Project 5

The Profession -

Wardrobe Crew - http://www.backstagejobs.com/jobs.php
Cirque du Soleil will be in Chicago recruiting for Technical Positions from June 5th-7th, 2009.

If you plan to be in Chicago from June 5th-7th, please submit your resume for review. This will be a unique opportunity for you to learn about employment opportunities for stage technicians with our Resident Shows + Touring Divisions. Job Categories - ... Wardrobe Crew...

Wardrobe Apprentice - http://www.playbill.com/jobs/find/job_detail/25629.html
Maine State Music Theatre a CORST X AEA resident summer music theater, is looking to fill the following Apprentice positions for our 2009 season: Wardrobe (MUST have stitching experience)... We offer weekly stipends, which includes a meal per diem, free housing, the beautiful Maine coastline and the chance to work with seasoned professionals.

Cutter Draper - http://www.backstagejobs.com/jobs.php
The Lost Colony seeks experienced cutter/draper for the 2009 season. Maintaining and new construction for multiple shows. The Lost Colony's Production Designer is William Ivey Long.

Costume Rentals - http://www.tcg.org/artsearch/ad_detail.cfm?adx=1415779144&category=3&title=all&state=all&daterange=all&catIDList=3&subcatIDList=0
Fulltime positions available with COSTUME WORLD THEATRICAL, the nation's largest theatrical rental company. Costume World provides rental wardrobes of musicals, operas, and plays to thousands of customers each year. With acquisition of the Dodger Costume Co. inventory, Costume World Theatrical has over 1 million costumes in stock. Applicants must have extensive knowledge of costume history as well as being familiar with the wardrobe requirements for popular theatrical productions. The position involves pulling and designing costumes to fulfill wardrobe requests from this vast stock. Position is in South Florida. Moving expenses provided. Benefits and competitive salary.

Graduate School -

Illinois State University - http://www.cfa.ilstu.edu/theatre/mfa/costume.shtml
MFA Costume Design
The opportunity to study with two full-time faculty members provides graduate students the benefit of two diverse methodologies and aesthetic sensibilities. It also allows the program to offer a broad range of specialized courses.
Graduate students take courses in theatrical costume design, history and styles of stage costuming, and special topic seminars in rendering, costume construction and costume crafts. Additional courses are designed to enhance research methodologies and theoretical foundations.

Admission -
To apply to the MFA program, first fill out the Graduate Admission Application. Also, at the Graduate School Web site, you will find information about required transcripts and fees that should accompany your application. Please review program-specific admission requirements and the application process on our graduate program pages or in the Graduate Catalog.
Prospective students must meet with head of the Graduate Design program or another designated representative for an interview before entrance will be granted. Interviews are regularly held at U/RTA sites in Chicago and New York or on the Illinois State University campus.

Perdue - http://www.cla.purdue.edu/academic/vpa/theatre/graduate/costumedesign.html
MFA - Costume Design
Based on the principle that a good designer is well educated in many areas, Costume Design students take courses in script analysis, theory and criticism, period styles, stage makeup, rendering, costume crafts, and costume design. Emphasis in the costume design classes is on the development of an aesthetic response to a script and the ability to successfully collaborate as part of a design team. The M.F.A. program at Purdue subscribes to the idea that a strong design best rests on a foundation of technical knowledge, and that the study of technology is enriched by an understanding of design.
Upon completion of graduate study, the student should have the ability to communicate, both verbally and through renderings, an understanding of the elements and principles of design. Students should demonstrate skills in costume technology, understand the roles of the director and other designers, and be familiar with the major developments of period style.During residency, the graduate student serves as costume designer on a variety of productions. Projects range from minimally supported studio productions to main stage productions with full shop support. Training at Purdue culminates in a fully documented terminal design project and a professional internship.
In order to strengthen the relationship between design and technology, those M.F.A. students awarded an assistantship with the Theatre Division work in the Costume Shop as costume technologists.

