Thursday, December 30, 2010
Refrigerators Available To Interested Theatres
Steep Theatre has a couple of refrigerators they would like to pass on to another theater company. One full size, one medium. Email steeptheatre@gmail.com if interested.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Undersupplied
I read a blog earlier this week that referenced the notion of an “oversupply” of arts organizations. The idea being that there are too many arts organizations and not enough demand. As far as theatre in Chicago goes, I think that’s crazy talk. Part of what makes us so unique is that a person can graduate from college, move to Chicago and found a theatre, it might last a year or it might last 30 years, but for however long it lasts, there will be opportunities for artists to have a voice and that’s what keeps us on top.
BUT…last night I was part of a discussion where we talked about how there might be an oversupply of shows, particularly at certain times of year. Or should we call it an undersupply of audiences. It was an interesting discussion and I wonder if we could or would want to stagger some shows, but there is a definite perceived “best date” for opening, for instance, a fall show. But is that the best date if there is a ton of other shows opening on or around that date? Would it be easier to get the attention of audiences if a show opened in August? If so, then why doesn’t anybody do it? Can anybody really risk trying that?
The real trick is to get an oversupply of audiences. So many people clamoring to see plays that we can’t keep up with their demands for MORE THEATRE! We’ll work on that.
Deb
BUT…last night I was part of a discussion where we talked about how there might be an oversupply of shows, particularly at certain times of year. Or should we call it an undersupply of audiences. It was an interesting discussion and I wonder if we could or would want to stagger some shows, but there is a definite perceived “best date” for opening, for instance, a fall show. But is that the best date if there is a ton of other shows opening on or around that date? Would it be easier to get the attention of audiences if a show opened in August? If so, then why doesn’t anybody do it? Can anybody really risk trying that?
The real trick is to get an oversupply of audiences. So many people clamoring to see plays that we can’t keep up with their demands for MORE THEATRE! We’ll work on that.
Deb
Industry Ticket Offers
Home - Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis, is offering $10 industry rush tickets to every performance through December 19th. Rush tickets are $10 per person with proof of industry one hour before curtain, subject to availability.
A Civil War Christmas: An American Musical Celebration - Northlight Theatre at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd. is offering $10 industry tickets available for performances December 21-26. Call 847-673-6300 and mention the code INDUSTRY to reserve. Proof of industry (headshot, business card, etc) requested upon ticket pickup.
A Civil War Christmas: An American Musical Celebration - Northlight Theatre at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd. is offering $10 industry tickets available for performances December 21-26. Call 847-673-6300 and mention the code INDUSTRY to reserve. Proof of industry (headshot, business card, etc) requested upon ticket pickup.
Produce It Workshop
The Institute for Arts Entrepreneurship invites you to Produce It; an intensive, practical boost for your next show. Whether you're still trying to come up with an idea, you're in the middle of rehearsals or you've just finished a run and aren't sure what to do next. There's enough risk in producing independent theater and putting your work in front of the world for all to see. Let us help you take a bit of that stress off and make sure that you're putting your best foot forward as you produce your own work!
If you want a practical boost for your next show, we can help!
Have your theater company featured!
This workshop offers your company the chance to work with Douglas Post, of the Dramatists Guild, in a 'quick-and-dirty' consulting session. This mini-session will break down your creative concept and find the pieces that you can use to connect to new types of audiences as we work together to reshape how you communicate.
Together, audience and participants learn from one another in this engaging and dynamic format.
January 15, 2011
10:30 - 12:30 p.m.
Gorilla Tango Theatre
1919 N. Milwaukee
$5 General Admittance
$20 for a featured spot on your project
Contact Jess@TheIAE.com to RSVP or to sign up. Space is limited.
If you want a practical boost for your next show, we can help!
Have your theater company featured!
This workshop offers your company the chance to work with Douglas Post, of the Dramatists Guild, in a 'quick-and-dirty' consulting session. This mini-session will break down your creative concept and find the pieces that you can use to connect to new types of audiences as we work together to reshape how you communicate.
Together, audience and participants learn from one another in this engaging and dynamic format.
January 15, 2011
10:30 - 12:30 p.m.
