I won’t say it’s been a quiet week in the office, but we haven’t been in rehearsal or performance for anything or holding some kind of event. A lot of prep work going on for the beginning of rehearsals for A Number on the production side of things and a lot of administrative stuff on the office side of things. Grant season don’t ya know.
Rehearsals for a number start next week, March 23rd. During the rehearsal and performance period, we will have a guest blogger from the Warren Wilson College Creative Writing program to come in and write about her perceptions of the process.
Elizabeth Dacy is in her second year at Warren Wilson College, where she plans to major in Creative Writing and minor in Theatre. Elizabeth recently did the sound design for Thom Pain (based on nothing) and works on the Theatre Crew, one of the many that are part of the college's distinctive work program.
Elizabeth has agreed to be our guest observer and intrepid blog host over the next month or so as we produce and perform Caryl Churchill's harrowing and fascinating play, A Number. She'll be attending some rehearsals and meetings, and arranging blog posts by the folks working on the production. Welcome Elizabeth!
One of the biggest things Angie and I are doing right now is planning for next season. Although there is a lot of number crunching and prognosticating to do about the economy for the next year, still, one of the best parts of the process is choosing plays. There are many reasons for doing or not doing a play, cast size, budget, housing for out of town actors if we need it, set size, do we like the play, etc., but we always start out thinking about it as if none of those things mattered. What if we could do whatever we wanted?
So, with that in mind, I want to hear from you. What’s your favorite play and why? This isn’t a contest or anything. I’m just asking what you think. Several of our most successful productions, artistically and attendance wise, were suggested by patrons who get what we do.
So let’s hear it. Can’t wait to see what’s out there!
I would love to see J.B.!
ReplyDeleteHere are a couple of play suggestions:
ReplyDeleteThe Last of Mrs. Lincoln - this drama brought the audience to tears, me too.
The Gin Game - the poor man always beaten by his opponent is hilarious. Later, of course, the play gets more serious.
Sam Shepard - anything he wrote
ReplyDeletein the 90s in LA I saw a play that was like horror onstage, very funny and superbly done - small theater - they did it around Halloween. It was great. Unfortunately I have no idea where or what it was called. I'll see if I can find some info on it
Anything written by Sam Shepard.
ReplyDeleteWe are moving to Asheville in May from San Diego where we have enjoyed years of great theater. A couple of our favorites that we would love to see again are HISTORY BOYS by Alen Bennett. This is an intimate insight into an English boy's school, a coming of age piece. The next one is A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, the great music score and moving drama is always enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to being in Ahseville and enjoying your theater.
Nina Zerkich
here's what i'd like to see --
ReplyDeleteThe Clean House by Sarah Ruhl
Absurd Person Singular by Alan Ayckbourn
Othello
The Birthday Party or Betrayal by Pinter
Angels in America (it would be great in a small space)
Endgame by Beckett
The Goat or Who is Sylvia
Pygmalion by Shaw
The Mineola Twins by Paula Vogel
How I Learned to Drive
Three Sisters by Anton Chekhov
or how about some of Tennessee Williams' more obscure plays
Miss Evers Boys - by August Wilson, or anything by August Wilson
ReplyDeleteRCB suggests:
ReplyDelete1. Five Finger Exercise, by Peter Shaffer. Won best foreign drama award 1958. Done many years ago at the Barter Theatre. Small cast, very stageable at NC. Still relevant. Maybe more so.
2. An adaptation of HAIR?
3. A night of famous soliloquys? Chosen for timely content.
Will keep my thinking cap on.
From the Burnhams, who "get it." So much so that we are moving to Asheville from Flat Rock.!
Anything odd, interesting, insightful.
ReplyDeleteI'm a pretty big fan of:
The Flies by Jean-Paul Sartre
The Tempest
Anything Edward Albee but I'd really like to see what this company would do with either American Dream or Tiny Alice.
And I also second the motion of The History Boys and if the company does undertake the endeavor of a musical, anything Sondheim is wonderful. I think that you guys would have a lot of fun with Passion, actually.. (hur hur)
I just love the play "Sylvia" by A. R. Gurney--would enjoy seeing it at NC Stage.
ReplyDeleteI just love the play "Sylvia" by A. R. Gurney.
ReplyDeleteSean O'Casey's
ReplyDeleteShadow of a Gunman
Juno and the Paycock
Plough and the Stars
Eugene O'Neill's comedy, "Ah! Wilderness!"
Morning's at Seven
If you can have a larger cast, something like "The Flying Doctor" or "Scapin" by Moliere with you and Scott Treadway.
ReplyDeleteThis is an odd one, but some of the Yeats one-acts are absolutely haunting.
Fugard's "MASTER HAROLD...and the boys" or "A Lesson From Aloes."
"M. Butterfly" would be fascinating in your space.
And I would love to see you do an O'Neill: "A Touch of the Poet" or "A Moon for the Misbegotten."
For a drama I would love to see "'Night Mother" By Marsha Norman
ReplyDeleteFor a comedy, "Smell of the Kill" Michele Lowe
Both sare small casts and easy to do in a small space.
I like the local productions that are put on. Sure, there are lots of great playwrights and plays, but what about John Crutchfield? What about Asheville Theatre doing a year of supporting well advertised local artists?
