer School season only: one-act plays suitable for young actors.

Seem-To-Be-Players
Lawrence, KS. Plays for young audiences.

Soho Repertory Theatre
NYC. Accepts unsolicited scripts for Writer/Director Lab only, deadline: May.

TADA! Youth Theater
NYC. Plays for young audiences.

Thalia Spanish Theatre
Sunnyside, NY. Plays with Hispanic themes.

Theater by he Blind
NYC. Works by and about being blind.

Theater for the New City
NYC. Experimental American works; plays with poetry, music, and dance; social issues.

Trustus Theatre
Columbia, SC. One-acts for late night series – 45-75 minutes in length. No topic or experimental structure is taboo.

Two Chairs Theater Company
Grand Junction, CO. Full-length, one-acts, 10-minute plays. Annual short play fest, deadline Jan. 31.

Unicorn Theatre
Kansas City. MO. Full-length contemporay social issues.

Victory Gardens Theater
Chicago, IL. Accepts plays from Chicago residents only. All others submit 10-page sample and letter of inquiry.

VS Theatre Company
Los Angeles, CA. Accepts unique and edgy full-length unproduced plays with submission form.

West Coast Ensemble
Los Angeles, CA. Plays not previously produced in Southern California.

Wings Theatre Company, Inc.
NYC. Gay themed musicals and plays only.

The York Theatre Company
NYC. Small cast musicals.

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Top 5 Musicals
by David Burgess on 0

Top 5 Musicals

My Musicals

Musicals are one of my favorite things in life. I look forward to the production, the music, but mostly the story itself. For those who have not had the pleasure of the musical theatre experience, it is so much more than people just singing and dancing on a stage. Musicals really capture the essence of living, life and any emotional experience anyone could relate to; as long as you are able to open your heart and mind to the fantasy and wonderment of it all. The following are my personal favorite musicals. These are the musicals which have left a lasting impression on my life and touched me through the amazing stories being told and music lyrics. In some cases I feel the songs could have been written for my life. Perhaps, that is why I relate so much to these musicals because in a way they are pieces of my life both past and present. These musicals bring me comfort; they are like “home” to me. I hope you enjoy my favorites and maybe if you’ve never been to a musical or seen these shows, you may be intrigue enough to experience them for yourself.

Wicked

Wicked is the “Untold story of the witches of OZ”, which is loosely based on the book by the same name by Gregory Maguire. The two main characters are Elphaba (Later to be referred to as the Wicked Witch of the West) and Galinda, later Glinda (also known as the Good Witch of the North) and how they became who we all know of them through “The Wizard of Oz”. Elphaba was an outcast and misunderstood from the very beginning. She was never accepted due to being born “green” and no one taking the time to get to know the real person inside. She was judged for misperception due to people’s ignorance and fear. Galinda, on the other hand, lived a charmed life surrounded by many family and friends that adored and loved her. She always seemed to manage to get her way and things came easy for her in life. Beauty was a trait Galinda processed, she knew it and used it to her advantage any way she could, always. Eventually, Elphaba and Galinda attend school together and needless to say have nothing in common and “loathe” each other. As is true in life, people normally have more in common than not, and Elphaba and Galinda do find their common ground and work in “tandem”, becoming close friends.

Wicked is my favorite musical by far, and Elphaba is my favorite character. If there was any character I was most like and could see several life reflections through their own actions that would be Elphaba. I have spent most of my life being an outsider and misunderstood. I’ve never been the “popular “one, nor have my opinions or feelings come across as me coming from a place of “good”. In the past I’ve often been way too sensitive to others reactions towards either me, the way I look or even my compassion for the treatment of animals. Elphaba processes all these qualities throughout Wicked and although in the end, her friend can see her as the kind, humane and “good” person she truly is, people want to believe what they are told. After a few whispers in the ear and a reputation is a difficult thing to change in the eyes of others, once doubt creeps in.

The music within Wicked is brilliant and the lyrics are amazing. Two songs from the Musical stand out for me, especially in my life right now, they are “For Good” and “I’m Not That Girl”. “For Good” speaks of gratitude and forgiveness for a person who has changed your life and made you a better person. Through the ups and downs of a relationship you learn and grow. It has to be one of the most brilliantly written “Thank you” letters I’ve ever heard. “I’m Not That Girl” tells of letting go and the realization that you are not the “one” for the man that you love. Anyone’s that has felt this kind of pain knows that these words express it all. Wicked makes you think, brings to light social issues and also is a spectacular feast for the eyes, ears, and the heart. It’s “Wonderful!”

Rent

Rent is the story of seven friends in New York; some straight, some gay and some of which are surviving HIV/AIDS. There is several love stories intertwined within the friendships, which makes for some drama throughout the musical, and what is life without some drama? The two main love stories are between MiMi and Roger, the straight couple, who are both HIV positive due to drugs use. The other couple is Angel and Collins, also both positive and they are the gay couple. There’s also a love triangle between a straight man and his former girlfriend whom now is dating a lesbian.

