More Awesome

We had our annual World Theatre Day celebration yesterday. It was toned down from the usual blow-out, we did a panel discussion at lunch time. Four companies shared their experience working for the most part on European plays, mostly in translation and their experiences of touring and exchanges in Europe. It was a great and wide ranging discussion ranging from how artists are so much better supported in Europe to how sometimes a British translation just doesn’t work for an American audience. The companies represented were Bergen Anderson from Akvavit, Jackie Stone from TUTA, Patrizia Acerra from International Voices Project and Beata Pilch from Trap Door. All intelligent, funny and engaging women. The panel was moderated by Kris Vire from Time Out Chicago, who is also a pretty smart cookie and asked great questions.

I always get inspired when I listen to conversations like this and afterward I had a little extra spring in my step, thinking about not only what great work Chicago companies are doing but how perhaps this conversation might open up the door for more touring and collaboration with companies from around the world. The artistic directors were actually very forthcoming in how they raise the money (or not) and who they partner with to get the work done. There were lots of intense conversations going on afterward. So…just another example of how extraordinary Chicago is.

Deb

Chicago and the World

We celebrated World Theatre Day on Sunday at the Greenhouse – a whole bunch of great people showed up for it and Christopher Piatt wrote and performed a monologue for us about Chicago theatre that looked at our past and our present and where we might go in the future – he talked about how much had changed in the past ten years and how much things have remained the same. We ate stuffed pretzels and drank coffee flavored beer and generally made merry. The point of World Theatre Day is that the entire world celebrates theatre on the same day and that got me thinking a little bit about what that really means. Well, for one thing it gives us a chance to celebrate ourselves. Yippee. But for another it gives us an opportunity to think about this art form being created all around the world and in every culture. Huh.

And then I went to see Black Watch last night. On a certain level, it’s about what it means to be Scottish. The play could not have been created in this country. It brought me closer to experiences I will never have and could never have and gave me a deeper understanding of the world. How wonderful that I get to have that experience. So, that brings me back around to what does it really mean, why celebrate World Theatre Day? – so we don’t forget that we are all a part of this incredibly beautiful pageant. So that we remember we are not the only ones, so that we look up the street and around the world at what others are creating and stay connected to the exchange of stories and ideas.

Deb

World Theatre Day 2011 Chicago Celebration

Join us March 27th as the League of Chicago Theatres and the Greenhouse Theater Center host World Theatre Day 2011. A party for Chicago theatre artists - and the city that loves them - we'll eat, drink, and celebrate another year of theatre with big shoulders, and connect with other theatre makers around the world. And to sweeten the deal, Christopher Piatt, creator and host of the weekly news magazine The Paper Machete, returns to WTD11. This former print journalist (past theatre editor for Time Out Chicago) turned spoken word correspondent brings us a new solo piece that explores where we've been, examines the way our politics inform our place in the artistic landscape, and takes a gander into what may lay ahead in our New Chicago. Doors open at 7 p.m. at the Greenhouse Theater Center - 2257 North Lincoln Avenue.

In preparation for WTD11, tell the world "This is My Theatre" by contributing a piece to our international patchwork. You'll find examples and instructions for uploading your contribution here.

World Theatre Day 2010 in Chicago!

This Saturday we’re celebrating World Theatre Day an annual UNESCO event on March 27th that's been happening in the world for forty years, which we celebrated in Chicago and the U.S. for the first time last year.

Wondering how you can participate? The easiest thing you can do is let your audiences in on the fun by simply reading the International and U.S. World Theatre Day addresses written by Dame Judi Dench and/or Lynn Nottage as part of a preshow or postshow speech that day, perhaps in a creative way like the Neo-Futurists did last year. You can also print off this document and insert it in your program on Saturday.

Then join us for a late-night party starting at 9:30 p.m. at the unique Chopin theatre space with different programming in each space - a sort of promenade event with different programming, conversations, refreshments and fun happening upstairs, downstairs and all around. Chris Piatt is bringing his live magazine THE PAPER MACHETE on to The House Theatre's WILSON WANTS IT ALL set to perform his original "Second City Complex" tongue-in-cheek history of Chicago theatre's relationship with other cities and countries. There will also be a social media room where we can see what Australia, Mexico, Canada, NYC, Romania, Austin, and other countries and cities are doing. We can post our own moments and stories off of computer, flip cam, or our cellphones to the World Theatre Day Tumblr blog and learn how to post and listen to the Twitter hashtag #WTD10 (what the heck is that? Check it out here ) to participate in that day's global conversation.

Admission is free, $3 beer and wine specials, free food and dessert provided by TipsyCake Chicago.

We hope you can come, and bring your friends. (Feel free to forward them and your theater staff this information too!)

WORLD THEATRE DAY CHICAGO
Saturday, March 27 beginning at 9:30 p.m.
Chopin Theatre
1543 W. Division
FREE ADMISSION
Facebook Invite

The Week Ahead

We have an exciting week ahead at the League. Starting tomorrow morning the 2nd annual Chicago Producing Intensive kicks off at the Goodman at 9 a.m. We have a fantastic line-up of presenters for the conference. If you havent signed up yet, there is still room, just show up at the Goodman tomorrow morning and register in person. Don't miss out on this annual event!

On Monday evening March 22 at 6 p.m. at the League offices, we have our next free roundtable event which covers HR and the Arts, led by Allison Cain, Managing Director of Lifeline Theatre (former HR professional for PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Watson Wyatt and the Freemen Company). She'll share recruiting and on boarding tools and encourage participants to ask questions and share best practices and experiences. This event should provide invaluable information for companies of all sizes; whether you are interviewing interns or volunteers, contracting designers and production staff or hiring full or part time staff, there will be something for everyone. We still have space available. Just RSVP to ben@chicagoplays.com.

