Comments on: Selecting the 2010/11 Season http://ardentheatre.org/blog/2010/01/selecting-201011-season/ News and Info on Arden Theatre Company Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:56:40 -0600 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Lee O'Neill http://ardentheatre.org/blog/2010/01/selecting-201011-season/comment-page-1/#comment-534 Lee O'Neill Sat, 20 Mar 2010 19:59:48 +0000 http://ardentheatre.org/blog/?p=142#comment-534 I once saw a theater company in Worcester MA do a production of the Marx Brothers Animal Crackers that was, without question, the 2nd funniest thing I have ever seen on stage (nothing is in the class of a well done Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum). The opportunity for sight gags is tremendous, the dialog is amazing, and it returns the script to the stage, reminding us of the Marx Brothers' role on vaudeville and Broadway. I once saw a theater company in Worcester MA do a production of the Marx Brothers Animal Crackers that was, without question, the 2nd funniest thing I have ever seen on stage (nothing is in the class of a well done Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum). The opportunity for sight gags is tremendous, the dialog is amazing, and it returns the script to the stage, reminding us of the Marx Brothers’ role on vaudeville and Broadway.

]]> By: Mike Reitter http://ardentheatre.org/blog/2010/01/selecting-201011-season/comment-page-1/#comment-437 Mike Reitter Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:11:03 +0000 http://ardentheatre.org/blog/?p=142#comment-437 Hi Ed! For years, I always thought you'd be able to pull off a stellar production of PARADE. With our local talent (Ben Dibble, Mary Martello), this beautiful score can only be enhanced by the Arden's creative team to set the stage. If I can suggest one show to you, it's PARADE. Thanks! Hi Ed! For years, I always thought you’d be able to pull off a stellar production of PARADE. With our local talent (Ben Dibble, Mary Martello), this beautiful score can only be enhanced by the Arden’s creative team to set the stage. If I can suggest one show to you, it’s PARADE. Thanks!

]]> By: Steve http://ardentheatre.org/blog/2010/01/selecting-201011-season/comment-page-1/#comment-373 Steve Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:26:15 +0000 http://ardentheatre.org/blog/?p=142#comment-373 I'm probably late, I see that 4 of the 5 have just been announced ... congratulations! Sounds like a great season shaping up and we have made our Leap Of Faith already. On the off chance that the final slot is still in flux, my respectful suggestions would be: Strindberg's THE GHOST SONATA Shaw's HEARTBREAK HOUSE Shepard's BURIED CHILD BURIED CHILD, especially, seems relevant to today's climate of declining morals and economic downturns. Somewhat tangentially, I also love THE GHOST SONATA as it relates to today from a long-past era. The inevitability of life's disappointments is always relevant (and isn't that a pleasant thought!) HEARTBREAK HOUSE because it is just plain fun and Shaw at his finest, and it seems rarely produced (despite the '06 Broadway revival). I’m probably late, I see that 4 of the 5 have just been announced … congratulations! Sounds like a great season shaping up and we have made our Leap Of Faith already. On the off chance that the final slot is still in flux, my respectful suggestions would be:

Strindberg’s THE GHOST SONATA
Shaw’s HEARTBREAK HOUSE
Shepard’s BURIED CHILD

BURIED CHILD, especially, seems relevant to today’s climate of declining morals and economic downturns.

Somewhat tangentially, I also love THE GHOST SONATA as it relates to today from a long-past era. The inevitability of life’s disappointments is always relevant (and isn’t that a pleasant thought!)

HEARTBREAK HOUSE because it is just plain fun and Shaw at his finest, and it seems rarely produced (despite the ’06 Broadway revival).

]]> By: Barbara http://ardentheatre.org/blog/2010/01/selecting-201011-season/comment-page-1/#comment-309 Barbara Thu, 04 Mar 2010 21:34:24 +0000 http://ardentheatre.org/blog/?p=142#comment-309 Please, please, please no Shakespeare or Sondheim. Many good suggestions precede this plea. Try one of them. We're afraid to take the leap of faith for fear we'll be snookered again into another S or S. Please, please, please no Shakespeare or Sondheim. Many good suggestions precede this plea. Try one of them. We’re afraid to take the leap of faith for fear we’ll be snookered again into another S or S.

]]> By: bakariman1 http://ardentheatre.org/blog/2010/01/selecting-201011-season/comment-page-1/#comment-251 bakariman1 Fri, 26 Feb 2010 21:19:28 +0000 http://ardentheatre.org/blog/?p=142#comment-251 Easier said than done, but... Shakespeare's "Othello", with Kes Khemnu in the title role. We saw him in "Gee's Bend" and "The Blue Door". He is an awesomely talented actor!! Easier said than done, but…

Shakespeare’s “Othello”, with Kes Khemnu in the title role.

