What's the Schcoop?

Children's Theatre by Adults ...

It is really wonderful to see how “Children’s Theatre” has taken off.  I don’t mean children “performing” theatre.  I’m talking about professional adults creating professional performances and taking them TO the children.  New theatre product is being created and performed in schools and theatres for the benefit of exposing children to the wonders of live theatre very early in their lives.

Advancements in costuming and puppetry has made for an instant lure to the inventive and imaginative minds of children everywhere.  There are more Children’s Theatre Groups popping up all over.  Some are associated with a particular theatre and others are independents…ready to travel and perform in a variety of different locations.

In this world of television cartoon characters shooting and blowing everything, including themselves, up … as well as the frightening and sinister super villains that are ready to spew fire and pound the bad guys into the ground with their super human powers, it is good to see a venue evolving that gives our children at least a fighting chance of experiencing wholesome, pleasant adventures through the magical ride that is live theatre.

That is precisely why we created BLOOMIN™.  We wanted to put something out there for theatres to perform, that lets children laugh with fascination, while adults can laugh at the double entendre and not be bored as they might with a live expo of say … Thomas the Tank Engine or Barney.  We really wanted to promote a positive message for children to grow up with and adults to enjoy.  BLOOMIN is deliberately exposing children to the joys of live theatre and music as well as concepts such as gardening being fascinating, fun and productive (very green). 

Sometimes it’s good to take a step back in time where the old carefree and easy musicals of the early days of theatre might become the new fangled kid on the block in today’s theatrical industry, such as we’ve tried to do with BLOOMIN.  There’s truly something for everyone. Each piece of music is a different genre so that NO ONE will be disappointed.

So what is your theatrical group doing in the sub-set of Children’s Theatre?  What do you look for when you look around for something new to show your young audiences?

“Just let me get to that stage! I can take it from there…HONEST!!!!”

Have you ever taken a hard look at the history of live theatre? 

In the beginning, someone (or a group of someones) set the rules for how things would operate, and everyone had to follow those rules or they got left out. 

THEN, like magic, after a term of running things THAT way, someone else woke up one morning and changed the rules.  Next thing we know, we are in a DIFFERENT era and things are now done in ANOTHER way.  NOW, we have to follow THOSE rules or get left out.  And so on and so on.

But, the truth is…these changes in methods don’t just happen by a whim or by chance.  It is all about the current technologies and business patterns. 

Let me explain what I mean!

In the early days of theatre, communication tools were sparse.  Most communications were done by courier.  Scripts were handwritten until they could be printed on a press.  The theatre was considered a rich man’s amusement.  The writers and theatre owners were few and lived high up on a pedestal. 

The telegraph and telephone ushered in a new communications era.  The trains provided transportation. Things began to be done quite differently.   New, smaller theatres began to spring up, allowing for more writers to get there works on the stage. 

With the introduction of the automobile, more and more people had easier access to the theatre.  And, performances were better illuminated with electric stage lighting.  Theatre performances were enjoyed by all audiences.  However, the ownership and decision making was still being done by the “Chosen Few!”

The theatre owners became the biggest producers.  In order for works to achieve any measure of importance, they had to be produced in the bigger, more well known theatres first.  Without this recognition, shows were guaranteed only a small run with minimal ticket sales.

Then…a new change.  Theatres became “rental facilities”, of a sort.  The “Producers” became the reigning power.  In many cases the Producer and the Theatre Owner would partner.  The cost of production skyrocketed into the millions and getting a new work onto the “Broadway” stage became more and more difficult because producers were scared to death to invest that kind of money in anything but a sure thing. 

Now, the really “Big Boys” came out to play.  Companies like Disney now own and operate their own theatres and only produce their own works.

And the beat goes on!

So…how do the REALLY TALENTED little guys get anything done?.....