The couple I relate to the most is MiMi and Roger. They are constantly on and off and have trouble communicating properly, although they do truly love each other. This is reminiscence of my last relationship. The couple I’d like to strive to be more like is Angel and Collins. Everyone actually admires the relationship Angel and Collins have, as they both entirely love and respect each other as they are, and they’re very supportive and giving. A line from “Goodbye Love” states “I’d be happy to die for a taste of what Angel had-Someone to live for-unafraid to say I love you%u2026”

Rent has some amazing and heart wrenching musical lyrics. Some of the stand out songs are, “I’ll Cover You”, “Will I”, “Without You” and “Seasons of Love”. My personal favorite would have to be “I’ll Cover You”, a song sung by Angel and Collins to each other to profess their love for one another. They recite to each other “I think they meant it when they said you can’t buy love. Now I know you can rent it. A new lease you are, my love, on life-be my life.” It’s absolutely beautiful. Rent teaches us all the art of compassion, tolerance and acceptance, reminding us that there is “no day but today”.

The Lion King

The Lion King is the musical based on the Disney film of the same name. I had absolutely loved “The Lion King” the movie, when I heard they were making it into a musical I was excited and a little apprehensive as well. Well, I had nothing to worry about because this musical is brilliantly spectacular. The way they bring everything to life is truly an amazing feat and I’m in awe every time I go to see the production.

I’m sure we are well aware of the story line for this musical due to the popularity of the movie. The reason this musical is so near and dear to my heart is for the following reasons. I’ve always been drawn to “cats” of all kinds since I was a young boy. There is some kind of connection between myself and the king of the beasts. Whether it be Lions or Tigers, both I find to be the most beautiful animals in the world. So, obviously when this film and then musical came about I was instantly on board. Not only did The Lion King have my favorite animal front and center, but the story line was one I could relate to as well. Simba losses his father and struggles with his place in society and coming to terms with what is truly the right path for him to choice in life. I too have lost my father and have done my fair share of running away from my problems, or thinking I was doing so. Throughout my trials I’ve always felt the presence of my father looking out for me and guiding me along the way.

As in all great musicals, the music tells a lot of the story and once again The Lion King provides some of the best music and lyrics. The music was written by Elton John, whom I have been a huge fan of since I was a child. Another reason I loved The Lion King. Of course, the stand out song is “Can You Feel the Love Tonight”. The Lion King is definitely a must see. What’s better than a production that gives us Hakuna Matata? It means no worries for the rest of your days. What a wonderful thought.

American Idiot

American Idiot is the story of three young men, their friendship and the paths they each choose while trying to find themselves. All three, Johnny, Will and Tunny plan on leaving the small town they are from and hitting the big city to pursue the life they dream of, whatever that may be. Will ends up having to stay in town as he is taking on the responsibility of getting his girlfriend pregnant. Tunny joins the military and Johnny heads to the city on his own. All three experience eye opening life changing events.

The two characters I related to most were Will and Johnny. I also have gone through the struggles that come with having a child at a young age and not being fully prepared for the responsibilities that come with this full time job. Will felt trapped and angry that he wasn’t able to leave town with his friends and experience a new life. Living with regret and resentment never ends well. Johnny on the other hand is pushed into a brand new world of too much freedom and decadence. He eventually finds himself a prisoner to addiction and all it involves. He hooks up with a girl and they use each other as a crutch for continuing down a path of destruction. This too is something I’ve experienced in my life and as Johnny did in American Idiot, one must decide when enough is enough and commit to a better way of life.

Again, the music plays the most important part of the show. The songs which I truly love in American Idiot are “When It’s Time”, “21 Guns” and “Wake Me up When September Ends”. The lyrics in “when It’s Time” go straight to my heart every time. Some of them go as follows:

“I feel lonely for
All the losers that will never take the time to say
What was really on their mind instead they just hide away%u2026We are all born in a world of doubt
And there’s no doubt
I figured out
I love you”.

Priscilla: Queen of the Desert

Priscilla: Queen of the Desert was my first official Broadway Musical. I went to New York City last May and appropriately went to see one of the gayest musicals out there today. Being gay myself, I loved every second of it. It was gay heaven! This musical is a celebration from start to finish, full of musical renditions of many dance classics from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. The icing on the cake for me was that they sing a couple songs from Madonna, and anyone who knows me knows I’m a bit obsessed with Madonna. It’s a healthy obsession. Priscilla is about three guys in Australia who take an adventure on a bus they nickname “Priscilla”. This musical is based on the movie “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert”.

The character I relate to most in the show would have to be Tick. He is taking the bus trip as a favor to his ex-wife who needs an act for her business, located in a distant city in Australia. Tick is a drag queen and asks a couple of his friends to join him for the trip. Tick is a bit apprehensive about arriving at the gig, due to him having a Son with his ex and his Son doesn’t know of him or that he’s gay. Nor does he know he’s a drag queen on top of it all. Although, I am and have never been a drag queen, I do have children. As a gay man you often have reservation on how your children feel about you being gay. Also, I do know what it is like to have a child not in your life as well. Yes, I know I said this show was a celebration and it is. It just has some touching moments as well, such as in life-right?

If you are looking for a fun night out with good laughs, great visuals and loads of music that everyone can sing along, then Priscilla definitely is the show for you. I don’t know anyone that could leave the theatre after seeing this show and not have a smile on their face. This is one of those musicals that I will be planning on going to see as many times as I am able. As all the other wonderful musicals on my list, this one is imprinted within my mind and I look forward to more years of reconnecting with Priscilla over and over.

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