Congrats to the entire Antigone company! Lovely show.Also - Congrats to David Brown, Adam Brown and Karen Biscopink - they have been passed on from KTA screening auditions and will audition at SETC this spring. Good luck, you three!!!!
So - a poll:
Do you think we need a curtain speech at our performances to address the cel-phone, laptop, text messaging issues we have all experienced?
Should we? (Pros / cons?)
Who should do it?
What should be said?
Any input welcome, but I challenge you all to not post anonymously. Truly there's no need. We want to know who you are.....
Enjoy.
7 comments:
The director of the play should definitely give the speach. If she/he would rather not, then the/a stage manager should do this. The speach should include appropriate behavior, (laughter of course is permited, leaving is rude, if there's an intermission (how long), etc. Lastly, thank them for comming!!!
Unfortunately, I think these speeches are required. People can be thoughtless and rude. And college students have a tendancy to do thoughtless and rude things. Plus, some people come for convo credit or because they are required and they don't care about the performance.
I agree with Tyshaun. A short speech on turning off cell phones, no text messaging, no anything that makes beeps, no laptops, don't leave in the middle of the performance or before it is over, whether or not their is an intermission and thank them for coming (well said Tyshaun).
Yes, so I think the speech is necessary, but it would be great if it wasn't.
Curtain Speeches are beneficial in many ways. Our theater does it before every show. These speeches not only make people aware of good and bad behavior in the theater, but can also aide them. Restrooms are located...food and drink are not allowed in the theater...Text messaging is not allowed...
But not only the directional information can be given in curtain speeches, it can be a chance to let the audience know what is coming up next in the Drama Centre/Centre Players season.
We had a problem with text messaging at Cincy SHakes the other week with an educational matinee of high school students. We had to reiterate to them of bad behavior during intermission.
Generally the people who should be doing curtain speeches are the directors, Stage Manager over a god mic, House Manager or someone else that will be readily availible for the audience to come and find if they encounter problems during a show.
Curtain speeches are common place and do not at all hinder the performance or the audience's enjoyment of the show. It is simply a kind reminder of what is allowed and not allowed in the theater.
Curtain Speeches are beneficial in many ways. Our theater does it before every show. These speeches not only make people aware of good and bad behavior in the theater, but can also aide them. Restrooms are located...food and drink are not allowed in the theater...Text messaging is not allowed...
But not only the directional information can be given in curtain speeches, it can be a chance to let the audience know what is coming up next in the Drama Centre/Centre Players season.
We had a problem with text messaging at Cincy SHakes the other week with an educational matinee of high school students. We had to reiterate to them of bad behavior during intermission.
Generally the people who should be doing curtain speeches are the directors, Stage Manager over a god mic, House Manager or someone else that will be readily availible for the audience to come and find if they encounter problems during a show.
Curtain speeches are common place and do not at all hinder the performance or the audience's enjoyment of the show. It is simply a kind reminder of what is allowed and not allowed in the theater.
Perhaps the ticket-takers/ushers could mention to "Please turn off cell phones and other electornic devices. Thank you, enjoy the show" as people walk in. I don't know how we could encourage people to stay in their seats for the entirety of the show, because everyone lines up to swipe their card for convo credit. Just the curtain speech/invitation to enjoy the show.
The curtain speech should be done over a God mic from a recording of someone mimicing William Shatners voice. Or better yet, Will Johnston should have to do ever curtain speech. That would be a kick in the pants.
Seriously though. I think curtain speech are not only a necessity but also very useful and professional. Not only can you ask the patrons to refrain from unwanted cellphone usage but you can also advertise for upcoming performance such as "thanks for coming to this play but make sure you come to the next play in the black box theatre located on the fifth floor of grant" or maybe this could build a bridge between DramaCentre and the rest of campus. Audiences need to know how important they are (whether they really are is another question you seniors will be asking yourself shortly in seminar). Audiences are just like theatre people, they need as much love and attention they can get.
Peace Out Players.
Julia
(former v.p. and dramacentre alum)
So who is "the audience" that is being referred to? Is it a group of anonymous playgoers / strangers? Is it a gathering of Centre students? My point is that no two audiences are alike - and this is even more true when a theatre exists as a part of a larger institution like a campus. And to that point - we are an educational institution. Can we not presume to extend that educational function into the realm of "how to properly participate in a piece of live performance"?
Most bad behavior is truly based in ignorance. We are in a remote control, consumerist culture. "What I watch is for ME. I can watch, not watch, talk, text, snore, whatever. That is my choice, isn't it? Since this is FOR ME."
Theatre-going is entering into an unspoken compact. We will all come together in a place and then we will become something else. We will become an AUDIENCE. This audience may, if properly motivated to do so (Adam - I agree with much of what you said on this point) learn how to breathe together, feel together, and possibly be transported to another imaginary place and time to experience something together with the performers.
This is a totally different mindset.
So how do we help our peers and community members acheive it?
Quality is important. If they are not inspired to engage (AKA there is not much to engage WITH) then this is going to be a long night. So first and foremost we have to be good. Work hard in rehearsals. Milk all you can from the process. Prepare, prepare, prepare.
After that? Well, I'm back at the beginning of the question. There are those audience members that have just never been introduced to the notion of live performance and they are going to need help in understanding what heir role is.
Curtain speech? Maybe.
Program Note?
Letter to the Cento?
Campus-wide behavior training?
Please continue your thinking on this....
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