The Life Cycle of the Theatrical Imagination
Chapter 12
The theatrical imagination is consumed by the push for success and
long runs
The theatre is in a life cycle
A Brief History of Playing Time
The Limited Run
Touring
-Greek
-Dark Ages
-Renaissance
-19th century
The Repertory System
-daily rotating was standard from 17th cent- 19th cent
Advantages vs Disadvantages
The Evolution of the Long Run
-many consecutive performances of a single play
-large metropolitan centers
The Life Cycles of Modern Productions
-limited runs
-modern repertory systems
-real or rotating repertory
-summer theatre festivals
-weekly, fort nightly, monthly repertory
Modern Troubadours: Life on the Road
-National Theatre of the Deaf
-San Francisco Mime Troupe
-Reduced Shakespeare Company
-Theatre Works/USA
-distances the performers have to go
A Century of Long Runs
-large metropolitan areas
-Broadway Records
Life with Father
Fiddler of the Roof
A Chorus Line
-Joseph Papp
Local Favorites
The Latest Contenders
-Cats, Phantom, Les Miserables and Miss Saigon
Actors in Long Runs
-Claire Bloom
-Eli Wallach
-Tyne Daly / Linda Lavin
-Ethel Merman
-Angela Lansbury
-Fanny Brice
Revivals: New Choices for Old Ink
-rereleases
-video
-cable channels
-network broadcasts
-local late night TV
-reruns
-revivals
-contemporary plays
-period plays
-classic
-several factors to promote or suppress the revival of previously
mounted plays
When the Actors Are Right
-Hamlet
When The Times Are Right
-Carousel
-1994 revival
When The Culture Is Right
-plays have often been reworked in another culture
-almost every culture in the world has revived a play of Shakespeare
-19th century revival -Shakespeare
-20th century -globalized Shakespeare
Palestinian/Israeli
-flexibility
-global and culturally sensitive imaginations
When The Times Are Wrong
-Little Mary Sunshine
-The Fantasticks
Uncovering Lost Plays
New Translations
-Richard Wilbur -Moliere
-The Illusion
Adding It All Up:A Formula for Success?
-formula for success is elusive
When the Theatrical Imagination Fails
-theatrical disasters are put together by the best in the business
bomb
turkey
-flop vs hit
-Harold Prince
Classical Turkeys
-Plautus-Aristophanes
-Terence
-Shakespeare
-Moliere
Modern Bombs
Breakfast at Tiffany's
The Creation of the World and Other Business Pacific Overatures
Legs Diamond
On The Waterfront
Theatrical Success
-success is the goal
-commercial success
-critical success
-popular success
-universal success
-local success
-artistic success
-The Producers
Theatre Awards
-Tony Awards
-Obie Awards
-New York Drama Critics Circle Awards
-American Theatre Wing
-play is in touch with the current moment
-body of lasting dramatic literature
-duration of success
Closing A Show
-show must go on
-the show must also close
Reality and Theatre Art
-in addition to bad reviews other factors can close plays
-reality was more exciting and unpredictable
-Grapes of Wrath -Tony award
-artistic vs human values
-life affects what is important to us in art
The Art of the Present
-recorded performances make other arts last long
-video
The Memory of Choices
-"walking shadows "
-mental images of great choices
-new performances
-the theatrical imagination
The Reviver at Work
Undiscovered Treasure (Reprinted from American Theatre)
An Actor's Search Brings Machinal to Life
-Jodie Markell
-Sophie Treadwell
Choices