THE ULTIMATE FINAL BLOG

Like I had mentioned in a few previous blog posts, I was never the biggest fan if theatre mixing with true controversial issues. I used to believe that the two shouldn't mix. I guess from growing up as a pretty big musical theatre nerd, my preferences of shows was pretty one sided. I have to say, since my start here at LSU and especially since this class, I have become more and more open to the sort of controversial theatre that is becoming more and more popular. after reading 'Aftermath', I was so intrigued and drawn in. I constantly found myself thinking about it within weeks after I read it, I was moved by the depth and real-ness that it gave. I now am practically obsessed with this type of theatre. As long as it can remain historically accurate and period, this is exactly how we should discuss and educate others on the circling controversies we all deal with daily. I have to say that this class was easily one of the most eye opening classes I have had the priveledge to take at LSU. I have had the chance to critique different forms of 'performance' and figure out what 'performance' actually means to me. Keeping up with this blog and being able to communicate through this medium with my class members and teachers has been so rewarding. It's always nice to have educated discussions and debates on what we are passionate about. A big thanks to my incredible classmates. Dr. Fletcher- I thank you for being the wonderful teacher that you are. I thoroughly enjoyed this class. :) 

Blog # 11

Colorblind casting is something I strongly stand behind and support, unless race is a necessary and crucial element in the production. Similar to Tyler, I remember growing up and watching Brandy star as 'Cinderella'. The only thing is, the color of her skin didn't phase me. I wasn't shocked or surprised when I saw Cinderella with dark skin and hair. She was still a beautiful princess to me. She brought the story to life with the grace and beauty I believed Cinderella would. 

Another example of colorblind casting is the new movie adaptation of 'Annie' hitting the theaters this Christmas. This movie stars the adorable Quvenzhane Wallis and Jaime Foxx. Wallis, who already proved her brilliant acting chops in 'Beasts of the Southern Wild' was an absolutely wonderful pick for Annie. I was discussing this movie with my little cousin who is about 8 and already familiar with the older movie with the white Annie. He is just as excited to see this new 'Annie' than the next Pixar film. I'm planning on seeing it with him. I think colorblind casting is a beautiful thing. Acting is telling a story, skin color shouldn't inhibit that.

The only obstacle I believe could stand in the way of being cast with a certain skin color would be if I affected the historical elements of the show. If the skin color of a character made the play historically inaccurate and didn't make sense, then that's when colorblind casting should be avoided. There are many shows that deal with certain racial struggles and issues, that I believe should be performed with the most accuracy that they can. 

In general, I stand fully behind colorblind casting. Unless the color of their skin affects the historical elements and storyline, then it shouldn't matter. A story is a story and it can be told beautifully, regardless the color of one's skin. 

Blog #10

The theater is a place to give off and send out a message to the listening and engaged audience. Nowadays theatre is becoming more and more empathatic. Certain shows are focusing on more real-life and controversial issues, rather than theater just strictly being known as "I'm off to the Sunday matinee of a Gershwin musical....which is not a bad thing, but you get my point. ;) For these more controversial and emotional pulling pieces that are becoming more popular today, I believe that they should all include a talk-back after the show. With this talk back, we are not only discussing the issue presented, but opening up the platform to the COMMUNITY and everyone is given a chance to speak their voice. Communication is crucial with these sort of pieces and I believe they all should have the option of an open talk-back. 

For a long while, I strongly believed that theatre should not intertwine itself within the world of such controversial issues such as genocide, war, mental illness... As I have read more and more pieces, I have become increasingly open to the idea though. At the start of this semester, we read the play 'Aftermath'. This was a very controversial and emotionally draining play about the ongoing war and includes a variety of interviews of Iraqui refugees and their stories of all being held under power by Saddam Hussein. These are very emotional, some comical, but for the most part very eye-opening interviews. While possibly being a controversial topic to go see and try to enjoy a play about, I was very interested in it. I found it to be very eye-opening and informative, as I really only saw the one side of this war we dealt with. You never really got to see the stories of some of the innocent Iraqui citizens. It's quite heartbreaking. So, yes, I do believe that there is a line with theatre and iffy topics. As long as these topics are accurate, and factual, I don't necessarily see a problem.  I find them very informative and educational. 

I do see theatre as a forum to air our beliefs and strive to educate others on our beliefs. There is a message in every production out there, some more visible than others. Sometimes it takes something as powerful as theatre to get out these issues to the world. 

Blog #9

Okay, so I love LSU football just as much as the next drunken frat guy spilling beer all over his bros. I go to the games, I scream like crazy for our tigers, I mean I grew up a tiger. When most people think LSU, they think football. I get it. I only wish we could advertise some of the other wonderful events that LSU had to offer with such importance or enthusiasm. 

As I am not the biggest fan of protests, I wouldn't necessarily consider this a full protest. I understand that people love football, and I do too. I would consider this as more of a "Hey look here, come see the wonderful pieces our theatre department here can bring to life." This would act as more of an informative act. I would strive to educate the people of Baton Rouge/ LSU of the beautiful art we have taking place in this city. 

