Saturday, October 22, 2005
Open Stage Variety Show - October 21, 2005
The second Open Stage Variety Show, held on October 21, 2005, was amazing. There is, however, already some lore. We're cursed. The weather was crappy- cold and rainy- and the last time it rained was the night of the first Open Stage, and that was the first time it had rained in a long time. And for students and people without cars, the campus theatre is not the most convenient place to get to. And even with cars, there's that whole stretch of Corry Street that's not got one streetlight (or sidewalk!). What's with that, anyway?
Anyway. A group from Xenia- the Athletes In Action Players- came out and dominated the audience. Pre-show music was once again provided by DJ Earthdog. Our donations bucket was much more plentiful.
Doug Adams read four short poems.
Rachel Moulton read half of a short story, "Joints And Connectors", which she will finish next time round.
On guitar and vocals, Emma Woodruff played two original songs and one by Janis Joplin.
Also on guitar and vocals, Josh Hershfield played two original songs and one by Bob Dylan
Also on guitar and vocals, Fae Kievman played three original songs.
The Athletes In Action Players, a women's basketball team from a Christian organization based in of Xenia, were a veritable show-within-a-show. Shauna Stone emceed their acts which included poems (two by men they'd brought along), songs, and a sketch.
Wrapping up the night were myself, Vanessa Burkhart and Jill Summerville as The Pathological Upstagers, performing "Bus Stop", slightly modified from last time. At the end we opened it up for audience participation, which involved me going into the trenches (audience), talk-show style, and asking directly for people's opinions and ideas. This turned into a Q&A session for Jill, who took the opportunity to give frank answers to earnest questions about her life. "Any more questions? No? Does anyone have questions for anyone else?"
What followed was a post-show discussion that lasted about an hour, one of the most amazing dialogues I have ever experienced at Antioch. Addressed were how (and why) Jill and I developed the sketch, the stereotypes of Antioch students outside of Yellow Springs, and finally, a heart-felt exchange about the difficulties many of us have had with Christianity or, more specifically, Christians who are unaccepting of non-Christians. Conflicts with issues about queerness and other alternative lifestyles and belief systems were raised in a constructive and non-threatening manner.
The talk concluded on its own and was followed by a post-show-discussion reception/dance-party, with more music provided by our stage manager, Alex Kesman.
I can only hope that news of this amazing night will spread throughout the college and the town, and that more people will come to future shows, and that the open, intimate, and accepting spirit will grow.
There are three more Open Stages this year: November 4 and 18, and December 2. All Fridays, all 8pm, all at the Antioch Theatre. Want to get involved? Contact me, Vanessa the Curator, at (937) 769-1030 or visit the web site.
Anyway. A group from Xenia- the Athletes In Action Players- came out and dominated the audience. Pre-show music was once again provided by DJ Earthdog. Our donations bucket was much more plentiful.
What followed was a post-show discussion that lasted about an hour, one of the most amazing dialogues I have ever experienced at Antioch. Addressed were how (and why) Jill and I developed the sketch, the stereotypes of Antioch students outside of Yellow Springs, and finally, a heart-felt exchange about the difficulties many of us have had with Christianity or, more specifically, Christians who are unaccepting of non-Christians. Conflicts with issues about queerness and other alternative lifestyles and belief systems were raised in a constructive and non-threatening manner.
The talk concluded on its own and was followed by a post-show-discussion reception/dance-party, with more music provided by our stage manager, Alex Kesman.
I can only hope that news of this amazing night will spread throughout the college and the town, and that more people will come to future shows, and that the open, intimate, and accepting spirit will grow.
There are three more Open Stages this year: November 4 and 18, and December 2. All Fridays, all 8pm, all at the Antioch Theatre. Want to get involved? Contact me, Vanessa the Curator, at (937) 769-1030 or visit the web site.
Monday, October 17, 2005
"Open Stage Variety Show opens"
"Open Stage Variety Show opens"
by Rob Calvert
Antioch Record, October 14, 2005
The Open Stage Variety Show, brainchild of student Vanessa the Curator, opened for its first show Friday night. Essentially a talent show in which any form of written, visual, or performance art is free to take the stage, the Open Stage Variety Show was created to include more kinds of art than similar events at Antioch.
"I like to think of it as a kind of open mic night, only better, because with an open mic you just have literature or poetry and maybe some music. But this is music, dance- which is why we want it in the theatre, more open space for dance- we're probably going to have video showings, theatre, improv, anything that can happen on stage," Vanessa said.
The Variety Show began low key with people conversing in the aisles, occasionally getting up for a drink or snack at the entrance. A resident DJ known as Earthdog provided music. Everything was very relaxed in preparation for the show.
Once the show got started it included poetry readings, singing, as well as skits and live theatre from Antioch students as well as faculty and visitors.
Katie McDermott read two poems, "That Marilyn Appeal" and "Aurelin and Thalo". Josh Amses read an untitled prose piece. Theatre professor Louise Smith sang two original songs and read a prose piece she wrote to a song by Laurie Anderson. Emma Woodruff played two unfinished songs. Vee Levene and Jill Summerville did a structured improv sketch, "Bus Stop", which they will also do at the next show to include audience participation due to the sketch's controversial nature. Katrina Molnar did a modern dance about codependency.
"This is the first in the series so it's going to be pretty casual, there's not a lot of performers. It's been advertised, but not as much as it could be. I wanted to start it out small to see how it works because this is a new thing in this community. Cabaret Horace has been kind of a big thing in the past but this is a little bit different. Tonight [was] really just to test out the format of it and respond to it," Vanessa said.