Admission -
Students are selected for admission on the basis of resumes, interviews, and portfolio reviews. A visit to Purdue is recommended, to allow the student the opportunity to interact with current students and the faculty and staff.
Theatrical resume
Transcript(s) from all schools attended
Statement of goals for undertaking the study of Costume Design
Three letters of recommendation
Application plus $55 fee
Interviews are held at all University/Resident Theatre Association sites or can be arranged at the Purdue campus. Those wishing to be interviewed at U/RTA sites are encouraged to contact Purdue by mail in order to assure an interview with a Purdue representative.

University of Minnesota - http://www.theatre.umn.edu/graduate/mfaTechCoursework.php
MFA Design
Students accepted into the program are usually offered assistantships in the various laboratories (scenery, properties, costumes, lighting, sound) that support the University Theatre. These positions are contingent upon continued funding from the College, but typically include $6100 to $12,200 (gross) plus tuition for three years. The program admits three to five students per class.
Students have numerous opportunities to design on both the University Theatre Mainstage Season and the Nolte Xperimental Theatre Season throughout the three years. The annual production schedule includes five to six mainstage productions (with budgets ranging up to $7,000) in either the proscenium, thrust, or arena theatres of Rarig Center, including one dance production, and many opportunities in the Nolte Xperimental Theatre. Design/technology graduate students are also in constant demand by the large Twin Cities professional theatre and arts community where internships and many overhire opportunities are frequently available.

Graduate Programs Application Requirements
The Theatre Arts application deadline for all degree programs is January 5. Applications received after that date will be considered only if there is space available in the particular program. Students must apply to both the Department of Theatre Arts and Dance and the Graduate School of the University of Minnesota. For more information, see the Application information section of the Graduate School web site. MA/PhD applicants wishing to have materials reviewed for the Graduate School Fellowship must have all of their materials submitted by January 5. Applicants for the MA/PhD program must submit scores from the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) by February 1. All programs require a current resume, statement of career objectives, and three letters of recommendation to accompany the departmental application. The Graduate School requires an online application. The Theatre Arts program also requires their own Application for Specific Degree Programs (pdf document) which includes instructions for providing additional required materials.

Additional Requirements for the Design/Technology Program
The MFA Program in Design/Technology requires a portfolio review either through the Chicago U/RTA or by having materials received in the department by March 1. The program also interviews during the annual USITT conference in March. The portfolio should show evidence of work in at least two design/technology areas, craft skills, drafting, and drawing and rendering ability.

Teaching -

Secondary Level -

Requirements for teacher certification

• You must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• You must complete teacher training through an approved program.
• You must successfully complete the appropriate teacher certification tests for the subject and grade level you wish to teach.

Alternative certification -
These programs, which include accelerated routes into teaching, offer training on how to be an effective teacher, as well as additional courses you might need in the subject area you wish to teach. Many of these programs can be completed in a year, during which time you may have a paid teaching position in a public school classroom.

Community Colleges -

VISITING ASSISTANT PROFESSOR IN THEATRE: COSTUME TECHNOLOGY/DESIGN
POSITION:
Principal teaching will be in costume technology/design. Course load will include stagecraft, all levels of costume construction and manipulation, all levels of costume technology, costume design, and may include other courses depending on candidate's qualifications. Successful candidate will be expected to serve as the costume designer or cutter/draper for 2-3 productions per year and teach 3-4 classes per semester. Additional responsibilities may include supervision of student designers and technicians. This is a temporary, one-year position.

QUALIFICATIONS:

MFA in Theatre required. (Exceptional and significant professional experience in lieu of a Masters of Fine Arts degree will be considered.)

Evidence of excellence in teaching.

Strong background in costume technology and design rooted in professional theatre and dance practices.

Ability to teach the full range of costume technology and design classes offered in BFA and MFA programs.

Quality of professional training (education and experiential)--professional experience; teaching experience; ability to teach in a secondary area.

Ability to relate to students and colleagues in a university environment.

Demonstrated supervisory and collaborative abilities are required.

Ability to adhere to production timelines.

