GOOD MORNING, THEATERATI for May 25, 2017
By: Jeffrey Ellis May. 25, 2017
GOOD MORNING, THEATERATI! Welcome to Thursday, May 25, 2017! So, here's the thing: We're up far earlier every morning than we'd actually choose to be, given the choice, and today we were lost in slumber, having a really terrific and very intriguing dream - I was in Louisville with my best pal Patrick Wilson (I have no clue where Britt Byrd was!) when we happened upon a crew filming a scene for an upcoming episode of The Good Fight starring Christine Baranski (surprisingly, the Kings - Robert and Michelle - had chosen that particular episode to insert some science fiction elements into their show), who saw Patrick and called out to him (that's how I realized my best pal was indeed Patrick Wilson, TV and film star who previously made a name for himself in Broadway musicals and toured in Carousel with my real-life pal Weslie Webster) and then proceeded to greet Nicole Kidman, who saw Patrick and became all kind of like schoolgirl giddy and rushed up to say hello (meanwhile, Christine was rushed off to her trailer) and Patrick explained to me that he vaguely remembered dating Nicole (whom I once met at Macy's and discussed her performance in the movie version of Rabbit Hole) AND THEN I WOKE UP! I woke up because of my devotion and loyalty to you, gentle readers. So what's in it for me? Obviously, it's #TheatreThursday, so I plan to life life dramatically today!
All of this prompts us to ask the musical question: Do you like our column name - GOOD MORNING, THEATERATI - or would you prefer if we pulled the classic and nostalgic MUSIC CITY CONFIDENTIAL out of the journalistic mothballs? Please weigh in with your thoughts!
in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
The Memorial Day Weekend is virtually upon us, which means a lot of outdoor activities, but the fine folks at The Weather Channel (along with Nashville's breathless gaggle of over-excited weather forecasters, you can bet) are suggesting weekend weather will be rather wet and, well, unseemly for cavorting in the out of doors. Might we suggest you take your fine selves into a darkened, air conditioned auditorium for some theater? Beautiful: The Carole King Musical continues at TPAC's Andrew Jackson Hall; Woven Theatre's Reasons to Be Pretty, by Neil LaBute, continues at Belmont Little Theatre; Inebriated Shakespeare gives its final performance of Much Ado About Nothing (or is it As You Like it? We get confused, particularly without coffee so early in the morning) at City Winery on Friday night; Beau Jest is on its last legs at Chaffin's Barn's Dinner Theatre; Million Dollar Quartet and A Second Helping are at Cumberland County Playhouse; Lakewood Theatre hosts its second annual Tennessee Playwrights Festival; and ACT 1 closes up shops and breaks down its amazing revolving set for Nothing On as its final weekend of Noises Off plays out...
Perhaps our reviews will help:
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/nashville/article/BWW-Review-A-SECOND-HELPING-at-Cumberland-County-Playhouse-20170523
/nashville/article/BWW-Review-Angels-in-England-or-rather-ACT-1s-NOISES-OFF-20170513
/nashville/article/BWW-Review-BEAU-JEST-is-Back-At-Chaffins-Barn-20170512
Beth Anne Musiker, fresh off her trip to the Big Apple for The Broadway League's Spring Road Conference, shared some of her personal insights on the current crop of Broadway shows: "I loved the plays I saw this year! I found the Pulitzer Prize winning, Sweat by Lynn Nottage to be gritty, thought provoking, and deeply moving. A Doll's House, Part 2, was a great modern response to the Ibsen classic, hilarious and pointed with tremendous performances. I was lucky enough to attend this treat of a play alongside an absolutely electric theatre crowd during a special midnight Actors Fund performance!
"I was also very excited about Groundhog Day which, frankly, surprised me since I've never really cared for the movie (apologies to Bill Murray). Kudos to the creative team who found some very savvy stagecraft, and the very gifted Andy Karl, to help tell this story in ways that make it completely fresh and a great ride.
"My favorite panels are always the ones that provide new ideas for moving our industry forward. I am partial to the panels about engaging and educating new audiences since this is the goal of my company, StageSmart Teaching Artists. Between the Engagement and Education Forum and the Spring Road Conference (both of which happen in the same week!) it's been wonderful to see the venues around the country and the producers behind the tours becoming pro-active in engaging and developing a broader, deeper audience base.
"Oh, and a dear friend introduced me to a new restaurant I can't wait to visit again! Nizza at 45th Street and 9th Avenue serves delicious Italian food in a cozy setting with a full Gluten Free menu! Heaven!"
New York City-based acting coach Lisa Regina reminds us that spots are quickly dwindling for next week's "Day of Headshots" with top New York photographer Barry Morgenstein, who'll be in Franklin shooting heads on Friday, June 2. You can call (212) 647-1288 to snag a spot in Barry's line-up. Two outfit changes, including hair and makeup for only $395, and for an additional $50, you can attend Lisa's All-Day Acting Workshop. Last we heard, there were only two spots left open for this amazing day of theater edification!