Gorilla Tango Theatre
1919 N. Milwaukee
$5 General Admittance
$20 for a featured spot on your project
Contact Jess@TheIAE.com to RSVP or to sign up. Space is limited.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Industry Ticket Offer
Hello, Dolly! - Light Opera Works at Cahn Auditorium, 600 Emerson in Evanston, is offering half-price industry tickets on December 27 and 29 at 2 p.m., December 28 at 7 p.m. and January 1 at 8 p.m. For tickets call 847-869-6300 or visit www.LightOperaWorks.com and use code "Yonkers." Tickets must be purchased in advance. No door sales.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Industry Ticket Offer
Bri-Ko: All Silent All Funny - Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont is offering $5 industry tickets for tonight December 10 at 7:30 p.m. and Friday, December 17 at 7:30 p.m. Must bring headshot/resume to box office.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Advocacy Roundtables
Mondays, December 20 and January 24, 6 - 7:30 p.m.
League offices, 228 S. Wabash, Suite 200
With the race to be Chicago's next mayor and many aldermen on, advocacy must be center stage for your theatre. We explain why and answer the who, what, when, where, and how in Arts Advocacy 101.
Training take-aways include:
· Why advocacy is essential for artists and arts organizations
· Who can engage in advocacy and the in-bound and out-of-bound activities for nonprofits
· What to expect when you engage decision-makers and elected officials
· How to design an advocacy strategy and select advocacy tactics that work
· The specific challenges and opportunities facing the Chicago theatre community
Presented by Arts Alliance Illinois, this training is full of stories, lessons learned from their own advocacy experiences, and role plays.
RSVP to ben@chicagoplays.com to attend one of these events
League offices, 228 S. Wabash, Suite 200
With the race to be Chicago's next mayor and many aldermen on, advocacy must be center stage for your theatre. We explain why and answer the who, what, when, where, and how in Arts Advocacy 101.
Training take-aways include:
· Why advocacy is essential for artists and arts organizations
· Who can engage in advocacy and the in-bound and out-of-bound activities for nonprofits
· What to expect when you engage decision-makers and elected officials
· How to design an advocacy strategy and select advocacy tactics that work
· The specific challenges and opportunities facing the Chicago theatre community
Presented by Arts Alliance Illinois, this training is full of stories, lessons learned from their own advocacy experiences, and role plays.
RSVP to ben@chicagoplays.com to attend one of these events
Don't Be Late, Advocate
We are going to be doing some advocacy workshops over the next couple of months. The first one is December 20 and Arts Alliance Illinois is going to lead the workshop. We will be learning ways to better connect with and advocate for theatre in Chicago. We are facing a Mayoral election in which we have a huge stake and an Aldermanic election in which we will see 20 new aldermen in Chicago. Making sure we are heard is a top priority for the League and I hope it is for you as well. Come to one of these workshops and learn how you can work to make sure you are heard by our local officials. Chicago has been very supportive of the arts for many years and we need to make sure it stays that way. You may think that this isn’t for you or it doesn’t matter to you but there are an infinite number of ways you can get involved and there are an infinite number of ways in which City policy affects your organization, it’s not just about CityArts grants.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Industry Ticket Offer
The Importance of Being Earnest - Remy Bumppo Theatre Company at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. is offering $15 industry tickets on Fridays at 7:30 p.m. (excluding 12/31 at 7:30 p.m.) Thursday 12/16 and Friday 12/31 at 2 p.m. For tickets click here or call the box office 773.404.7336 and use code INDUSTRY.
Babes With Blades Accepting Submissions for Joining Sword and Pen 2011-12
JOINING SWORD & PEN 2011-2012, a playwriting competition devoted to increasing the number of quality scripts featuring fighting roles for women, is soliciting scripts for production.
Organized by Babes With Blades; sponsored by SAFD Fight Master David Woolley
SCRIPTS DUE: FEBRUARY 28, 2011
WINNER ANNOUNCED: APRIL 1, 2011
SUBJECT: The 2011-12 theme is “ERINYES” by Chicago artist Victoria Szilagyi (view at http://www.babeswithblades.org/competition.htm). We are soliciting scripts for production that are inspired by this image. In order for a script to qualify for the competition, the scene depicted in the image MUST APPEAR within the script. The winning script will be produced in Spring 2012 as part of Babes With Blades’ 2011-12 Season. The winning playwright will receive a $1000 cash prize.
Visit http://www.babeswithblades.org/competition.htm for more information.
