Comments on: Those First Audiences http://blog.steppenwolf.org/2006/07/28/those-first-audiences/ Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:35:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0 by: Margeau Steinau http://blog.steppenwolf.org/2006/07/28/those-first-audiences/#comment-118 Sat, 12 Aug 2006 04:17:37 +0000 http://blog.steppenwolf.org/2006/07/28/those-first-audiences/#comment-118 Hey Marisa! It's Margeau from St. Louis; I've taken over as Artistic Director of Off Center Theatre Company and have started an off-spring ensemble company (Slightly Askew Theatre Ensemble) dedicated to devising and work-shopping new works. We train together (actors, directors, techies, writers, etc.) every Monday night--something I think would be right up your alley. Send me a new script or two--we're looking towards next season, and now that I am my own Artistic Director, I have the opportunity to do what I truly want to be doing. SEND ME YOUR STUFF, GIRL! You can email me at: msgogo@slightlyoff.org (check out our new website at www.SlightlyOff.org ...even though it's still under construction). Once you email me, I'll send you my phone number. xoxo, Margeau Hey Marisa! It’s Margeau from St. Louis; I’ve taken over as Artistic Director of Off Center Theatre Company and have started an off-spring ensemble company (Slightly Askew Theatre Ensemble) dedicated to devising and work-shopping new works. We train together (actors, directors, techies, writers, etc.) every Monday night–something I think would be right up your alley.

Send me a new script or two–we’re looking towards next season, and now that I am my own Artistic Director, I have the opportunity to do what I truly want to be doing. SEND ME YOUR STUFF, GIRL!

You can email me at: msgogo@slightlyoff.org (check out our new website at www.SlightlyOff.org …even though it’s still under construction). Once you email me, I’ll send you my phone number.

xoxo,
Margeau

]]> by: Marisa Wegrzyn http://blog.steppenwolf.org/2006/07/28/those-first-audiences/#comment-105 Fri, 04 Aug 2006 14:36:54 +0000 http://blog.steppenwolf.org/2006/07/28/those-first-audiences/#comment-105 Hey Nathaniel! I don't have much experience as an actor/director, and it's great to get your perspective. We're all story-tellers and prone to a little tree-hugging. Maybe that's our thing. I mean, I know I get wrapped up in the bits & pieces that make up the whole story, how I get from this moment to that moment to the end. I try to have some awareness of what the story may be doing to the audience, but I suppose it's up to the audience to sort out the divine purpose and find their way through the forest. I know I love when the audience enlightens me about what I hath wrought. I hope your parents enjoyed your performance of torture and tongue-removal. That totally sounds like a play I'd enjoy! Isn't it funny, the dissonance and/or harmony between the artist and the art. Sort of opens up a dialogue between you and the people who know you best. Hey Nathaniel! I don’t have much experience as an actor/director, and it’s great to get your perspective. We’re all story-tellers and prone to a little tree-hugging. Maybe that’s our thing. I mean, I know I get wrapped up in the bits & pieces that make up the whole story, how I get from this moment to that moment to the end. I try to have some awareness of what the story may be doing to the audience, but I suppose it’s up to the audience to sort out the divine purpose and find their way through the forest. I know I love when the audience enlightens me about what I hath wrought. I hope your parents enjoyed your performance of torture and tongue-removal. That totally sounds like a play I’d enjoy! Isn’t it funny, the dissonance and/or harmony between the artist and the art. Sort of opens up a dialogue between you and the people who know you best.

]]> by: Nathaniel Swift http://blog.steppenwolf.org/2006/07/28/those-first-audiences/#comment-104 Thu, 03 Aug 2006 16:05:15 +0000 http://blog.steppenwolf.org/2006/07/28/those-first-audiences/#comment-104 I haven't seen Butcher of Baraboo yet, and it sounds like there are some moments you probably don't want to spoil here (I'll try to see it soon, and I'll try to allow myself to be surprised by the nice, solid gross-out moment, which I'm really looking forward to). I wanted to comment though because I've had a similar feeling as an actor and as a director - it's difficult to be able to see a play you've worked with intimately from the perspective of someone sitting down to see it for the first time. I've been surprised during every production, and my focus on the trees at the expense of the forest has meant that at times I've been enlightened by people who picked up on ideas or perspecives that I had totally missed. It's especially interesting when that someone is someone you know well, and someone who may not be expecting the work you've done (I had a long and interesting conversation with my parents after they watched me in a play where my character tortured and removed the tongue of another character, which wasn't something they saw as being a part of the son they know). Thanks for sharing your perspective on this - I look forward to reading more of your thoughts as audience members leave comments here and share their perspectives. I haven’t seen Butcher of Baraboo yet, and it sounds like there are some moments you probably don’t want to spoil here (I’ll try to see it soon, and I’ll try to allow myself to be surprised by the nice, solid gross-out moment, which I’m really looking forward to).

I wanted to comment though because I’ve had a similar feeling as an actor and as a director - it’s difficult to be able to see a play you’ve worked with intimately from the perspective of someone sitting down to see it for the first time. I’ve been surprised during every production, and my focus on the trees at the expense of the forest has meant that at times I’ve been enlightened by people who picked up on ideas or perspecives that I had totally missed.

It’s especially interesting when that someone is someone you know well, and someone who may not be expecting the work you’ve done (I had a long and interesting conversation with my parents after they watched me in a play where my character tortured and removed the tongue of another character, which wasn’t something they saw as being a part of the son they know).

Thanks for sharing your perspective on this - I look forward to reading more of your thoughts as audience members leave comments here and share their perspectives.

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