Senior College
University of Wisconsin
The Theatre Arts Department at the University of Wisconsin - Parkside invites immediate applications for a one year lecturer/guest artist position in costume and make up design and technology. This is a one year position (2009-2010 academic year) begins August 15, 2009 with the possibility of one-year renewal. Courses to be taught include costume craft, costume design, make up, and theatre appreciation. This artist/educator will also design costumes and make up for 3-4 fully produced productions.

Qualifications:

Required: MFA in theatrical design (costume and make up); proven teaching and academic theatre experience; professional design credits; experience in advising and mentoring student designers; and Computer Assisted Design skills.

Preferences: Budgeting experience and a background in multicultural theatre; ability to teach and mentor students in other related design/technology areas; experience in teaching Theatre Appreciation (and/or other theatre general education courses).

Project 4

Unconventional Theatre

Subway Art Gallery Opening

Produced by Improv Everywhere based in New York. This 'prank' was preformed on March 18, 2009. Charlie Todd is the head of their group and Agents Eppink and Small came up with the idea.


http://improveverywhere.com/2009/03/18/subway-art-gallery-opening/#more-827 For the prank's website
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6NU5K3k8Xo for the video

If people won't come to the theatre improv everywhere brings theatre to the people. Their performances are unconventional in that many of their audience members don't even know they're watching a show (just watch the bewildered people in the subway). In addition they have set up their 'art gallery' in a real and functional subway. This is a found space and found audience. Interaction was encouraged with the random subway customers by asking them to check their coats and offering them sparkling cider. This preformance by the well known improv everywhere group was successful in their mission of unconventional theatre and in challenging people to the question 'what is art?'.

Medieval Times

Medieval times is held as a private company with its headquarters in Irving, Texas. There are nine locations in North America with the one in Dallas, TX being added in 1992. They preform several times weekley at each location.

"King Phillippe and his daughter-in-law, Princess Leonore, preside over a four-course feast. Below, privileged royal guests are transported to faraway lands including a romantic snowy rendezvous in the woods and an authentic medieval tournament."


http://www.medievaltimes.com/index.php



Medieval Times is part of the dinner theatre genre. This category in itself is unique but medieval times stands apart for several reasons. This is one of the oldest commercially successful dinner theatres in the United States and is celebrating it's 25th anniversary this year. In addition to their long standing success as a unconventional feature at this theatre guests are asked to participate rather than just watching the show. Cheering and eating traditional food with one's hands is standard practice at a show. Audience inclusion, the use of live animals and a commercially successful example of a dinner theatre show all make Medieval Times unconventional theatre. (The reference to 'commercially successful' is important in this case because most dinner theaters went bust in the 80's.)


The Rules of Charity

Produced by Theatre Breaking Through Barriers, originally Theatre by the blind. The mission of the theatre has changed over the years to include many different disablities. This play was written by John Belluso, a writter with a dissablity himself. It was written in their 2007 season and I could not find a director.
http://www.tbtb.org/intro.htm

"The play’s action centered on a man using a wheelchair; the company of six integrated a low vision actress and an actor with Cerebral Palsy as well as a stage manager working from a wheelchair."

Theatre Breaking Through Barriers has embraced a range of disabilities rather than just one. I feel they are also set apart from other theatres because they have a very clear mission that they base their company around; to raise awareness of disabilities as the baby boomers come of age and begin having complications and disabilities as they age. They are also unique because they employ crew with disabilities as well as actors.

Not Waterproof
A piece of preformance art preformed by Julie Andree T. Supported by the FADO preformance art center in Toronto, Canada. The shows will be available for regular viewings on April 27th.

"Julie's iconoclastic work is a hybrid of these two approaches in which dialogue, a series of actions and live images are gradually distilled into poetry. Disconcerting, moving and unclassifiable, the piece deploy an astounding transformation of the body by means of a metamorphosis of the stage landscape. "
http://www.performanceart.ca/index.php?m=program&id=82

Any preformance art is unconventional compared to straight theatre simply because it is more art than script. FADO supports preformance artists from all over the world, offering a unique international perspective. Julie's preformance is special because it uses the human body not only as a vessel for delivering the script but also as canvas, prop and plot device. Julie offeres an additional element in her script that digresses to poetry, I didn't think most preformance art had a script at all.


