The Community of Theatre

Season 1

Episode 2: Who Picks the Shows?

The challenges of selecting a season from among all the plays every published.

How do you get a group of passionate, opinionated theater fans to agree on a few specific shows to produce for a given season?

Join us as we discuss how the Wimberley Players craft their season, how show selection differs across the spectrum from amateur to professional companies, and the myriad considerations - both practical and philosophical - in how to use the limited resource that is “stage time.”

Our guest is Trish Rigdon (Artistic Director of the Wimberley Players), an arts administrator who’s worked with performing arts organizations from local community theaters to nationally renowned professional organizations like the Peter Hall Company in England. You can find out more about the Wimberley Players here: https://www.wimberleyplayers.org/

Follow the show: https://www.facebook.com/communityoftheatre

Follow the host: https://twitter.com/DerekSmootz

Episode 3: Where Does the Money Go?

A look at the many, often invisible expenses of community theatres...and how to offset them.

Did you know you can pick up arts grants at your local grocery store?

Our guest is Doug DeGirolamo of the Gaslight-Baker Theatre, who walks us through the myriad expenses any theatre is likely to face. However expensive those local production tickets might seem, their sales cover only a fraction of any show’s expenses.  Given that reality, we then get into the the other sources of income that theatres can use to make ends meet.

As referenced in two sequential episodes now, if you're on a local theatre board, it's probably worth making sure your organization is a member of the American Association of Community Theatres: http://aact.org

You can find out more about the Gaslight-Baker here: https://mygbt.org/

Follow the show: https://www.facebook.com/communityoftheatre

Follow the host: https://twitter.com/DerekSmootz

Episode 6: Creating Inclusive Companies

Discussing how we can better live up to the ideal of inclusivity in audition, rehearsal, and performance spaces

Tommie Jackson returns to discuss inclusivity. It's an ideal that most theatre companies espouse, but it's a challenge to truly and consistently foster through audition, rehearsal and performance spaces.

Article - “Broadway loves the white ‘diva’ but shuns the ‘difficult’ black performer”: https://www.onstageblog.com/editorials/broadway-loves-the-white-diva-but-shuns-difficult-black-performer

Follow the Broke Thespians, or find out about Love//Sick  at… https://www.brokethespianstheatrecompany.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrokeThespiansTheatreCompany/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brokethespianstheatrecompany/

Follow the show: https://www.facebook.com/communityoftheatre

Follow the host: https://twitter.com/DerekSmootz

Episode 8: Reviews and Criticism in the World of Community Theatre

Exploring the purpose of theatre journalism at the local level, and how it compares to the professional world.

I’m joined by Michael Meigs, creator of CTX Live Theatre, to discuss the role of reviews and reviewers in the world of local, community theatre; we touch on an array of topics, including the distinction between reviews and criticism, how writers can, should, and do approach professional versus amateur productions, the relationship between artists and reviewers, and how the era of social media has impacted theatre journalism as a whole.

CTX Live Theatre https://ctxlivetheatre.com/

ATX Theatre https://www.atxtheatre.org/

Gilbert and Sullivan Austin GilbertSullivan.org McAdo auditions are Feb 25/26, email [email protected] to schedule.

The Broke Thespians (Love/Sick performances are Feb 17/19) https://www.brokethespianstheatrecompany.org/

Episode 9: Preproduction with Beth James

We explore the role of a Director in a community production up to the point of auditions

I’m joined by Beth James, Director of the upcoming production of 9-5 at the Gaslight-Baker in Lockhart. We discuss everything a Director undertakes prior to auditions, both in general and in particular for this production, for I’ll be serving as co-Music Director. We also touch on Directorial philosophy, dramaturgy, and the overlap between modern psychotherapy and an ethical production environment.

For those in Central Texas and listening close to this episode’s release date, 9-5 auditions are being held March 8 and 9 at the Gaslight-Baker. You can find details here: http://mygbt.org/

Or, email Beth directly at [email protected] to reserved an audition time. Follow the show:

https://www.facebook.com/communityoftheatre Email the show: [email protected] Follow the host: https://twitter.com/DerekSmootz

Episode 10: The Time Before Directors with Doug DeGirolamo

History of Directors 101, and various other topics

I'm joined once again by Doug DiGirolamo, who walks us through a brief history of the role of directors, and what preceded them. We wander off onto a few tangents, including discussion of "Song of Spider-Man," script writer Glen Berger's behind the scenes tell-all about getting that production onto the stage.

Follow the show: https://www.facebook.com/communityoftheatre

Email the show: [email protected]

Follow the host: https://twitter.com/DerekSmootz

Episode 11: Devised Theatre - Love and Information

Exploring the nuances of Devised Theatre through the Broke Thespians' production of Love and Information

The Broke Thespians’ latest production is an example of Devised Theatre - find out what that means, as we discuss how the experience of rehearsing this type of show differs from traditional narrative.

Get tickets or information about Love and Information at… https://www.brokethespianstheatrecompany.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrokeThespiansTheatreCompany/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brokethespianstheatrecompany/

Follow the podcast: https://www.facebook.com/communityoftheatre Email the podcast: [email protected]

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