What makes good theater?
March 10th, 2009 at 03:53pm Georgette Braun
There are plenty of unsung heroes behind-the-high-school-play curtain, and my Ask Geo column highlights four.
(Sari Gessner, who designed this costume out of Coke cans, for ‘The Hobbit’ at Lutheran High School in Rockford)
What do you think makes good theater, whether in high school or elsewhere? Tell in the comments section here.
1 Comment Add your own
1. Scott Farrell | March 12th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
The support of the arts community is a major factor in good theatre. When I produced “Jane Annie” in 2007, my group (Rockford Operetta Party) had the support we were previously denied, and the production was 100% successful. All the participants were proud to be a part of it, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. But the work chosen has to be something the participants WANT to do in order for the piece to be any good.
For example, if your leading lady posts libelous comments about the production and its participants on her weblog, then a dissenter in the group is very unhappy. Such an attitude is contagious and it infects everyone involved, thus spoiling the production. Had the diva come to the director about it instead of badmouthing it to her friends in another state, the whole thing would have been improved and good theatre can be had.
Good theatre also depends upon ingenuity. My group gets by on the novelty of English operas and creativity. In these difficult times, one must be doing everything they can do to make the programme a success, whether it’s a kiddie revue in a church basement or a full-scale programme at the Coronado. If you’re not selling your work to the maximum, you aren’t doing your job.
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