NETC Newsletter V12n4
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
A Quarterly Publication of the New England Theater NETCNews Conference, Inc. volume 12 number 4 fall 2003 Theatre: the Essential Art NETC Awards Ceremony The 52nd New England Theatre Extends from Saturday inside Conference Annual Convention Banquet to Sunday Brunch! this issue Theatre alert! Where in the world is New England The traditional NETC theatre today? Sightings are reported in the classroom, awards ceremony, usually on the streets, in the prisons, in buses and trucks, in completed at the Saturday The Forum: the community centers—and, oh yes, even on stages night banquet, will be throughout the region. Theatre in New England is extended to the Sunday Where in the alive and well and refuses to be marginalized. brunch to accommodate World Are We? the schedule of one of The 52nd New England Theatre Conference Annual page 10 our honorees, actress/play- Convention—Theatre: the Essential Art—focuses wright/activist Eve Ensler. on the living art that is central to the quality of our personal, civic and social lives, even as mass media Be sure to reserve your A Cast of Thousands: becomes more pervasive, as budget cuts threaten our place at both events! How to Direct Very programs, and as the spirit of the age grows increasing- The Major Award, in Paula Vogel ly more defensive and conservative. Large Groups and recognition of outstanding achievement in the Retain Your Sanity The 52nd NETC Annual Convention will American Theatre will be presented to Paula Vogel, • honor those individuals who demonstrate excel- prize-winning playwright of How I Learned to Drive, (part II) lence in achievement in a variety of theatre disci- (1998 Pulitzer Prize for drama), The Baltimore Waltz page 12 plines and venues, (1992 Obie Award), Hot N Throbbing, Desdemona, The • showcase interaction between “legitimate” theatre continues on page 14 and pop culture, Area News • explore diverse cultural resources for creative page 4 sources Theatre Olympiad Torch • stretch our concept of theatre to think beyond the black box or proscenium arch Heads to Providence! Ovations page 8 The preliminary schedule of workshops, panels and Due to the overwhelming success of the 2002 Theatre performances is available online at www.netconline.org. Olympiad at the NETC convention in New NETC convention goers can follow electronically the Hampshire, this popular series of events designed for Opportunities ongoing fine tuning of our dynamic and exciting pro- students in grades 7–12 will return to this year’s annual page 16 gramming as convention time approaches. Preview convention. electronically the four-day excursion into finding the essence of the theatrical life force, or read the articles The Theatre Olympiad was created to give Junior Upcoming on workshops, awards, performances and exhibitors High School and High School students a dynamic throughout this issue of NETC NEWS. theatrical experience to replace the Publisher’s Events Showcase series that concluded in 2001. The idea page 19 The elegant Providence (Rhode Island) Biltmore, in behind the Olympiad was to fuse the fun and excite- the heart of one of New England’s most dynamic com- ment of a friendly competition with the skill and munities, will house over sixty program events—per- artistry of theatre. The events in this program are spe- formances, showcases, technical and publishing cially designed to ensure that all students with an exhibitors, seminars and workshops—spotlighting the interest in theatre, from technology and design to the energy and diversity of the most human of art forms in many aspects of performance, will have the opportu- these challenging times. The programming is designed nity to shine! continues on page 2 continues on page 3 2 NETC News NETC Convention Brings the Latest in Cover Tech and Scripts to Providence One of the greatest parts of being connected to the • Bridgewater State College Stories New England Theatre Conference family is the • Boston Conservatory chance to network with many different actors, • College of the Holy Cross designers, and vendors in available to New England • Southern Connecticut State University Theater. Therefore it is with great pride that NETC • University of New Hampshire welcomes this year’s vendors to our conference in • University of Southern Maine Providence. We look forward to all the new products • Western Connecticut State University that they will share with us! Drop by out Exhibition hall, pick up free samples, These vendors help to make all our shows possible by socialize at the Friday cocktail hour, and show your providing lights, sound, scripts, education and more. appreciation for our valuable exhibitors. Show your support and come meet them! We have invited over 160 vendors to supply NETC Brush up on the latest products in theatre technology, members with information about their companies! services and publications at our Exhibition hall. We have been fortunate enough to receive sponsor- Many of our exhibitors have generously helped sup- ships