The 24 Hour Plays on Broadway

Produced by the 24 Hour Plays company. All plays are written, directed and produced in a 24 hour period by participants. As a special fund raiser for working playground preformed on October 22, 2008. Some of the writers and directors for this preformance include Julia Jordan, Warren Leight, Theresa Rebeck, Kwame Kwei Armah, Christian Parker and Ari Edelson.

"The casts will meet for the first time at 8 AM and, over the next 12 hours, the plays are rehearsed and produced for a live presentation."
http://broadwayworld.com/article/StarStudded_The_24_Hour_Plays_on_Broadway_Tonight_Oct22_20071022
and
www.24hourplay.com

The creative process that produces these plays encompass their unconventional nature. Production by this company creates 6 10-minute plays written, directed and preformed in a mere 24 hours. This pushes creativity to the very limits, giving a spark of fresh energy that may be missing from traditional heavily rehearsed theatre. Every preformance and production of 24 hour plays is unique and fresh and the creative process they ask their crew to go through unconventionality in itself.

Project 3

Project 3: Too Hot to Handle

1. NYC Today

1. What: The Color Purple
   
2. Who: Shawnique Hill
3. When: May 18, 2007
   
4. Where: Broadway Theatre
   
5. Why: Dresser claims racial controversy backstage.

"Shawnique Hill has filed a federal lawsuit claming that she was sacked after she complained that there weren't enough, coloured people working behind the scenes of the show." http://news.webindia123.com/news/ar_showdetails.asp?id=705180836&cat=&n_date=20070518

It just goes to show that not all theatre drama happens ON the stage. In an unprecedented move Shawnique was fired after making a clearly racially charged comment complaining about the number of coloured people hired on the tech side of things for an exclusivly 'black' show. Contriversial because it leads us to wonder what the rules are for racial profiling backstage while we have 'color blind' casting onstage. Can an all-black show really warent a tech department of the same racial background or is that raciest?

2. Naked

1. What: Liquid Moon
2. Who: Sen. Phillip Puckett
3. When: September 25, 2003
4. Where: Barter Theatre
5. Why: Controversy over the theatre producing a nude scene in a play. Possible grant money on question.

"Outraged religious conservatives attacked the nudity while state Sen. Phillip Puckett held up a state grant in protest. ...nobody seems to question why state funds that are supposed to go to job creation are being used to underwrite a fancy theatre many local residents can't afford to attend." http://www.sullivan-county.com/w/naked.htm

This protest over Liquid Moon's opening included more than just the usual church and school protests. This time there was money involved! $100,000 were suggested as part of a renovation project to update the theatre with more money going towards the repair of the town with the intent of creating jobs. Outraged citizens could prevent the theatre getting any money at all.

3. Gay Broadway

1. What: Corpus Christi
2. Who: Religious extremest Vs. Broadway
3. When: May 21, 1998
4. Where: Manhattan Theater Club
5. Why: MTC considered canceling the production of Corpus Christi after threats towards the theatre but decided to continue the production in the name of artistic freedom.

"But then on May 21, the MTC announced it was canceling production after receiving threatening and anti-Semitic phone calls-calls condemned by Donahue-that promised to burn down the theater and "exterminate" McNally." http://www.trincoll.edu/depts/csrpl/RIN%20Vol.1No.1/RIN%20Vol.1No.2/Corpus_Christi.htm

Corups Christi is the story of Jesus growing up in Corpus Christi, TX as a gay man. Numerious Calothic and Jewish groups protested the opening but broadway theatre groups banded together to support the opening. When the play finaly got the go-ahead in October it ended up less contriversial than the arguments and threates before had suggested. The importance of this play lies both in it's struggle on the way to be produced and in its acceptance once it hit broadway.

