Tag Archive for: www.catf.org

AHH THE ECONOMY

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Yesterday…Peggy McKowen and I were going over our 2010 operating budget line by line. We were looking for additional cuts…trying to squeeze and tweak each line item without cutting the artistic program. It was a tough exercise and we were feeling the stress that other non profits are experiencing. Suddenly a CATF Trustee appeared in my office doorway with a generous donation. It made our day. And it reminded me how fortunate we are to have such dedicated supporters who passionately believe in our important work. This particular trustee has been supporting the Theater Festival since our first season 20 years ago. His gift yesterday means so much to us. I am deeply touched by the generosity of all of our patrons and supporters. The Theater Festival could not exist without their loyal support. They give because they care. They give because they believe in our Mission: “dedicated to producing and developing new American Theater.” They give because they are passionate about our Core Values:

*          “To sustain an artistic process of innovation and daring.”

*           To tell diverse stories.

*           To create a profound and ever evolving relationship between the audience and the work.” 

These last years of financial turmoil, as we all know, have had a devastating impact on so many people in our community and region. The Contemporary American Theater Festival has not been immune to the economic “downturn” and we are weathering the storm as best we can…but it is difficult.

The economic climate is a harsh reality check that has required hard choices and tough decisions. But…we refuse to be deflected from our Mission. We will continue to produce new American theater. We will continue to nurture and develop playwrights.  We will continue our passion for telling contemporary stories that help us make sense of our world. We will not be deterred by the economic challenges that we are facing this season. Because…I know I can count on all of you who are reading this blog to help us…especially now. A gift from you will ensure our future.

Ed Herendeen

Random Thoughts: REHEARSALS BEGIN IN 15 DAYS

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Rehearsals for the 2010 Season will begin in 15 days. Our Company Management staff has arrived and they are making the travel and lodging preparations to welcome the 2010 Festival Company to Shepherdstown, West Virginia. We are expecting 84 theater artists from around the country to arrive in the next two weeks. Our Equity Stage Management Staff arrives next week to prepare rehearsals for our five play rotating Repertory. So I have been thinking about the rehearsal process:

Behind every successful production is a rehearsal process…a process of thought…a process of exploration which is based on the given circumstances in the script. And this process transcends the production/performance process. If you work in the theater–you are constantly engaged in the rehearsal process. Rehearsals are about curiosity. Because curiosity is one of the most important and certain characteristics of a vigorous, creative mind.

Rehearsal is all about exploring. And exploring builds an inspirational bank account to spend when facing the intense deadline of performance. Rehearsal is a place for “creative roaming.” It is an opportunity to expand the free-range territory of the creative process by listening, watching, sketching, writing,  researching and studying the script.  There is always room for “creative roaming” in the rehearsal hall. I believe that strong ideas begin with risk-taking and free-range exploration. Free-range exploration is about filling your work…and your-self…with life. Artists bring to the work who they are.

What is central to the rehearsal process is the joy of creating. I love rehearsing a new play…it is an exhilarating experience. I am most happy when I am in rehearsal…”making believe”…”creating belief.” Theater artists are “makers of belief.” We create truth and belief on-stage. And this process begins in the rehearsal room.

Theater artists are: tolerant, independent, curious, witty, persistent, observant, questioning, optimistic, energetic, passionate, flexible, intuitive and perceptive. My role as a director is to create an atmosphere for these artists to take risks and create dangerously. I encourage these artists to” listen” and “look”…the more you look…the more we will find in rehearsal.

“Once in a while 

you get shown, the light,

In the strangest places

if you look at it right.”

—The Grateful Dead

 Ideas sprout in the strangest of places. And the next idea may be growing between the lines. In the theater we call this the subtext…the meaning between the lines in a script. We help the audience to see the subtext in a play. Exploring and discovering the subtext in a script leads to understanding…and understanding leads to inspiration. An observant artist sees things overlooked by others…a really good artist for that matter, anyone whose mind and soul are capable of some extension…sees what is going on…sees the patterns…and asks, WHY? What underlying forces are at work in the script?

I am constantly surprised by how the words in a play tend to be visceral rather than academic. This reminds me that our job is to create an emotional experience for the audience. I never underestimate the power of words. I never underestimate the power of story.  I never underestimate the power of observation. I never underestimate the power of listening.

“An artist has to keep one ear to the ground and one to the heart.”—-Bruce Springsteen

I would say that listening to the characters and their emotions in a play; and listening to the actors in rehearsal may be one of the most important things I’ve learned in 30 years of directing theater. This often means  putting aside my own ideas and views and getting inside the actor’s and playwright’s thoughts and words. When I am truly listening to the actor, designer, playwright completely and attentively, then I am listening not only to the words, but also to the feeling of what is being conveyed, to the whole of it, not part of it. Listening in rehearsal is a magnetic and strange thing…it is a creative force.

“It takes two to speak the truth–one to speak and another to hear.”—Henry David Thoreau

For example: Jazz players praise a fellow musician by saying he or she has “big ears”…meaning…the person actively listened to another’s playing and built on the rhythm, lyrics and tempo. I try to have “big ears” in the rehearsal room. And I encourage the other artists in the rehearsal to listen with “big ears.” 