"This is my first visit and I really look forward to sharing my NYC training and industry experience with Nashville actors. I've heard so many great things about your local talent from Barry," Lisa Regina says. "I'm also a producer/director/writer and I'm currently working on an episodic, The Shooters Nail about veterans and inner city youth. We've already filmed out trailer and short. We are now currently in pre-production for our first full episode...My Acting Segment will run 'all day' long, so actors can join in before 'and' after their shoot with Barry. The Acting segment is only $50 as an 'introductory offer' to Nashville actors!"
Yesterday, we asked friends and followers on Facebook if they preferred honest and frank criticism over the briefly appealing smoke up their butts, which goes along with words of sheer flattery? This is something we've thought about often over the last 35 years or so of reviewing and criticism being our passion. We ask you now to offer your thoughts...
Here are some responses of the responses we've already received: "I'd rather have someone tell me honestly, tactfully, where I need work, or that they truly enjoyed it instead of just blowing smoke up my ass. And, I can tell when someone is blowing smoke and not being genuine. Don't waste my time," says Memory Strong-Smith.
Linda Drewry: "Slippery slope. NOBODY - particularly strangers but even close friends - takes criticism well. First response is usually - you didn't see what I was aiming for, you didn't understand my vision, it was a bad night, you know nothing Jon Snow - some form of the above...make sure the person actually wants your honest opinion, second, tell them what you did like, what worked for you, third, suggest some other choices that might be interesting. Even done with love and affection, it's delicate and feelings may be bruised."
David West: "Honest criticism for me, but only if I ask for the criticism. Last thing I want is for someone I don't know or don't like to come up to me randomly and tell me what they think would have been better, unless their approach is just a stellar one and I'm hooked from the beginning of the conversation. And if I know I didn't do a good job I'd prefer it if people didn't say I did. I'm pretty harsh on myself to begin with, so chances are I'm already thinking about what could have been better and am seeking out those I trust to tell me what I did bad and how I can improve."
Nat McIntyre: "1. As a friend or acquaintance, my first objective is to tell you what I liked or loved. I want to encourage people who are courageous enough to put themselves out there. Then, if we are close enough that we speak in depth or if a person really asks for what I think they can work on, I'm happy to give my observations. That's what I want from my friends.
"2. As far as actual critics go, I think they need to be fair and honest. That's their job. A critic is meant to keep us honest, working hard, and bettering the professional community. They are there to let Theater goers know what's what. They are not meant to make us feel good. So, I DO expect a theater critic to hold a production's feet to the fire. It doesn't have to be mean spirited, but I think they should expect more from a professional production than anybody else."
M. Wayne Adcock* (aka MeWayne, the artist formerly known as Michael Adcock): "Well. People NEED honest criticism more than flattery- not so sure they appreciate it. Real artists don't need the candy-coating."
Stephanie Jones-Benton: "How am I supposed to get better if I don't know what I'm doing wrong?!"
We're singing a chorus of "Happy Birthday" (unless we have to pay royalties, in which case we're singing "For He's A Jolly Good Fellow" and pretending we're on some Brit TV show) to: TPAC's very own PR wunderkind Lisa Kennedy; our friend Phyllis Green Courtney (she's Angela Gimlin's lovely mum); Cumberland County Playhouse's Skip Ritter; and photographer and actor (director and producer) and 2010 First Night Most Promising Actor Bralyn Sokes! They share the day with such theatrical luminaries as the legendary Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, the illustrious Sir Ian McKellan, composer Hal David, our late friend and iconic Designing Women star Dixie Carter (whom we adore and miss), the multi-talented Leslie Uggams, Vagina Monologues playwright Eve Ensler and Ellen Degeneres' ex, actress Anne Heche. They are all, we surmise, worthy of celebration!
From the Broadway World Nashville archives:
/nashville/article/BWW-Interviews-Amanda-CardMcCoy-A-Life-in-the-Theatre-20010101
/nashville/article/BWW-Reviews-MIXED-NUTS-from-3Ps-Productions-at-Backstage-at-the-Barn-20100525
/nashville/article/Rhoda-Penmark-Comes-to-Life-in-Street-Theatres-THE-BAD-SEED-610-26-20110525
/nashville/article/Hey-Jef-Heres-My-Headshot-QUINN-ALEXIS-20120525
From our Theater Journal come these historical "firsts" that transpired on this date: Paul Vincent Carroll's Shadow and Substance debuted in London in 1943; Frank Gilroy's The Subject Was Roses opened in 1964, going on to win the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award for best play; in 2016, Cirque de Soleil's Paramour opened on Broadway (the company's first production of a show intended for the Great White Way). Jeremy Kushnier, Ruby Lewis and Ryan Vona star at the Lyric Theatre, and it subsequently runs for 366 performances.
And that brings us to the end of today's programming on this #TheatreThursday (c'mon, help us make that hashtag a #thing) and we remind you that no matter where you find yourself today, you should CELEBRATE THE MAGIC OF LIVE THEATER!
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