4. Racist Broadway

1. What: Miss Saigon
2. Who: 120 Poliece and as many protesters
3. When: April 26, 1991
4. Where: Broadway Theatre
5. Why: Protesters appear for opening night arguing against raciest and sexist overtones in the classic Miss Saigon.

"Shepherded by about 120 police officers, an equal number of demonstrators marched in circles, chanting, ''Racist, sexist Broadway show! Miss Saigon has got to go!'' " http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,314091,00.html

Racisim and claims of racisim have plagued theatre for decades. This case is particularly important however in that one of the leads, Jonathan Pryce, a white man, plays an asian roll. The asian community was outraged that this part was given to a white man in 'yellow face' and want exclusive rights to the roll.

5. Raided or Closed

1. What: The Virgin Man
2. Who: The entire cast and producers threatened to be arrested if they show up.
3. When: February 11, 1927
4. Where: Princess Theatre
5. Why: Closed temporarily due to nudity and vulgar language.

"The matinee of "The Virgin Man" was canceled yesterday under the threat that each actor would be arrested as he appeared on stage." http://proquest.umi.com.unx1.shsu.edu:2048/pqdweb?index=79&did=97225170&SrchMode=1&sid=3&Fmt=10&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1236471790&clientId=96

This is a landmark case. Several shows were called into question and shut down by police at the same time. Upon appealing to the supreme court they were granted permission to continue performances under free speech laws. During this time period the accomplishment that these theatres scuceeded in winning is astonishing. Arguments were made by theatre goers that you have to pay for a ticket to the theatre but tabloids print indecent pictures on the covers and are displayed. I'm inclined to agree with them.

6. Arrested

1. What: Nancy Brown
2. Who: Alfred Hickman
3. When: March 29, 1903
4. Where: Bijou Theatre
5. Why: Mistaken motive. A poliece man thought Alfred taking bets while instead the stage manager was trying to collect money for a sick actress.

"[Alfred] was led by the arm through the Broadway crowd for several blocks before he could convince his captor that he was not the bookmaker the later was stalking." http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=6&did=101985163&SrchMode=2&sid=13&Fmt=10&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1235151920&clientId=96&cfc=1

This piece is amusing because it shows how truly suspicious civilians can be of theatre folk at times. Apparently even when doing something innocent we appear to be up to something. It could also be a reflection of historical how the theatre personnel were treated, he dragged Alfred seven blocks before even showing his badge despite Alfred's pleas. Although Mr. Hickman's near arrest delayed the start of the show by seven minutes this preformance was able to go up.

7. NEA Four

1. What: "The Larry Sanders Show"
2. Who: Tim Miller
3. When: July 30, 1993
   
4. Where: Los Angles
5. Why: To support Gay and Lesbian culture on TV.

"Suddenly it feels like they can put these (gay and lesbian performers) on TV. In part it's because issues around lesbian and gay identity and access are so forward in our culture now. . . . And it really goes along with our mission as performers, which is to stop the silence and break down as many barriers as possible." http://articles.latimes.com/1993-07-30/entertainment/ca-18517_1

Months after the NEA controversy over the grant money and subsequent settlement Tim Miller finds his way back into the spotlight supporting his favorite cause; Gay culture in preformance and censorship. The TV program will contain some of his current material, similar to that which was objected to during the grant disupte. This time however, he will not be preforming nude.

8. Regional Theatre

1. What: “The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told” by gay playwright Paul Rudnick
2. Who: Fred Phelps and his Topeka, Kan., church, known for protesting at Soldier's funerals.
   
3. When: December 31, 2008
   
4. Where: Oakland Park, Flordia. Rising Action Theatre
5. Why: Protesting the gay and religious tones in this play.

"The play retells the Bible from a humorous gay perspective beginning with Adam and Steve in the Garden of Eden.
Phelps’ web site said of the protest plans: “We shall picket this bit of profane blasphemy to tell you again: God Still Hates Fags; No Fags In Heaven; You're Going To Hell; God Hates You.”" http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news/politics/broward/blog/2008/12/

Among the many news reports of religious groups protesting gay themed shows I found this one unique. It does include the normal controversial material of the play itself and the religious fanatics with pickets but in this instance there is a third element... The support of the local community. The sheriff and local police will be offering their protection to the theatre and patrons but the local clergy will be attending the play to promote tolerance. It's this local support that makes this story stand out from the countless others.

