Showing posts with label Practice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Practice. Show all posts
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Hello...testing one two three. I hope this works. I have also taken a course similar to this (with none other than Nick Harrison!) and was really interested in it! I particularily enjoyed the ancient Greek and Roman aspect of the course, especially because I was taking a Greek mythology course at the same time. I find the strong link to their religious beliefs and theatre very interesting! Looking forward to studying the transition of theatre to musical theatre as we know it today.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Disney/Broadway
As I'm sure you all know, I'm a big fan of Disney and also of Broadway.
However, I'm not sure how I feel about the amount of Disney-Broadway crossover shows currently running. While many of the Disney shows are amazing, catchy, and keep Broadway alive because of their massive public appeal, I miss the days when musicals were original and appreciated for their ingenuity.
The only new and original musicals that come to mind currently are "Book of Mormon" and "Catch Me If You Can". Only "Book of Mormon" has had enough success to merit a longer run.
Is this a reflection of our culture? A show must be offensive (but hilarious) or something very familiar to us in order to succeed?
However, I'm not sure how I feel about the amount of Disney-Broadway crossover shows currently running. While many of the Disney shows are amazing, catchy, and keep Broadway alive because of their massive public appeal, I miss the days when musicals were original and appreciated for their ingenuity.
The only new and original musicals that come to mind currently are "Book of Mormon" and "Catch Me If You Can". Only "Book of Mormon" has had enough success to merit a longer run.
Is this a reflection of our culture? A show must be offensive (but hilarious) or something very familiar to us in order to succeed?
Yay!
Yay! Theo helped me figure out how to work this thing!
So, who else wishes KMC would Grover dance all the time?
So, who else wishes KMC would Grover dance all the time?
Test Post/What's History?
Hey guys,
No idea where this is posting, so here's hoping it ends up on the right blog...
So I don't know much about theatre history, so I will entertain with other facts I feel everyone should have in their back pocket.
- It is believed that Shakespeare was 46 around the time that the King James Version of the Bible was written. In Psalms 46, the 46th word from the first word is shake and the 46th word from the last word is spear.
- Karoke means "empty orchestra" in Japanese.
- I'm never going to give you up, never going to let you down, never going to say goodbye and hurt. (heh heh heh)
I'm excited to learn about stuff and get the chance to discuss the contrasts of modern works (WSS) to their original versions (R+J)
Kaithxbai - Paige
Monday, January 16, 2012
Vaudeville
So Katherine mentioned an interest in Vaudeville in a comment to my earlier post. I know a little bit about that from a previous class of mine, so I figured I could let you know what I know!
Vaudeville was established in the last couple decades of the 1800's and remained a popular branch of entertainment until the 1930's or so (someone please tell me if I'm way off). It was basically a menagerie of different types of acts that were all under one headline - sort of like a variety show. It grew out of forms such the burlesque, circus, Wild West, and medicine shows of the early 1800's - effectively borrowing various aspects from each of these forms and combining them into a refined, standardized show which was meant to appeal to the widest range of audience possible.
That's what I remember anyways. If anyone knows more, please post a comment!
Vaudeville was established in the last couple decades of the 1800's and remained a popular branch of entertainment until the 1930's or so (someone please tell me if I'm way off). It was basically a menagerie of different types of acts that were all under one headline - sort of like a variety show. It grew out of forms such the burlesque, circus, Wild West, and medicine shows of the early 1800's - effectively borrowing various aspects from each of these forms and combining them into a refined, standardized show which was meant to appeal to the widest range of audience possible.
That's what I remember anyways. If anyone knows more, please post a comment!
What attracts you to a show?
So I know that when I started developing a love of musicals it was the story telling nature of the music that really spoke to me.
What predominately resonates with you when you see or choose a "good musical": Dancing, comedic timing, clever writing, orchestrations, a certain favorite actor/actress, etc. :)
What predominately resonates with you when you see or choose a "good musical": Dancing, comedic timing, clever writing, orchestrations, a certain favorite actor/actress, etc. :)
Curiosity Killed the Greek
The lack of continuity through the ages, a phenomenon in theatre, acting, and musicals which has provoked my curiosity for centuries. Okay so maybe not centuries, but for at least ten years I have wondered the answer to this occurrence. Why, you may ask, have I waited so long to find the answer? Perhaps I had been temporarily blinded for ten years due to an unfortunate smelting accident, or perhaps I have just not had the resources. What ever the reason, I am here now in a most perfect environment to end my plight. Ironically I believe that the answer to my question may have presented itself in our first two lessons. In discussing the definition of theatre we came to the conclusion that the term itself was subjective, based on individual opinions. Newly armed with this knowledge, I have come to the conclusion that the cause for these changes in acting, theatre, and musicals through out history might have been attributed to the ever changing opinions of the individuals in each time period. For example, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”, might not have been held in such high esteem in 1200 BC as it is currently. Another contributing factor may have been the actual time period itself. How strong was the influence of the church? What was the social standing of women? What was deemed as appropriate? These are all relevant questions. Does anyone have any examples of plays, musicals, theatre, etc… where the influence of the time period is particularly prevalent? Please comment below :)
What I Know About History
Hey All!
I'm pretty stoked to start learning about the History of Theatre. To be honest, I don't actually know very much. To be completely honest, I pretty much only know one thing.. And that is William Shakespeare was a pretty decent writer. Or so I'm told. Just kidding! Ya he's pretty awesome but seriously that about all I know! I'll make sure next post I'll have some interesting nugget of information!
I'm pretty stoked to start learning about the History of Theatre. To be honest, I don't actually know very much. To be completely honest, I pretty much only know one thing.. And that is William Shakespeare was a pretty decent writer. Or so I'm told. Just kidding! Ya he's pretty awesome but seriously that about all I know! I'll make sure next post I'll have some interesting nugget of information!