Organized by Babes With Blades; sponsored by SAFD Fight Master David Woolley
SCRIPTS DUE: FEBRUARY 28, 2011
WINNER ANNOUNCED: APRIL 1, 2011
SUBJECT: The 2011-12 theme is “ERINYES” by Chicago artist Victoria Szilagyi (view at http://www.babeswithblades.org/competition.htm). We are soliciting scripts for production that are inspired by this image. In order for a script to qualify for the competition, the scene depicted in the image MUST APPEAR within the script. The winning script will be produced in Spring 2012 as part of Babes With Blades’ 2011-12 Season. The winning playwright will receive a $1000 cash prize.
Visit http://www.babeswithblades.org/competition.htm for more information.
Space Availability at Oracle Theater
Oracle Theater has had a cancellation! Their loss is your gain. Oracle is offering the Prime slot, Thur-Sun at an incredible low price of $600 a week. Including all light, sound and tech. Special is good for runs between: 01/05 - 02/27. More info: http://oracletheatre.org/rentals.html or info@oracletheatre.org.
Space Availability at the Viaduct Theater
Viaduct Theater has Studio availability February 7- March 6 and Mainstage availability January 17- April 3. Prime-time rates as low as $600 per week! Let us know about your project! Contact whitney@viaducttheater.com.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Industry Ticket Offer
The Iliad - A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N. Wells St. is offering a pay-what-you-can industry performance on Monday, December 6 at 7 p.m. Reservations are encouraged. Call 312-943-8722. Visit http://www.aredorchidtheatre.org/ for more information.
Pirates of Penzance - The Hypocrites at the Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St., is offering $14 industry tickets for Thursday and Sunday performances through January 9 with code Industry1414. For more information and tickets visit http://www.the-hypocrites.com/.
Pirates of Penzance - The Hypocrites at the Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St., is offering $14 industry tickets for Thursday and Sunday performances through January 9 with code Industry1414. For more information and tickets visit http://www.the-hypocrites.com/.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
A Bit Baffled...
A bit baffled by two things this week:
#1 – Spiderman – I guess I could just leave it at that. But, I won’t. I don’t really care about Spiderman but I know more about that first preview any other in my long history in the theatre that I wasn’t actually working on. Why all the furor? Is it the cost? $65 million – a ton of money, no doubt, but…did you know that Spiderman 3, the movie cost $258 million? Holding the record for the most expensive movie ever produced according to a thing I read on Wikipedia. Maybe it’s just really expensive to produce Spiderman anything. Maybe it’s the webbing or whatever. I have never seen a Spiderman anything, including the comic book. Is it the combo of Julie Taymor and Bono – are we wanting them to fail? Is it the wait? I don’t know how long it’s been in development, but I know it’s been a long time. Is it just that we can’t look away? I just don’t understand why this one is so important to us.
#2 – Steve Martin and Deborah Solomon at the 92nd Street Y. You probably aren’t as familiar with this (read about it here), but the 92nd Street Y sent all 900 people who attended this event a $50 (price of the ticket) voucher to come back and see another show at the 92nd Street Y. It seems that Steve and Deborah didn’t talk about things the audience wanted to hear about. Huh…I don’t claim to know the whole story, but that seems like an extremely dangerous precedent to set. Steve Martin is sort of famously intellectual and artsy and Deborah Solomon writes about art for the New York Times, so I don’t know what people were expecting but I guess it was too egg-heady. Curious.
#1 – Spiderman – I guess I could just leave it at that. But, I won’t. I don’t really care about Spiderman but I know more about that first preview any other in my long history in the theatre that I wasn’t actually working on. Why all the furor? Is it the cost? $65 million – a ton of money, no doubt, but…did you know that Spiderman 3, the movie cost $258 million? Holding the record for the most expensive movie ever produced according to a thing I read on Wikipedia. Maybe it’s just really expensive to produce Spiderman anything. Maybe it’s the webbing or whatever. I have never seen a Spiderman anything, including the comic book. Is it the combo of Julie Taymor and Bono – are we wanting them to fail? Is it the wait? I don’t know how long it’s been in development, but I know it’s been a long time. Is it just that we can’t look away? I just don’t understand why this one is so important to us.