In my 'protest' group, we wouldn't want to be overbearing or obnoxious, as I see the majority of protestors. We simply would just be a group of passionate people wanting to spread our love and knowledge of theatre to the people around us. We wouldn't run after or tell at people, but talk and communicate to them in a tone that wouldn't disinterest them, but possibly intrigue them.

As far as media goes, I wouldn't necessarily want the media involved for my protest. I believe the intimacy of the one on one and in person would serve as an advantage to the people who come by and talk to us or witness us. If they were to go home and see us 'protesting' on the news, they would possibly lose the genuinity that they saw in us and our message and see more of a selfish, greedy, camera and media-hungry mob. 

Our protest is something that doesn't necessarily have an end. I feel that it is peaceful and acceptable enough to make a weekly or monthly thing. The theatre is constantly growing, producing shows, and making beautiful art. It is ongoing. So in this football-heavy community we all live in, why not remind the people of the other amazing events taking place around them? 

Blog #8

I found learning about 'Twitter Plays' to be a very interesting topic to study on. With the fast pace and 'to-go' sort of world we live in, everyone expects the convience that they can basically have at their hands. With this form of theatre available at anyone's fingertips at any moment that they desire, it is certainly defying the odds of 'theatre' as we know it. In the technologically thriving world we live in, I can only imagine that this sort of interactive 'at your hand/choice' theatre will only continue to take off. 

 

With this new world of twitter plays, artists are given more and more different opportunities to perform. I feel that artists will soon include more technological elements and audience interactions within their pieces. I believe that we will continue to see more and and more of twitter plays and durationals which put us in the 'right here, right now'. With these sort of plays, you are set in the exact moment. The exact time is even posted next to each 'tweet'. I find this whole side if theatre quite interesting and cannot wait to see it take off. I believe this will open up the interests of more people to 'theatre' itself.

Blog #7

I would absolutely love to stage a production of 'August: Osage County' inside an actual house. In the house, I would have the various scenes take place in the different rooms needed, while the audience is placed in those rooms...for example- the couch, on a bed, on blankets in the front yard. Of course this would have to be a fairly smaller audience than the usual,  but I believe that it would only add the necessary intimacy of the show that I wish to convey with the audience. By putting the viewers actually in the house, I'm giving the actors freedom to act around them. I want the actors to act almost as if the audience is not there and maintain the most natural movement and sense of space. 

With this production, there would be a few technological obstacles to tackle. I really wouldn't want this to be a particularly technologically heavy show, but still would want a few elements present. There is only so much you can and should do when your show is taking place in an actual house. As for lighting, I would stick to soley natural lighting. I would have constant open blinds, curtains, and possibly a window opened here and there to bring some of the Oklahoma feels and sounds to the viewers. As for sound, I would have very simple and instrumental music playing in between the transitions from scene to scene, when both the actors and audience move from room to room. In general, I would want a very intimate feel to come with my production of 'August: Osage County', something I feel a show of this caliber deserves. 

I absolutely do not believe that it is inappropriate or unsuccesful to stage present day theatre in a traditional setting. Although I totally support the new spontaneity of sort of 'wherever' locations that theatre is taking, I also support and will always stand behind the traditional space. I believe that the traditional 'theatre' actually has the power to put the audience into whatever world they intend to and have them focus on soley what they want them to. In the traditional theatre, the audience is at your fingertips, fully ready to view your magic. 

Blog #6

Do I think that we, as a society, are becoming more and more technology obsessed? Of course. Do I believe that technology will eventually overtake theatre as we know it and our simple physical presence will not relevant? No. Technology serves as a very beautiful asset to theatre as we know it. Over the past several years, with technology growing and evolving, we have been able to add so much to the world of theatre. I will admit, though, that theatre attendance and audience sizes have gone down. When people have the cheaper and more convent option if movies, or even Netflix... Why drive to a theatre? I believe that we live in a VERY technologically heavy era, where technology constantly lies right at our fingertips. As far as theatre goes, we haven't completely lost out audience nor must we give up our art to technology. I believe that within the next few years that technology and theatre will fuse together, in a way, to create for a more larger target audience. In general, technology is escalating... And it will only continue to do so. So is theatre, theatre is slowly escalating. We are reaching heights and places many never even considered. I believe we are in a phase of immense growth and it's only a matter of time when the art of theatre will take back off. Self-expression is at a high. 

I definitely believe that the concept of "imagined memory" is very present in society today. For example, my memory is taking me back to the time of Hurricane Katrina. I lived in Dallas at the time, but had family in both Covington and Baton Rouge. I remember seeing the constant telethons, fundraisers, and absolutely horrifying news stories of people totally losing everything. Even though I wasn't living through it, I felt as if I was. The constant media and thoughts of my extended family living through this really took a toll on me. It's a crazy thing how the media has the power to make you feel something with so much intensity. It's almost as if I felt like I went through it all with them.