THE INTERNET has changed everything.  “Getting the word out” is no longer a problem.  With Google and Yahoo and all the other search engines, it is no longer difficult to find out about who and what is out there and available.  With YouTube, a visible representation can be shown worldwide.  Websites can advertise the whole story, and VOILA’!!!!! 

A NEW ERA is born.

Community Theatres all over the country have been building their skills and developing their talent to a point of providing a wonderful challenge to the “Professional Theatre”.  AND, the cost of seeing a truly good performance does not break the bank.  They, too, use their websites to advertise and promote.  They are building large subscription bases and strong followings. 

More and more really good theatres are out there, doing more and more good works, and now there is a better and better chance of a new work being recognized, produced, and enjoyed without the necessity of a “Report Card” from Broadway.  (Although, don’t knock it.  Getting to Broadway is still the Holy Grail.)  However, people everywhere can see new things.  Audiences EVERYWHERE can decide what is good or bad theatre.  Production costs by Community Theatres do not prohibit their “Taking a Chance” on a new work.  AND, it is now THEY that get the opportunity to claim the right to “PREVIEW” status.  (A real feather in one’s cap.)

It takes a lot of hard work and commitment but, by making good use of these new mediums…it can be done! 

Keep Heart!  Oh, yee humble, yet worthy, FELLOW PLAYRIGHTS!!!!

Public Exposure doth Beckon!!!!!

Where have the "musicals" gone?

Has anyone noticed that musicals just don't seem to stick in the head like they used to?  Yes, some rise to great fame and popularity like Cats or Wicked, but what do you remember about them 10, 20 or 50 years later?  Once their run is over, do you think 50 years later theatres all over the world will still be paying to perform them as they do Gypsy or Oaklahoma?

Think about it ... "I'm gonna wash that man right outta my hair" became a commercial ditty, but got its start in the amazingly popular stage musical and movie, South Pacific.  Then There's always "Singin In the Rain," while that was a movie, it was still a musical and who can forget that tune?  Come to think of it, where did the musical and dancing movies go?

So, how many songs from "Cats" do you remember well enough to hum a few bars?  What about Wicked? They're amazingly popular Broadway musicals, but the music from them don't seem to have longevity with any age bracket.  Why is that do you suppose?

Well, I've read a number of blogs on the topic ... the general consensus is that today's musicals are actually being classified as "modern operas."  The songs are actually the speaking lines set to music whereas the good old show tunes and memorable plays like "Funny Girl" or "Gypsy" even "Oklahoma" have the story happening in the lines and the songs are there to enhance the story line, but not be the actor's lines.  Because of this, they're memorable, they're catchy ... and today, in the new millennium, 50 years or so after they were originally produced, these plays are still the popular favorites for small and large theatrical groups around the world.

What's going on in the entertainment industry these days with the types of productions being produced?  So many things are spin-offs, remakes, rewrites, spoofs ... where's the original works?  The truly new stuff as once came about in the early days of Broadway?  Research has brought me to realize that the smaller theatres wont do it unless the production is proven to bring in a crowd and make money and Broadway wont take much note unless it's been performed in smaller venue's.  Kind of a catch 22.

Has the stage seemed to have lost it's draw to the world as the silver screen spin's off the new "classics" like "G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra," and "Transformers," or yet another Friday the 13th remake.  It's all death, dismemberment, violence, big guns, high tech, blow it up bigger than the other guy and scare you out of your pants.  It's no wonder the kids are doing this to each other.  Don't get me wrong, I loved Transformers :), and I'm sure when the kids drag me to GI Joe I'll probably enjoy it at least once, but I just wish there was more going on with entertainment than this. 

I wish there were more opportunities to take the kids to the theatre, off Broadway, off-off Broadway, doesn't have to be on Broadway.  But if I take them, I don't want to see another rendition of Cinderella, or a stage version of a disney cartoon and they don't want to see a long boring drama ... wouldn't it be nice to walk out laughing with a tune stuck in your head that you enjoy humming throughout the house?