ReplyDeleteAunt Dan and Lemon by Wallace Shawn. A quirky and poignant play that invites the audience to question how compassionate are we really? To what lengths would we go to save our way of life? At a time when America's way of life is in question, this would be particularly timely.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite non-Shakespeare (I have to divide it) is Waiting for Godot. The absurdism is my favorite movement and Godot to me feels like the pinnacle of that movement. I like the mix of humor and bleakness. Unfortunately I know because it is so good, that it's a little too frequently produced.
ReplyDeleteHere's my top choice:
ReplyDeleteThe Beard by Michael McClure
Phil Fryberger
I would LOVE to see Hedwig return to Asheville! I'd like to see what NC Stage would do with "As You Like It" or "Twelfth Night." The Foreigner has been done a lot in the area the past few years but it is always enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteHey Guys,
ReplyDeleteWe're going thru the same process at WCU. It's tough. As you know I have always wanted to do or see Translations by Friel at NC Stage. It is a large cast but it's a unit set and seems to me to fit in line with the type of shows you do. It's always relevant. Lots of youthful actors so you'd only need to Equity actors playing the older characters.
Also I hope you come to WCU next month to see Almost, Maine which I am directing. It's perfect for your space and can be done with four actors. It's new, funny, family friendly and just a great evening of theatre. I can get you a script anytime of either play.
Those are my suggestions.
Good luck.
~Peter
Ibsen or Shaw.
ReplyDeleteWould you consider a big fat Eugene O'Neill? Maybe More Stately Mansions or A Touch of the Poet?
ReplyDeleteEdna St. Vincent Millay has a little done gem called Aria Da Capo. Would you consider something like that?
Shepherd's The Tooth of Crime might be a sensational oddity.
Look at Farquahar's The Man of Mode. I saw it in London, and it's weirdly relevant, as well as very funny. A stiletto.
I'd like to see Waiting for Godot PERFORMED. For a lot of us it was required college reading back in the early 70s. Isn't it perfect for NCStage's quirkiness?
ReplyDeleteI love the sweet You Can't Take It with You as a movie; it should make a charming NCStage performance since you guys are so good at picking the right "chemistry" of cast.
And what about a Greek classic such as The Frogs?
I would like to suggest two of the more recent plays by Yasmina Reza. I already saw "Art" twice, so how about doing "The Unexpected Man" (2000) or "God of Carnage" (2006). I think that they both have small casts. I second the suggestion to do any of Sam Shepard's plays, or something by Neil LaBute.
ReplyDeleteI would suggest Yasmina Reza's "The Unexpected Man" or "God of Carnage". Or anything by Sam Sheperd or Neil LaBute.
ReplyDeleteHow about Michael Frayn's "Copenhagen"? You can always team up with the Physics Department at UNC for some good pre or post play talks.
ReplyDeleteFrayn's "Democracy" is also great.
HAY FEVER by Noel Coward - one set- 4 men - 5 women.
ReplyDeleteMISALLIANCE by Shaw- one set- 6 men- 3 women.
THE CARETAKER by Pintar - one set- 3 men.
An INSPECTOR CALLS by Priestley - one set - 4 men -3 women
Suggestions made by Kermit Brown
I'd like to see a staged production of John Patrick Shanley's Defiance. The reading was great (as was NCSC's production of Doubt).
ReplyDeleteWhat about Woyzek? Fascinating, intense play. Georg Buchner
ReplyDeleteWoyzek by Georg Buchner. If you haven't seen the Klaus Kinski, Werner Herzog movie, it's great.
ReplyDeletehave you guys thought about closer?
ReplyDeletePermanent Collection by Thomas Gibbons
ReplyDeletePermanent Collection by Thomas Gibbons
ReplyDeleteI'd second Smell of the Kill (Michelle Lowe). I love David Lindsay-Abaire's plays (Wonder of the World is my favorite, but for sheer power, Rabbit Hole is unbeatable). How about The Glory of Living (Rebecca Gilman) or Bug (Tracy Letts).
ReplyDeleteTop Girls!
ReplyDeleteI would also vote for "God of Carnage" by Yasmina Reza, it is getting great reviews in New York right now with Jeff Daniels and James Gandolfini.
ReplyDeleteIt would be a lot of fun watching Charlie and Scott Treadway tear that up.
Nocturne for a Southern Lady by C. Robert Jones is a finely honed, intense, character driven play with two actors, a white female and a black male. It's difficult, satisfying material and it's enjoyed quite a few productions in regional theatres including a substantial run at The Barter Theatre several years ago.
ReplyDeleteSome others I thought of:
ReplyDeleteThe Mercy Seat - Neil LaBute, very intense, challenging acting piece, small cast.
Amadeus is probably out of the question but what about Black Comedy by Peter Shaffer.
When we did The Winter's Tale at the Bard-A-Thon I thought it would be good one for a full production.
Irma Vep would be fun.
ReplyDeleteBrian Friel, Translations
ReplyDeleteMarina Carr, By the Bog of Cats
John Arden, Sargeant Musgrove's Dance
I agree with Jason, I thought "Winter's Tale" would be good for a full production.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Sasha, that a local script would be awesome.
Tooth of Crime was been done in Asheville several years back. It was an incredible show. Not sure NC Stage could do it any better. Can't remember the actor who played Crow, but I haven't seen any actor as good as him since then. Sad he had to leave Asheville to earn a living.
ReplyDelete