9. College/University

10. Highschool

1. Who: Ron Martin
2. What: Corona del Mar High School
3. When: Feburary 19, 2009
4. Where: Orange County, California
   
5. Why: The director chose it to combat what he felt was an environment of homophobia, the school officials shut it down for being too controversial.

"At least three of the planned high school productions, in California, Texas and West Virginia, have been canceled after administrators or parents raised objections about the show’s morality, its portrayals of homosexuality and theft, and its frank discussions of drug use and H.I.V., according to administrators, teachers and parents involved in those cases." http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/20/theater/20rent.html?pagewanted=1

Despite broad national success and a movie Rent is still struggling to find acceptance in some venues. A source of prominent controversy is weather our American high schoolers are mature enough to deal with it's content, or if the reports are more closely read, weather the administraters can cope. (I never found one report of the students protesting the play) In reading the reports it seems that it's the plays content of homosexuality rather than the play itself that is in protest.

Project 2 - Option 2

Angels In America

1. Pre-Broadway Production

Gut-wrenching saga. Angels in America, Cottesloe National Theatre, London

By Carol Woddis, The Herald, January 28, 1992

"Packed into its three-and-a-half hours -- and by the end, it felt more like three-and-a-half gut-wrenching days -- is a saga which confronts death and homosexuality head-on but in a way that lifts it far beyond the merely political." http://www.lexisnexis.com/us/lnacademic/results/docview/docview.do?docLinkInd=true&risb=21_T5780391138&format=GNBFI&sort=BOOLEAN&startDocNo=901&resultsUrlKey=29_T5780387759&cisb=22_T5780391179&treeMax=true&treeWidth=0&csi=142728&docNo=911

This review is extremely over enthusiastic in it's word choice. The author, Carol, heaps praise upon Tony Kushner for his achievement, citing that he is very young to have such a theatre success. Carol believes that this is a "Deeply political play", a contrast to many reviews I have read that state that this play is not political, but rather politics are a tool used to paint character and humor.

2. Original Broadway Production
Soaring 'Angels in America' // Ethereal epic of dissolution takes flight on Broadway
David Patrick Stearns, LIFE, May 5, 1993
"But director George C. Wolfe has taken the best from the Los Angeles production, shored up the weaker areas and delivered a work that unfolds with such fleetness, you wish there weren't intermissions." http://www.lexisnexis.com.unx1.shsu.edu:2048/us/lnacademic/results/docview/docview.do?docLinkInd=true&risb=21_T5789230777&format=GNBFI&sort=RELEVANCE&startDocNo=1&resultsUrlKey=29_T5789230780&cisb=22_T5789230779&treeMax=true&treeWidth=0&csi=8213&docNo=1
David's review is clear and descriptive of the preformance. Without going too deeply into a plot synopsis he praises the actor's understanding and portrayal of their parts. He appreciates the humor in the show and thinks that it helps to tell the story of AIDS without making it overly angst ridden and preachy.

3. Non-NYC based production
Review: 'Angels in America'
Zev N. Valancy, Backstage, April 7, 2006
"The Hypocrites' staging scales down the scenic grandeur but leaves the size of the emotions and ideas intact." https://secure.vnuemedia.com/bso/news_reviews/nyc/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002345662&inp=true
This review is longer than many I have found. In particular he seems to appreciate how well the actors handle the dual casting. He also discusses the designer's choices, something I didn't see in the two previous reviews. He makes note of the subtle set and lighting to compliment the plot. His main criticism for the play is the director's choice in tone for the play.