from ALPS Lighting, BN Productions, port our convention programs. Here is a partial list of Dramatic Publishing, and Rose Brand Fabrics, and, our vendors, with web addresses for the curious: most exciting; our vendors are presenting some work- shops and helping us in the Friday Theatre • Advanced Lighting and Production: Olympiad! www.alpsweb.com • B. N. Productions: www.bnproductions.com An example would be to highlight one of the work- • Cosacomica: www.cosacomica.com shops as an example of what is being offered. Rose • Dramatic Publishing Company: Brand Fabrics Representative, Peter Monahan, will www.dramaticpublishing.com offer a workshop which will highlight the process and • Playscripts Publishing: www.playscripts.com ways to make theatrical fabrics flame retardant. After • Rose Brand: www.rosebrand.com the night club tragedy in RI, local fire departments • Stage Directions: www.stage-directions.com are stepping up to the plate and enforcing much • Suburban Tours: www.suburbantours.com needed fire codes. Here is a wonderful opportunity to find out how to make your soft goods safe for your Regional colleges will offer information on programs theatre, actors and staff. and opportunities, helping teachers and students to make those important choices in theatre training. A Show support for your theatrical community and join special Friday lunchtime seminar will feature several us in November! If you know of someone who is of these exhibiting colleges, presenting their pro- interested in sending NETC information on their grams to high school students. school, or theatrical business in order to participate as a vendor, have them contact [email protected]. Theatre: the Essential Art 2004 NETC continued from page 1 Annual Auditions to re-invigorate theatre practitioners and educators as we tap the springs that feed our creativity and The 2004 NETC Annual Auditions will be held on commitment. March 13, 14, 15, 2004 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Natick Massachusetts. These auditions offer job oppor- The 2003 NETC Annual Convention Co-planners tunities for actors, technicians and theater staff. The are: Suzanne Ramczyk, Bridgewater State College, auditions are the largest general call in the Northeast Frans Rijnbout, Regis College, Ann Marie Shea, and can accommodate over 1000 applicants. Worcester State College and Luke Sutherland, Applications will be available in the fall from the Community College of Rhode Island. NETC office as well as at our website: netconline.org. See you in Providence! volume 12, number 4 3 NETC 2003 Convention Offers Range of Performances for Every Taste and Interest! Cover From Shakespeare to street theatre, children’s Check out the Church of Stop Shopping at theatre to war protests, the NETC 2003 Providence www.revbilly.com Stories convention—Theatre: The Essential Art—has it all! • Kathryn Blume, co-founder of the Lysistrata • Friday evening, November 7—performance of Project in Accidental Tourist— Eugene O’Neill’s Moon for the Misbegotten, at see www.pecosdesign.com/lys/accidental.html Trinity Rep. NETC registrants are offered a Tamsen Donner; A Woman’s Journey, special $32 price for tickets to this performance. • by Harwich Junior Theatre, Nina Scheussler, director—see • Jonathan Epstein, Associate Director of www.hjtcapecod.org Shakespeare & Company, will perform his one- • Fields of Sacrifice, by All Children’s Theatre, man show, Shakespeare’s Sonnets and the Story directed by Joanne Fayan—see www.ACTinRI.org Behind Them, on Friday, November 7, at 5:30, this All-Convention Event is free to NETC • Moving Vehicles—included with banquet reserva- registrants. tion—a one-man show by Paul Ricciardi. Eleven Characters, one small guy, one giant talent, Other free performances include: one moving and humorous performance. • A Tribute to Langston Hughes, by Providence “Paul’s writing is witty and relevant, his Black Repertory Theatre, directed by Donald performance engaging and moving.” King, 2003 NETC Regional Award Winner—see —John W. Thomas, Life in Provincetown www.blackrep.org • Imagine a Woman My Age..., by Joyce Devlin • Reverend Billy’s Presidential Revival “Stop (former NETC president), included with banquet Shopping”—After 9/11 President Bush asked reservation—see www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/theat/ Americans to show their love of country by biojoyce.html shopping. Reverend Billy, the creation of New …And readings of new works, including the 2003 York Obie-winning dramatist Bill Talen, thinks Aurand Harris Children’s Playwriting Award winner. he’s got it wrong. Our latest shopping spree seems to include Iraq. “His collar is fake, but his calling is real.” Village Voice Theatre Olympiad Torch Heads to Providence! continued from page 1 Many popular events from last year will return, like Students in school theatre programs, as well as other the “The 5 Minute Play Dash” where teams of 4 to 10 youth theatre organizations, are invited to face off in students have 30 minutes to create a short play, as well this thrilling day of theatre.