Heartland: The Civil War comes to the stage in Northern Indiana later this year, and the Geeks asked Michael Beatty, the developer and playwright of this new original work,  to tell us about it, and about the process of bringing history to life. Heartland is based on the experiences of Northern Indiana people, and is being produced as an artistic work with an educational component.  It will be performed by South Bend, Indiana's Acting Ensemble, as part of a five-month Northern Indiana arts & music commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War.

Join us for a fascinating conversation with a playwright with a passion, for history, education, media and the arts.

Read more about Michael's various works, including Heartland: The Civil War, here.

More information about the series of events in our region pertaining to the Civil War commemoration, is here.

Music provided by Music Alley.

Heartland: The Civil War comes to the stage in Northern Indiana later this year, and the Geeks asked Michael Beatty, the developer and playwright of this new original work,  to tell us about it, and about the process of bringing history to life. Heartland is based on the experiences of Northern Indiana people, and is being produced as an artistic work with an educational component.  It will be performed by South Bend, Indiana's Acting Ensemble, as part of a five-month Northern Indiana arts & music commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War.

Join us for a fascinating conversation with a playwright with a passion, for history, education, media and the arts.

Read more about Michael's various works, including Heartland: The Civil War, here.

More information about the series of events in our region pertaining to the Civil War commemoration, is here.

Music provided by Music Alley.

All of us have attended a play or musical where the sound is less than perfect.  This can be because of the facility or the actors themselves, among other reasons.  And bad sound can harm the theatre experience for the audience.  The Geeks discuss various sound problems, and possible solutions.  Use our contact form to send us YOUR thoughts on this issue.

 

Music provided by Music Alley.

It's been a number of years since California has participated in the AACT Festival cycle with its own state festival, so resurrecting the tradition presents a number of challenges.  With the Geeks to talk about them are Andrew Vonderschmitt, Executive & Producing Artistic Director for the Long Beach Playhouse, and Gil Savage, AACT's Region 8 Representative and AACT Board Member.  Join us for some interesting conversation about the festival process.

LINKS:

* American Association of Community Theatres

* Long Beach Playhouse

It's been a number of years since California has participated in the AACT Festival cycle with its own state festival, so resurrecting the tradition presents a number of challenges.  With the Geeks to talk about them are Andrew Vonderschmitt, Executive & Producing Artistic Director for the Long Beach Playhouse, and Gil Savage, AACT's Region 8 Representative and AACT Board Member.  Join us for some interesting conversation about the festival process.

LINKS:

American Association of Community Theatres

Long Beach Playhouse

All of us have attended a play or musical where the sound is less than perfect.  This can be because of the facility or the actors themselves, among other reasons.  And bad sound can harm the theatre experience for the audience.  The Geeks discuss various sound problems, and possible solutions.  Use our contact form to send us YOUR thoughts on this issue.

 

Music provided by Music Alley.

We already into the 2015 festival cycle and the excitement is building.  Festivals are a great deal of fun, but also a lot of work for the planners. Ron Ziegler of the American Association of Community Theatre joins the Geeks with some great tips for states or regions mounting their first festivals, along with some interesting tidbits about the festival process, the reasons for some of the rules, and how some of theme have changed over the years.

NOTE: This episode was recorded in November. Dave has been slow in posting new episodes but we're trying to catch up.

More info on AACT is as AACT.org

Music provided by Music Alley.

We already into the 2015 festival cycle and the excitement is building.  Festivals are a great deal of fun, but also a lot of work for the planners. Ron Ziegler of the American Association of Community Theatre joins the Geeks with some great tips for states or regions mounting their first festivals, along with some interesting tidbits about the festival process, the reasons for some of the rules, and how some of theme have changed over the years.

NOTE: This episode was recorded in November. Dave has been slow in posting new episodes but we're trying to catch up.

More info on AACT is as AACT.org

Music provided by Music Alley.

Build more bars?

This episode is part two of our discussion of  Brendan Kiley's, article in the Seattle-based The Stranger. "Ten Things Theaters Need to Do Right Now to Save Themselves."

In this episode the Geeks talk about Kiley's suggestion that a little alcohol makes for a happier audience.  There are pros and cons, not the least of which are liability, audience composition and of course the legal and licensing issues.  Also, can a theatre really make money offering alcohol to patrons?  All this and more in this episode.

Music provided by Music Alley

Link to The Stranger

Enough with the Shakespeare already?

A few months ago, the Geeks came across an article by Brendan Kiley, writing in the Seattle-based The Stranger.  The post in question is titled "Ten Things Theaters Need to Do Right Now to Save Themselves," and it's a pretty good read, even though some of the content is more geared toward professional theatres rather than community theatres.

This is the first of two episodes in which the Geeks discuss a couple of Kiley's assertions, and part two will post simultaneously with this one.

In this episode we talk about Kiley's comment that maybe Shakespeare is more liability than asset for many theatres.  The Geeks' home theatre has never really done Shakespeare (unless you count the musicals "Kiss me Kate" and "All Shook Up," but we think it's a point well taken.  Or not, depending on the Geek in question.

Music provided by Music Alley

Link to The Stranger