4. A College Production
K-College theater hits most notes of 'Angels in America' just right
Mike Wedel, Kalamazoo Gazette, May 16, 2008
"Tony Kushner's Tony and Pulitzer winning masterpiece hits notes of love, guilt, sexuality, politics, fear, disease, evil, history, religion, comedy, tragedy and death, all played through quick scenes packed into around three hours." http://blog.mlive.com/kzgazette/2008/05/kcollege_theater_hits_most_not.html
This review for a college newspaper is more plot synopsis than the reviews for professional theatre. Mike's description of the scene changes and chorus are intriguing and almost make me want to see it. Mike was way carried away with his parentheses.

5. HBO mini-series
Winged Victory
John Leonard, New York, December 1, 2003
"Ten years after making Broadway history, Tony Kushner’s immensely moving epic-cum-fantasia about life in the age of AIDS, comes to HBO." http://nymag.com/nymetro/arts/tv/reviews/n_9578/
John's language is entertaining and colorful in it's diction. His description of the actors in the cast is descriptive and he makes many references to their other work. I would have liked to see him write more about the tech aspects. Besides the mention of glowing eyes and the wings on the angel nothing was mentioned in costume, set, lighting or sound.

Project 1: Acidemic Theatre - UC San Diego

Woyzeck -Georg Büchner

"that we have come to call modern drama."

http://theater2.nytimes.com/mem/theater/treview.html?pagewanted=print&res=9D0CEEDC1E3DF937A15750C0A967958260

"Georg Büchner’s unfinished 1830s expressionist masterpiece..."

http://www.villagevoice.com/2008-10-15/theater/georg-b-chner-s-woyzeck-a-glitzy-cartoon-update-to-an-expressionist-masterpiece/

1001 - Jason Grote

"In this postmodern production of Scheherazade's tales of One Thousand and One Nights..."
http://flavorpill.com/newyork/events/2007/10/22/1001?context=performing-arts

"Scheherazade's tangle of stories is often comic, which can be effective in a Pythonesque way with its physicality and malapropisms that mix blast furnaces with blasphemies."
http://www.curtainup.com/1001.html

The Mistakes Madeline Made - Elizabeth Meriwether

"Twisted, hilarious comedy with an all-star Hollywood cast."
http://www.colorado.com/Events.aspx?eid=56436

"...a dry, quirky comedy that arranges its themes in a neat but not overly anal manner."
http://www.timeout.com/newyork/articles/off-broadway/1437/the-mistakes-madeline-made

Danton's Death - Georg Büchner

"Büchner secretly wrote Danton's Death, a tragedy depicting the activist..."
http://www.imagi-nation.com/moonstruck/clsc29.html

"Danton's Death (1835, tr. 1928), a pessimistic view of the French Revolution and revolutionary politics; a fragmentary tragedy..."
http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-BuchnerG.html

The Misanthrope - Molière

"Alceste, the central character of Moliere's celebrated comedy The Misanthrope..."
http://www.culturevulture.net/Theater/Misanthrope.htm

"Molière's classic comedy about the absurdities of social conventions and pretensions."
http://www.nytw.org/misanthrope_info.asp

As You Like It - William Shakespeare

"one of Shakespeare's greatest comedies..."
http://www.william-shakespeare.info/shakespeare-play-as-you-like-it.htm

"It is a romantic, pastoral, comedy that takes place in France in an imaginary forest called Ardenne. "
http://www.helium.com/items/381190-play-reviews-as-you-like-it-by-william-shakespeare

The Laramie Project - Moisés Kaufman

"The Laramie Project, review of a documentary drama by Moises Kaufman about the murder of Matthew Shepard."
http://www.culturevulture.net/Theater/Laramie.htm

"...The Laramie Project is a docudrama about a particular and particularly horrendous 1998 hate crime..."
http://www.curtainup.com/laramieproject.html

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead - Tom Stoppard

"...retold the story of Shakespeare's Hamlet as an absurdist-like farce..."
http://www.enotes.com/rosencrantz-guildenstern

"Tom Stoppard's funny, absurd, and tragic play centers on minor characters from Hamlet..."
http://www.keble.ox.ac.uk/events/rosencrantz-and-guildenstern-are-dead-by-tom-stoppard/