For me the whole aesthetic of directing a new play is telling a really incredible story that people are moved by. Stories help us make sense of our world. On June 8th we will begin our exploration of five original contemporary stories. I am looking forward to sharing our repertory of new stories with you this summer.

 “The web of our life is of a mingled yarn”—William Shakespeare 

Ed Herendeen

CHOP DOWN THE FORESTS

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I want to share the lyrics to CHOP DOWN THE FORESTS from The World Premiere of THE EELWAX JESUS 3-D POP MUSIC SHOW by Max Baker and Lee Sellars:

                    IGNATZ

I’M NOT AFRAID OF ADMITTING

I’M JUST ANOTHER MONKEY ON THE EARTH

I’M ONE IN OVER 6 BILLION

SO WHAT I’VE GOT TO SAY

HAS PROBABLY BEEN HEARD

I’M NOT SO BLIND I CAN’T RECOGONIZE

WE’RE ALL PRETTY MUCH THE SAME

WE THINK WE’RE FREE BUT WE’RE HYPNOTIZED

BY THE PROPAGANDER IN OUR BRAINS

I’M SO WONDERFULLY SPECIAL AND I’M DIFFERENT

WIPE THAT NOTION FROM YOUR HEAD

BEING ALIVE IS SUFFICENT

BUT WE’RE ALL JUST SOON-TO-BE-DEADS

                    CHORUS

SO LET’S CHOP DOWN THE FORESTS

WHILE WE’RE AT IT

LET’S KILL AS MANY SPECIES AS WE CAN

LET’S DESTROY EVERYTHING THAT’S NATURAL AND

ALL…FOR THE GLORY OF MAN

                    IGNATZ

FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FOR THE MONEY

GRAB AS MUCH OF IT AS YOU DESIRE

I BELIEVE BEING RICH WILL MAKE ME HAPPY

EVEN IF IT MAKES ME A LIAR

RIGHT RIGHT RIGHT ON THE ISSUES

JUSTIFYING EXCESS IN MY MIND

I CAN’T ESCAPE WHEN I WANT TO

IT’S STILL ILLEGAL TO GET HIGH

I CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF THIS CULTURE

 ADVERTISING EVERTHING I NEED

THE SIMPSONS SELLING WHOPPERS ON THE TV

A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF OUR GREED

                     CHORUS

SO LET’S CHOP DOWN THE FORESTS

WHILE WE’RE AT IT

LET’S KILL AS MANY SPECIES AS WE CAN

LET’S DESTROY EVERYTHING THAT’S NATURAL AND

ALL…FOR THE GLORY OF MAN

                    IGNATZ

LET’S DIVIDE THE WORLD INTO COUNTRIES

LET’S GENETICALLY MODIFY OUR FOOD

LET’S START ANOTHER WAR ABOUT RELIGION

AND TELL EVERONE GOD IS GOOD

                     CHORUS

SO LET’S CHOP DOWN THE FORESTS WHILE WE’RE AT IT

LET’S KILL AS MANY SPECIES AS WE CAN

LET’S DESTROY EVERYTHING THAT’S NATURAL

AND ALL FOR THE GLORY OF MAN

If you want to listen to this song go to www.catf.org and click on the EELWAX JESUS graphic.

Ed Herendeen

EELWAX JESUS IS COMING

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Max Baker and Lee Sellars have written an imaginative, entertaining and original ALTERNATIVE musical. It will blow your mind.

Some backstory:  I have had the pleasure of working with Lee Sellars for over 12 years. We first worked together in 1998 on Tom Strelich’s new play-BAFO. We instantly connected and over the years we have developed an extraordinary artistic relationship. I have such fond memories of working with Lee. Most memorable productions include: COMPLEAT FEMALE STAGE BEAUTY by Jeffrey Hatcher; COYOTE ON A FENCE by Bruce Graham;  SOMETHING IN THE AIR by Richard Dresser; THE PAVILION by Craig Wright; FLAG DAY by Lee Blessing; ROUNDING THIRD by Richard Dresser; and THE GOD OF HELL by Sam Shepard.

Our collaboration continues this summer with the World Premiere of THE EELWAX JESUS 3-D POP MUSIC SHOW. Lee wrote the music for this amazing new work and Max Baker wrote the Book and Lyrics. Lee introduced me to Max several years ago in New York. Max is an actor, director and playwright and he is directing EELWAX for us this summer. So we have all known each other for many years… and I am thrilled that Max and Lee are giving me the opportunity to produce the Premiere.

If you want to hear the intro song for THE EELWAX JESUS 3-d POP MUSIC SHOW go to our web site www.catf.org  and click on the EELWAX graphic and take a listen. You can also hear more EELWAX JESUS songs on their web site www.eelwaxjesus.com 

After you listen to the songs please share your comments with me. I am looking forward to introducing you to this new ALTERNATIVE THEATRICAL EVENT. Please invite your friends to join you in Shepherdstown to experience the wild imaginations of Baker and Sellars. Please share this blog with your adventurous friends.

Ed Herendeen