We saw him in “Gee’s Bend” and “The Blue Door”. He is an awesomely talented actor!!

]]> By: Season Planning — An Economics Lesson « http://ardentheatre.org/blog/2010/01/selecting-201011-season/comment-page-1/#comment-237 Season Planning — An Economics Lesson « Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:14:53 +0000 http://ardentheatre.org/blog/?p=142#comment-237 [...] please accept my thanks to all who have posted comments and suggestions thus far. As promised, I am going to respond to some of these, with an eye toward illustrating some [...] [...] please accept my thanks to all who have posted comments and suggestions thus far. As promised, I am going to respond to some of these, with an eye toward illustrating some [...]

]]> By: Michael http://ardentheatre.org/blog/2010/01/selecting-201011-season/comment-page-1/#comment-234 Michael Wed, 24 Feb 2010 21:58:27 +0000 http://ardentheatre.org/blog/?p=142#comment-234 Musical: Jekyll and Hyde Many people never got the chance to experience this show on Broadway and, despite it's gigantic fan base, it was not a huge success. I know many people would love to see it professionally revived in a high-quality theater. It would be a dream come true to see it! Musical: Jekyll and Hyde

Many people never got the chance to experience this show on Broadway and, despite it’s gigantic fan base, it was not a huge success. I know many people would love to see it professionally revived in a high-quality theater. It would be a dream come true to see it!

]]> By: Pamela http://ardentheatre.org/blog/2010/01/selecting-201011-season/comment-page-1/#comment-227 Pamela Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:04:00 +0000 http://ardentheatre.org/blog/?p=142#comment-227 August Wilson's Joe Turners Come and Gone. You have succesfully produced several August Wilson plays. Why not continue the tradition? I just got finished reading it again and it is absolutely mind-blowing how great the writing is. August Wilson's Joe Turners Come and Gone. You have succesfully produced several August Wilson plays. Why not continue the tradition? I just got finished reading it again and it is absolutely mind-blowing how great the writing is.

]]> By: Louis http://ardentheatre.org/blog/2010/01/selecting-201011-season/comment-page-1/#comment-224 Louis Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:00:52 +0000 http://ardentheatre.org/blog/?p=142#comment-224 CONTACT<br />It is a play that audiences will talk about<br />THE DROWSY CHAPERONE<br />The Arden repertoire players would have a great time, and so would the audiences<br />ANYTHING NEW FROM MICHAEL HOLLINGER<br />He has always succeeded CONTACT
It is a play that audiences will talk about
THE DROWSY CHAPERONE
The Arden repertoire players would have a great time, and so would the audiences
ANYTHING NEW FROM MICHAEL HOLLINGER
He has always succeeded

]]> By: Anonymous http://ardentheatre.org/blog/2010/01/selecting-201011-season/comment-page-1/#comment-223 Anonymous Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:49:25 +0000 http://ardentheatre.org/blog/?p=142#comment-223 There are a few plays that are so provocative they beg to be seen repeatedly, in different interpretations, to appreciate their many facets. My list includes the following:<br /> - Arcadia (Stoppard) - Wilma did a magnificent version some years back but Phila deserves a reprise<br />- Valparaiso (Don Delillo) - a haunting play that resonates in today's media culture. I'm not sure if it's been performed in Phila. The ART (Cambridge) version some years back that has stayed with me.<br />- Merchant of Venice - such a troubling, wonderful play and always interesting to see how a director and company will come to terms with it<br /> <br />Separately, if you choose to do Racine's Phedre (as suggested by another comment), don't use the new translation recently performed in SF by the Stratford Shakespeare company. Just saw it -great cast but the play and text were hollow and disappointing. There are a few plays that are so provocative they beg to be seen repeatedly, in different interpretations, to appreciate their many facets. My list includes the following:
– Arcadia (Stoppard) – Wilma did a magnificent version some years back but Phila deserves a reprise
- Valparaiso (Don Delillo) – a haunting play that resonates in today's media culture. I'm not sure if it's been performed in Phila. The ART (Cambridge) version some years back that has stayed with me.
- Merchant of Venice – such a troubling, wonderful play and always interesting to see how a director and company will come to terms with it

Separately, if you choose to do Racine's Phedre (as suggested by another comment), don't use the new translation recently performed in SF by the Stratford Shakespeare company. Just saw it -great cast but the play and text were hollow and disappointing.

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