As a theater person, I always try to watch the Tony’s even if I haven’t seen the Broadway shows nominated. This year we watched it with friends, their baby and their parents. Neil Patrick Harris has hosted the last three years (I believe) and he is not only an excellent host but also a great advocate for theatre. One of my favorite parts of the whole night was the closing number with Audra McDonald. Enjoy.
year of fun
HAVE FUN. EVERY DAY. SIMPLE BUT DAUNTING.
Category Archives: Theatre Fun
Day 255: Curtain Speech
At the theater where I work, a member of staff gives a curtain speech before every performance. Instead of playing a recorded message, a live person reminds you to turn off your phone and then takes an opportunity to tell you about exciting things happening at the theater. On Day 255, I did my first ever curtain speech for this theater. Even though it is only about two minutes or less, I was still nervous about talking in front of people on a stage. I just have to remind myself to be casual and personal, myself. And I have to prepare my words in my head so that I at least have a place from which to start. It went totally fine and the audience was responsive and nice.
Since this first experience, I’ve gotten much more comfortable making them and have even seen donations bump on my nights–this is another part of the speech, to tell patrons about our ongoing fundraising campaign. Then they have the opportunity to donate after the show. So that feels pretty gratifying.
Day 250: Oh What a Night
The end of the New Harmony Project is always celebrated with a formal dinner with donors followed by an informal party in the Barn Abby. This has always been one of my favorite nights in New Harmony. People are excited about the plays they’ve seen or worked on. Everyone gathers to celebrate the writers and another successful project wearing their New Harmony best. Funders give generously to support the continued life of this amazing writers’ retreat. Then everyone gets crazy at the Barn Abby: flip cup, beer pong, dancing, drinking–its a UET style party with professionals. The vibe goes from formal to informal pretty much instantly. And it is amazing.
It was fun to have that kind of night where, by the end, your dress clothes are rumpled and sweaty and you feel exhausted but exhilarated at the same time so you go back to your hotel room and play cards for an hour before you can sleep. That kind of night.
Day 249: Play Day
The hubs and I travelled to New Harmony for the New Harmony Project, a writers’ conference focused on new play development. Five plays received two weeks of in-depth work with actors, director, dramaturg, and, of course, playwright. Three other writers were in residence at the conference to just getaway and write.
Day 249 was packed with readings of the plays that had been in workshop for the duration of the conference; 10:00am, 2:00pm, and 8:00pm. We had just enough time to eat between readings–well, and I managed to do some work. I love new plays. I love that they are mid development. I love New Harmony Project for facilitating a thoughtful conversation afterwards. I love thinking about where those plays will go. I love talking about my thoughts afterwards with the hubs, friends and colleagues.
These three plays were all set in the 1970’s–a strange coincidence though I wonder if we’ll see more of that as modern technology can often fix some of the dramatic “problems” created in plays. I mean if Juliet could have texted Romeo, the whole thing might have turned out differently. Modern playwrights will either have to embrace or neglect or set their plays in the 1970’s…Anyway, even though they were all set in the same period, they were all quite different. Different styles, structures and voices. Being exposed to three plays in one day as well as sitting in a room full of creative minds got my artistic juices flowing. I felt so inspired by our whole trip (more on this later).
The whole mission of the New Harmony Project is to serve writers who provide positive artistic work in a world that can often be viewed cynically. The founders sought to fight the negativity often found in modern cinema and theater by investing in writers who focus on hope. Very similar to what I’m trying to do for myself with this blog…no wonder I found it so up-lifting.
Day 212: The Oldest Post
This is the oldest post I never wrote. Day 212. April 24. APRIL TWENTY FOURTH?! It was a Wednesday. According to my calendar, I had my regular Wednesday work meetings. Nothing else.
Well I hope Barbara Streisand had a happy birthday!
year of fun 