“The things we will try have not been tested. The new ideas will seem too radical to implement. The work will necessitate giving up unearned privilege and power. Theatres do not operate in a vacuum, and neither do theatre workers.” - American Theatre
"Giving an audience member 'a hand in guiding the show' is key to the success of a one-person performance. 'You have to sort of walk a tightrope between delivering a scripted show and being flexible to an audience member.'" - The Guardian
The surprise hit film is going to be a stage musical! But you knew that. The true news is that the Hugh Jackman passion project is finally in serious development for the stage, with Disney. Do we hear the sound of a million theatre kid dreams soaring? - Variety
At the American Players Theater, about an hour west of Madison, they do around nine mostly classic plays (no musicals) each season, running in repertory, with no microphones in a 1,075-seat amphitheater. Audiences love it, with many people returning season after season. - The New York Times
At American Players Theater, “banking on the glory of the human voice is primarily an artistic decision: Nothing comes between the actors, their words and the public.” - The New York Times
“Broadway, still adapting to sharply higher production costs and audiences that have not fully rebounded since the coronavirus pandemic, is betting big on star power, hoping that a helping of Hollywood glamour will hasten its rejuvenation.” - The New York Times
How can we fix this? Gloucester, England, has one (extremely dreamy) idea - give artists money, and tell them you don’t expect an outcome. “This is about dreaming and developing and forming relationships and partnerships, and those things take time.” - The Stage (UK)
During the 1930s, the Communist regime in Moscow set up Russian-style puppet theaters in the republics as a way to impart Socialist principles to children. In the Kazakh SSR, puppets caught on, especially when doing traditional stories, and the troupe in Almaty, no longer Communist, survives to this day. - History Today
“At a time when costs for Broadway shows continue to rise … the necessity is producers so committed to projects and their potential to find audience favour that they will fight conventional wisdom to give shows the opportunity for recognition and financial success.” - The Stage (UK)
The Bristol Old Vic says its ticket sales are up one third over last year, but ever-rising costs and the loss of grants from Bristol City Council (not to mention uncertainty over Arts Council England funding) mean it may need to cut back both its mainstage productions and community/educational work. - BBC
That is, until it opened. “The muted response to the show itself suggests that fewer British people are riled by the debate than the media coverage implies — or at least that when activists engage with potentially inflammatory art, outrage can quickly vanish.” - The New York Times
He says he stockpiled plays during the COVID lockdowns; he's had readings of two in the past two years, has another getting a full staging next year, and yet another sketched out for 2026. "I guess the full total is getting near to 100." - The Guardian
“I basically grew up watching this theatre, in many different inner iterations, creating work along the way, especially the new plays, which is what kept me here. It was too good of an opportunity to leave. To meet with living playwrights? Come on! It was the best.” - American Theatre
How did The Great Gatsby get excitement for its cast album flowing? TikTok, of course - and also YouTube, Instagram, and X/Twitter, not to mention a party for influencers on all of these channels. Brand strategy: Snag the kids now, and it’ll pay off later. - The New York Times