Surf Orpheus - Book and Lyrics by Corey Madden, music by Bruno Louchouarn

" "Surf Orpheus" is a new musical from UCSD's Theater and Dance department."
http://www.mediafly.com/Podcasts/Episodes/Surf_Orpheus_Puts_Southern_California_Twist_on_Greek_Classic

"Corey Madden directs a concert staging of his contemporary musical, which re-envisions the mythical Greek love story..."
http://www.calendarlive.com/galleriesandmuseums/742042,1,4873722.event

Tango - Slawomir Mrozek

"Tango defies categorization, combining elements of farce, absurdist theatre, slapstick comedy and political discourse."
http://www.theatrevertigo.org/productions/tango/tango.htm

"despite Mrozek's surreal illogic, he is primarily a social satirist..."
http://www.chopintheatre.com/event.php?id=122

Project 1: Professional theatre - LaJolla Playhouse

Continuous City - Harry Sinclair

"... something of a cautionary tale..."
http://www.theatermania.com/new-york/reviews/11-2008/continuous-city_16312.html

"Part wan meditation and part morality play"
http://www.nytheatre.com/nytheatre/showpage.php?t=cont7270

Peter and the Star Catchers - Rick Elice

"It's a comedy that takes aim at social injustice. It's a romance of young heroes who risk everything for the sake of doing right."
http://broadwayworld.com/article/Rick_Elices_PETER_AND_THE_STARCATCHERS_Opens_At_La_Jolla_20090123

Xanadu - Songs and Lyrics by John Farrar & Jeff Lynne

"This hilarious, roller skating, musical adventure..."
http://xanaduonbroadway.com/

"Witness “Xanadu,” the outlandishly enjoyable stage spoof of the outrageously bad movie..."
http://theater2.nytimes.com/2007/07/11/theater/reviews/11xana.html

Tobacco Road - Adapted by Jack Kirkland

"Despite its plodding melodrama, there's something bluntly poetic, weirdly compelling and downright shocking about the La Jolla Playhouse production of "Tobacco Road." "
http://www.northcountytimes.com/articles/2008/10/08/entertainment/theater/zc15c60cb9e22ef30882574da006fcfe6.txt

"...is like a burlesque of a domestic drama."
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20081007/news_1c07road.html

The Third Story - Charles Busch

"one of Busch's reputation-making camp-movie parodies..."
http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117938496.html?categoryid=33&cs=1

"...a Russian fairy tale about a shy princess."
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/events/ongoing/7910/

Memphis - Music and Lyrics by David Bryan

"The somewhat fictionalized story tells of disc jockey Huey Calhoun..."
http://www.talkinbroadway.com/regional/sanfran/s432.html

"...would be a crowd-pleasing docu-drama." http://www.theatermirror.com/mnsmtls.htm

The Night Watcher - Charlayne Woodard

"You'll feel like a part of the family in this high-octane, engaging one-woman performance."
http://www.lajollaplayhouse.org/Plays%20&%20Events/2008-2009%20Season/The%20Night%20Watcher/

"In her new solo play "The Night Watcher," Charlayne Woodard reports.."
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/thearts/2008222617_zart02night.html

33 Variations - Moisés Kaufman

"It offers a fictional imagining of Beethoven’s creation of 33 brilliant variations on a prosaic waltz."
http://www.theaterdogs.net/2008/03/30/moises-kaufmans-33-variations-wins-big-award/

"...create fictional contemporary characters to fashion a drama about perseverance..."
http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117934591.html?categoryid=33&cs=1

Most Wanted - Words and Lyrics by Mark Bennett and Jessica Hagedorn

"Most Wanted is a fast and furiously creepy parable about an artful cad whose aspirations run amok."
http://www.tcg.org/publications/at/Mar08/hagedorn.cfm

"...topic on which the musical is based..."
http://www.playbill.com/news/article/111499.html

The Adding Machine - Elmer Rice

"a film-noir style of production. "
http://addingmachine.bradley.edu/

"Though to Aukin's credit, the machine-age satire, which we've seen again and again..." http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117934766.html?categoryid=33&cs=1 ."