The "What is Theatre?" Debate
Last week, in our lecture time, there was quite a heated discussion in the classroom as to what is the actual definition of theatre. I have been thinking a lot about this subject since we began the conversation.
Personally, I have been attending performances since I was about four years old. I know this is not the case for a large percentage of our population. There are many people that have never seen a live musical or play, ever. However, it still manages to thrive. I think that theatre remains successful in the modern day due to its offering of an emotional release and the fact that it is an opportunity to share in the human experience. As a performer and an audience member, I cannot deny that a good piece of theatre creates an atmosphere where an inexplicable type of energy is shared between the performers and the audience - I think this is partly because what is occurring is a one-time event (though rehearsed and will follow a similar path each performance).
So, what is theatre? Well, I believe that it is subjective to the person you ask. Some people may consider hockey games "theatre" while others wouldn't. For some people Theatre Sports is theatre and for others it is just a form of entertainment. I think what is important to note is that all forms of entertainment have theatrical elements and the term "theatrical" in this case is not subjective.
Now, if we want to get into the debate as to whether or not hockey is theatre or simply a sport, I think we need to define what consists to be a "sport." I think that sports differ from theatrical performances because in a live show, there is typically one team (of actors) that assemble to put on a performance. Though the performance may contain conflict, all of the actors are working towards the same goal and one could say they all "win" at the end of the performance. In a sporting game, there are two teams that are working towards beating the other team. Thus, at the end of a game, one team has won while the other has lost. The difference, in my opinion, between sports and theatre fall directly at this point: everyone "performing" in theatre is working towards a common goal, while everyone "performing" in a sporting event is actually competing.
What is interesting to note is that theatre could be considered the medium of entertainment that inspired all of the others. The Greeks started by celebrating their god Dionysius in a manner that would lead to theatrical performances. The theatrical performances in their own respective manners inspired the Olympic Games and other forms of entertainment.
So, what is theatre? Arguably, it could be anything you want it to be. But I think if we examine theatrical elements and determine what is crucial to most pieces of theatre, we may be able to be closer to defining the ever-undefinable art of theatre.
Thoughts?
Personally, I have been attending performances since I was about four years old. I know this is not the case for a large percentage of our population. There are many people that have never seen a live musical or play, ever. However, it still manages to thrive. I think that theatre remains successful in the modern day due to its offering of an emotional release and the fact that it is an opportunity to share in the human experience. As a performer and an audience member, I cannot deny that a good piece of theatre creates an atmosphere where an inexplicable type of energy is shared between the performers and the audience - I think this is partly because what is occurring is a one-time event (though rehearsed and will follow a similar path each performance).
So, what is theatre? Well, I believe that it is subjective to the person you ask. Some people may consider hockey games "theatre" while others wouldn't. For some people Theatre Sports is theatre and for others it is just a form of entertainment. I think what is important to note is that all forms of entertainment have theatrical elements and the term "theatrical" in this case is not subjective.
Now, if we want to get into the debate as to whether or not hockey is theatre or simply a sport, I think we need to define what consists to be a "sport." I think that sports differ from theatrical performances because in a live show, there is typically one team (of actors) that assemble to put on a performance. Though the performance may contain conflict, all of the actors are working towards the same goal and one could say they all "win" at the end of the performance. In a sporting game, there are two teams that are working towards beating the other team. Thus, at the end of a game, one team has won while the other has lost. The difference, in my opinion, between sports and theatre fall directly at this point: everyone "performing" in theatre is working towards a common goal, while everyone "performing" in a sporting event is actually competing.
What is interesting to note is that theatre could be considered the medium of entertainment that inspired all of the others. The Greeks started by celebrating their god Dionysius in a manner that would lead to theatrical performances. The theatrical performances in their own respective manners inspired the Olympic Games and other forms of entertainment.
So, what is theatre? Arguably, it could be anything you want it to be. But I think if we examine theatrical elements and determine what is crucial to most pieces of theatre, we may be able to be closer to defining the ever-undefinable art of theatre.
Thoughts?
Favourite musicals and why.
My favourite musical is Fiddler on the Roof because of the historical resonance as well as the beauty of the human spirit it portrays. The first time I saw the movie it was on TV at 2 am and I just couldn't stop watching it.
Hey Team.
I am really excited about this class. It is great how passionate everyone is and it is very interesting to hear everyone's opinion. It should be a good one!
Theatre vs. Theater
Already, while in the process of reading Oedipus, I'm struck by how different it is from what we call modern theatre, and yet they still meet Jacob's definition of 'theatre'.
I would also like to mention how offended I am that 'theatre' is marked as incorrect in my spell check. I feel like theater just doesn't have the same ring to it.
I would also like to mention how offended I am that 'theatre' is marked as incorrect in my spell check. I feel like theater just doesn't have the same ring to it.
Friday, January 13, 2012
Origins of Western Musical Theatre
As the title suggests I am also quite excited to learn more about the origins of musical theatre. Again, I have done a little research on this previously, but my knowledge is far from complete at this point. It would be interesting to see how musical theatre sprung from other music forms, such as opera and art song.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Practice : Curious?
What makes you curious about the history of acting, theatre and musicals? Anything you've always wanted to know about? Do you know something that you'd like to share.
(DA RULES: Try both "posting" and "commenting" to get the hang of both. I will expect to see at least one of each. Check out "Post Options" and allow reader comments please.)
(DA RULES: Try both "posting" and "commenting" to get the hang of both. I will expect to see at least one of each. Check out "Post Options" and allow reader comments please.)
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