Vanessa says she was inspired to start the Open Stage after co-opping at Dixon Place, a non-profit performance space in downtown Manhattan. There she ran the stage and house for many shows, sometimes single-handedly, learning what it takes to run nights of shows in a theatre.
"[It was] an idea I've had for years. But before, I didn't know where to start, I couldn't visualize it," Vanessa said.
"Previously my theatre experience and education has focused either on the creative- writing, performing, directing- or on tech and stage [management] for individual shows. But with Dixon Place I gained more experience setting up shows, dealing with the audience, things like that," Vanessa said.
If the variety show successfully takes shape into the Antioch community, Vanessa says, it will provide artists of all kinds a chance to express and perform their work for a live audience as well as a good Friday night's entertainment.
The Open Stage Variety Show has four more performances: October 21, November 4 and 18, and December 12. Each show is on a Friday at 8pm at the Antioch Theatre's Experimental Stage.
the full online half of the interview
by Rob Calvert
Antioch Record, October 14, 2005
The Open Stage Variety Show, brainchild of student Vanessa the Curator, opened for its first show Friday night. Essentially a talent show in which any form of written, visual, or performance art is free to take the stage, the Open Stage Variety Show was created to include more kinds of art than similar events at Antioch.
"I like to think of it as a kind of open mic night, only better, because with an open mic you just have literature or poetry and maybe some music. But this is music, dance- which is why we want it in the theatre, more open space for dance- we're probably going to have video showings, theatre, improv, anything that can happen on stage," Vanessa said.
The Variety Show began low key with people conversing in the aisles, occasionally getting up for a drink or snack at the entrance. A resident DJ known as Earthdog provided music. Everything was very relaxed in preparation for the show.
Once the show got started it included poetry readings, singing, as well as skits and live theatre from Antioch students as well as faculty and visitors.
Katie McDermott read two poems, "That Marilyn Appeal" and "Aurelin and Thalo". Josh Amses read an untitled prose piece. Theatre professor Louise Smith sang two original songs and read a prose piece she wrote to a song by Laurie Anderson. Emma Woodruff played two unfinished songs. Vee Levene and Jill Summerville did a structured improv sketch, "Bus Stop", which they will also do at the next show to include audience participation due to the sketch's controversial nature. Katrina Molnar did a modern dance about codependency.
"This is the first in the series so it's going to be pretty casual, there's not a lot of performers. It's been advertised, but not as much as it could be. I wanted to start it out small to see how it works because this is a new thing in this community. Cabaret Horace has been kind of a big thing in the past but this is a little bit different. Tonight [was] really just to test out the format of it and respond to it," Vanessa said.
Vanessa says she was inspired to start the Open Stage after co-opping at Dixon Place, a non-profit performance space in downtown Manhattan. There she ran the stage and house for many shows, sometimes single-handedly, learning what it takes to run nights of shows in a theatre.
"[It was] an idea I've had for years. But before, I didn't know where to start, I couldn't visualize it," Vanessa said.
"Previously my theatre experience and education has focused either on the creative- writing, performing, directing- or on tech and stage [management] for individual shows. But with Dixon Place I gained more experience setting up shows, dealing with the audience, things like that," Vanessa said.
If the variety show successfully takes shape into the Antioch community, Vanessa says, it will provide artists of all kinds a chance to express and perform their work for a live audience as well as a good Friday night's entertainment.
The Open Stage Variety Show has four more performances: October 21, November 4 and 18, and December 12. Each show is on a Friday at 8pm at the Antioch Theatre's Experimental Stage.
the full online half of the interview
Sunday, October 09, 2005
The First Open Stage Variety Show
The first Open Stage Variety Show went quite well, though a bit sparely attended and performed. Which was fine; I kind of wanted it small, to ease into it. But we got some press- a reporter/photographer from the Antioch Record interviewed me and stayed for the show. We'll have to wait till Friday to see what they have to say about us.
The line-up:
Katie McDermott read two poems: "That Marilyn Appeal" and "Aurelin And Thalo".
Josh Amses read an untitled prose piece.
Louise Smith sang two original songs and read a prose piece she wrote to a song by Laurie Anderson, of whom she is a fan. Louise has been teaching at Antioch for over a decade and has been writing for the last three years.
Emma Woodruff sang and guitarred two songs that were half-written.
Myself and Jill Summerville did a structured improv sketch titled "Bus Stop", which we will do again next time a la Boal's Forum Theatre, inviting audience members to participate, due to its controversial nature.
Katrina Molnar did a puppety, in-progress modern dance about codependency.
The whole evening was nice and intimate and casual, which was precisely the feel I'm going for. Like an open mic in a coffeeshop, only better, and more versatile in terms of what can be staged. The energy was up, the pieces diverse, and I hope it will continue along the same lines, only getting bigger.
The next ones are October 21, November 4 and 18, and December 2. All Fridays, all 8pm, all at the Antioch Theatre.
Want to get involved? Contact me, Vanessa the Curator, at (937) 769-1030 or visit the web site.
The line-up:
The whole evening was nice and intimate and casual, which was precisely the feel I'm going for. Like an open mic in a coffeeshop, only better, and more versatile in terms of what can be staged. The energy was up, the pieces diverse, and I hope it will continue along the same lines, only getting bigger.
The next ones are October 21, November 4 and 18, and December 2. All Fridays, all 8pm, all at the Antioch Theatre.
Want to get involved? Contact me, Vanessa the Curator, at (937) 769-1030 or visit the web site.