#2 – Steve Martin and Deborah Solomon at the 92nd Street Y. You probably aren’t as familiar with this (read about it here), but the 92nd Street Y sent all 900 people who attended this event a $50 (price of the ticket) voucher to come back and see another show at the 92nd Street Y. It seems that Steve and Deborah didn’t talk about things the audience wanted to hear about. Huh…I don’t claim to know the whole story, but that seems like an extremely dangerous precedent to set. Steve Martin is sort of famously intellectual and artsy and Deborah Solomon writes about art for the New York Times, so I don’t know what people were expecting but I guess it was too egg-heady. Curious.
CPS Citywide Arts Partner Event
Friday, December 10, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington Ave.
The Chicago Public Schools Office of Arts Education invites arts partners who provide programs to CPS students and teachers to a day-long event focused on:
The Chicago Guide for Teaching and Learning in the Arts
Goals and objectives, examples of teacher/arts partner/teaching artist collaborations, and utilizing The Guide to build and develop relationships with teachers and schools.
Forming and Strengthening Partnerships with CPS and Understanding/Navigating District Services
-Successful School Partnerships: A Principal Perspective
-Navigating CPS: Becoming a CPS Vendor, Conducting Research and Effective Grant Partnerships
To build relationships that will allow us to deepen our delivery of arts education services and build collaboration between arts partners and CPS students, teachers, principals, areas and the district office.
RSVP to artseducation@cps.k12.il.us. Due to capacity, space is limited to no more than 2 representatives per organization.
Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington Ave.
The Chicago Public Schools Office of Arts Education invites arts partners who provide programs to CPS students and teachers to a day-long event focused on:
The Chicago Guide for Teaching and Learning in the Arts
Goals and objectives, examples of teacher/arts partner/teaching artist collaborations, and utilizing The Guide to build and develop relationships with teachers and schools.
Forming and Strengthening Partnerships with CPS and Understanding/Navigating District Services
-Successful School Partnerships: A Principal Perspective
-Navigating CPS: Becoming a CPS Vendor, Conducting Research and Effective Grant Partnerships
To build relationships that will allow us to deepen our delivery of arts education services and build collaboration between arts partners and CPS students, teachers, principals, areas and the district office.
RSVP to artseducation@cps.k12.il.us. Due to capacity, space is limited to no more than 2 representatives per organization.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Industry Ticket Offers
Float – About Face Theatre at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont, is offering a limited number of 2-for-1 industry tickets (regularly $25 per ticket) for the 7:30pm performance on Thursday, December 9. Call 773-975-8150 and mention code INDUSTRY. Visit http://www.aboutfacetheatre.com/ for more information.
Brainpeople - UrbanTheater Company at Batey Urbano, 2620 W. Division, is offering $10 industry tickets this Thursday, December 2 at 7:30 p.m. Must bring a headshot, resume or business card. Visit http://www.urbantheaterchicago.org/ for more information
It's a Wonderful Life: Live at the Biograph - American Blues Theater at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln is offering a $10 industry night on Thursday, December 2 at 8 pm. Must present headshot and resume or union card!
The Water Engine: An American Fable - Theatre Seven of Chicago at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln, is offering $15 industry tickets for all Thursday, Friday, and Sunday performances through December 19 by calling the Greenhouse Theater Center Box Office at 773-404-7336, or in person. Proof of industry required.
Brainpeople - UrbanTheater Company at Batey Urbano, 2620 W. Division, is offering $10 industry tickets this Thursday, December 2 at 7:30 p.m. Must bring a headshot, resume or business card. Visit http://www.urbantheaterchicago.org/ for more information
It's a Wonderful Life: Live at the Biograph - American Blues Theater at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln is offering a $10 industry night on Thursday, December 2 at 8 pm. Must present headshot and resume or union card!
The Water Engine: An American Fable - Theatre Seven of Chicago at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln, is offering $15 industry tickets for all Thursday, Friday, and Sunday performances through December 19 by calling the Greenhouse Theater Center Box Office at 773-404-7336, or in person. Proof of industry required.
Applications Now Available for Saints Grant Program
Applications are now available for the Saints Grants program -- available for all theatres, theatre, dance and music companies, who are based in the Chicago Metro area and have 501(c)3 not-for-profit status. The Saints have awarded close to $200,000 over the last four years and stand ready to bestow more funds on deserving performing arts entities. All application packets must be submitted by January 15th, 2011. Go to www.saintschicago.org for directions and a downloadable application. Please direct questions and requests for more information to Bill Fireside, Grants Chairman, at grants@saintschicago.org.
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