Finally, next Saturday, March 27 is World Theatre Day! What is your theater doing to celebrate? Don't know yet? Click here for ideas. Make sure everyone at your company knows that they are invited to attend the World Theatre Day Chicago Party at the Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division beginning at 9 p.m. on the 27th. The party is free and will include live music, food and beverages. Don't miss out on this annual community celebration!

Save the Date

March 27, 2010. Sound familiar? That’s because for the second year in a row we’re pleased to announce that Chicago will be participating in World Theatre Day. (Read About World Theatre Day 2009.) Details are still in the works, but we’re planning another party in the evening as well as other activities to share the spirit of Chicago theatre worldwide and connect with theaters in other countries. It’s a fun celebration involving both theatre practitioners and patrons. We’d like as many Chicago theaters to participate as possible. Watch here for more details soon.

Also, if you’d like to participate in another community-wide event, we still have two more weeks of FREE Ghost Light Yoga at the Bank of America Theater on February 15 and 22. There is still room in both sessions, so RSVP to ben@chicagoplays.com if you’d like to join us.

World Theatre Day Recap

World Theatre Day reminded me why I LOVE CHICAGO THEATRE. People from all over the world uploaded to the tumbler feed and the blog, especially great were the numerous “Neo-Futurists Presents” videos, if you haven’t seen them, check them out, hilarious. The party at the Chopin was seriously fun. Hundreds of people showed up and it was just beautiful to see all these Chicago theatre artists and there was so much good will and pride in what we do and if you missed it I really feel bad for you. Jess Hutchinson and Nick Keenan rounded up a bunch of folks to volunteer their time and their talents and really made it collaborative and spirited and, I’ll say it again fun. Lela and Zygmunt at Chopin Theatre were our gracious hosts. I was so proud to be a part of it and of this community.

I look forward to next year, but in the meantime I hope we find other ways to come together as a community and celebrate ourselves.

Deb

World Theatre Day Proclamation

By Ben Thiem, Director of Member Services

There is a lot going on this week with the Chicago Producing Intensive Conference starting tomorrow morning, but I wanted to give one exciting update on World Theatre Day. Mayor Richard M. Daley issued an official proclamation that March 27, is World Theatre Day in Chicago. We are very grateful for his support and encouragement of our community as we participate in this event for the first time.

Read the entire proclamation here.

We hope that you are planning on joining the celebration in some capacity at your own theatre. Not sure how to participate?

Click here for a list of suggestions.

Chicago Celebrates World Theatre Day

By Ben Thiem, Director of Member Services

A couple weeks ago I wrote about how we were having an exploratory meeting to discuss Chicago’s participation in World Theatre Day. To follow up, we had an excellent meeting with about a dozen companies and came up with a lot of great ideas. Some of which we will be able to implement this year and many others that we’ll look to bring to the table next year and beyond. What we all agreed on was that it was important for Chicago to be a part of this international festival. Thanks to all those that attended the meeting. Your enthusiasm and commitment to Chicago theatre is greatly appreciated. We are excited to participate in this international program for the first time. Check out our World Theatre Day page on ChicagoPlays.com for all this information and more.

To summarize our plan for March 27, 2009:
The League is going to help promote all the WTD activities as well as encourage theatre participation. We are excited to report that we will be getting a Mayoral proclamation of WTD. The Chicago celebration will culminate with a party in association with the Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division, following performances on the 27th. All Chicago theater patrons, artists and administrators are invited to attend this free event.

Chicago theatres are invited and encouraged to participate in a number of ways.

Chicago theatre patrons are encouraged to attend a performance on March 27. Click here to see all the shows playing on World Theatre Day.

Every year a renowned theater artist is asked to write a message for World Theatre Day. The 2009 World Theatre Day message was written by Augusto Boal, Brazilian director, writer and founder of Theatre of the Oppressed. Participating theatres are encouraged to read the statement before or after their performance that evening. The full statement can be found here.

Download a WTD program insert to include in your program book on March 27.

For More Information:


International Theatre Institute

World Theatre Day on Facebook

World Theatre Day on Twitter

World Theatre Day on Tumblr

World Theatre Day Blog

World Theater Day

By Ben Thiem, Director of Member Services

Early last week Deb and I were approached by the ever-enthusiastic Jess Hutchinson and Nick Keenan from New Leaf Theatre with an idea. Through conversations on Twitter and elsewhere they came across information for World Theater Day on March 27, 2009. World Theater Day actually began in 1962, but it doesn’t seem like the U.S. has had much of a presence with the program. The mission of World Theater Day is to: “promote international exchange of knowledge and practice in theatre arts (drama, dance, music theatre) in order to consolidate peace and solidarity between peoples, to deepen mutual understanding and increase creative co-operation between all people in the theatre arts.” That’s a great mission, right?

Since we are all about community and collaboration in Chicago, and particularly international collaboration thanks to companies like Chicago Shakespeare Theater and the Goodman, we agreed with Nick and Jessica that it was important for us to have a discussion of how we can be involved with World Theater Day 2009.

We are going to have a meeting at the League offices (228 S. Wabash, Suite 200) this Friday, February 20 from 4:30 p.m.- 6 p.m. to discuss and brainstorm how Chicago can participate. If you are interested in being involved with the program we’d love if you’d join us. Please RSVP to ben@chicagoplays.com. If you can’t make the meeting but are still interested in being involved, please feel free to contact me as well.

Read more about the history of World Theater Day

Read more about what other cities are doing

Read Nick and Jessica’s blog postings.