Tag: theatre

indoor theatre returns
General Theatre

Indoor Theatre Returns: Equity Approves Productions at Three Theatres

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For the first time since March, Actors’ Equity has agreed to allow three different theatres here in the United States to put on indoor productions.

This is the first time since theatres were shut down that an indoor production has been approved. All three theatres are small nonprofits in New England, where the first outdoor productions were recently approved as well.

Music Theater of Connecticut will be performing a one-man show, and Northern Stage in Vermont will be performing a one-woman show. However, in another first, the third theatre, Weathervane Theater in New Hampshire, will be producing three shows in repertory, including a seven-person version of Little Shop of Horrors. According to the New York Times, the show is still trying to figure out how to stage parts of the show like the dental exam and of course interactions with Audrey II, but will be limiting contact between actors – meaning no kiss between Seymour and Audrey.

The theatres will operate at a socially distanced fraction of their normal capacity, though Music Theater of Connecticut will be also selling online tickets to make up the difference. The Weathervane shows will also feature no brass or wind instruments due to virus-spreading fears, and though it will require masks for moving about the theatre, no masks are required while in seats.

Throughout the country, many nonunion theatres have put on shows with nonunion actors, but this marks the first union-approved indoor productions. Actors’ Equity has been understandably hesitant to approve shows, but the New England area having a low number of cases is why these theatres will be the first allowed to return.

Before this, the only approved indoor show was Diana on Broadway, which will not even have an audience. Actors’ Equity also recently similarly approved a show for streaming at East Lynne Theater Company in New Jersey. And in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Black theatre company Front Porch Arts Collective has been approved to stage a series of cabaret performances outside the Central Square Theater.

I have conflicting feelings about this. On one hand, theatre workers need to work, and this definitely represents a positive turn in all the darkness of this pandemic. On the other hand…I still worry that things are not safe. It would take just one carrier to infect everyone else, and we would have another massive outbreak on our hands. I would like to remain cautiously optimistic, though I do wish there was another way (meaning, government financial support) and while I do understand the desire to get back to “normal,” you certainly will not catch me sitting inside a theatre until a vaccine is safe and available.

I don’t know. I miss theatre. I’m just worried about things going wrong, and having to wait even longer for live theatre to return. What do you think? Are you in support of indoor theatre being allowed or against it? Share your thoughts below. I am interesting in hearing both sides!

f you liked this post, check out:

What Will Broadway Look Like When it Returns?

How to Enjoy Theatre in Lockdown

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indoor theatre returns
Drama therapist
alternative broadway careers

Drama Therapist: Alternative Broadway Careers

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Welcome back to Musings About Musicals’ weekly series, Alternative Broadway Careers. This week, we will be discussing a career that is certainly unique and different from other theatre-related careers: drama therapy!

1. How Do I Get This Job?

First, you’ll need one of two things. You may choose to get a master’s degree in Drama Therapy from an accredited school, according to the North American Drama Therapy Association (NADTA). Or, if you have an existing master’s degree in something else, such as theatre or a mental health profession, or are in the process of getting one, you can go through NADTA’s Alternative Training Program. Either of these paths will lead you to becoming a Registered Drama Therapist (RDT).

2. What is This Job Like?

Drama therapy is a form of therapy that uses theatre techniques to achieve mental health goals. So, for example, a drama therapist may work with their client using roleplaying, whether using a script or improvisation. Or maybe a drama therapist will do projective play with a toy or prop to help their client express their feelings. These processes are intended to help the client express themselves and tell their stories, while also giving them a way to solve their problems, boost their confidence and perhaps even experience catharsis.

3. What Skills Do I Need?

A drama therapist requires the same caring and patience a regular therapist requires. But a drama therapist naturally will also need knowledge of theatre, as well as a lot of creativity. They need strong communication skills as well as a lot of emotional strength – being a therapist is certainly not an easy job.

4. Where Can I Get More Information?

The best place to get information is the NADTA website. This website will give you essentially everything you need to know. Or, if you are UK based, you can check out the NHS website instead. There are plenty of resources that are just a Google search away!

This is Part Three in Musings About Musicals’ Alternative Broadway Careers series. CLICK HERE for Part Two: Theatre Management.

theatre tiktok
Broadway, General Theatre, Theatre Online

My Favorite Theatre TikTok Accounts

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Okay, I know I may be a little too old for the demographic, but guys, I am obsessed with watching TikToks. They are so clever and funny, and there are so many of them perfectly tailored to the things you like! There is a ton of theatrical content to find on TikTok. I know I haven’t seen them all, but I’ve found a few favorites along the way. So here is a list of my favorite theatre TikTok accounts – and if you have any recommendations, let me know!

@rockysroad

Rocky Paterra is a very talented actor and singer who is also incredibly hilarious. He does the BEST Lin-Manuel Miranda impression I have ever seen. Just watching his raps will make your day. Plus, he writes his own music, too. Please watch all of his videos now. Here’s another LMM parody…and another one just because.

@jjniemann

JJ Niemann was a swing in Book of Mormon on Broadway, and he makes hilarious Broadway related TikToks. Most of his videos revolve around the Broadway experience, like auditioning, getting cast in shows and of course, making fun of Cats. After all, the best kinds of theatre kids are the ones who can make fun of themselves. His videos are also occasionally educational – check out his journey to Broadway!

@katxkelly

Kat Kelly is different from the other creators I’ve talked about so far. Instead of being a performer, she actually was the social media manager for Waitress the Musical. Not all of her TikToks are theatre related (she’s also responsible for a couple viral videos), but the ones that are can be really interesting. Or, the ones that aren’t informative are super funny. Also, she kinda has my dream job, so Kat, if you’re reading this…hit me up on LinkedIn?

@avernomusicals

Averno Musicals is really interesting. If you are really into TikTok aesthetics like cottagecore and dark academia this is right up your alley. It’s more than just musicals, it has turned into a multimedia universe in all genres. Morgan Smith, the creator, already came up with one viral internet musical, Oceanborn. Now, they’ve created a whole universe in Averno, and honestly, it’s pretty incredible. The aesthetics are so relaxing, too. The music sounds really good, the team is young and so talented, and they’re working on recording albums now. I can’t wait to hear them!

@itsmaggieschneider

Maggie Schneider is for my fellow former emo kids who also are theatre kids. (There’s a lot of us, right?) She makes pop punk versions of your favorite musical theatre songs. And they’re so good! She has a great voice, and who doesn’t secretly still love pop punk music in 2020? She also does covers of pop punk songs, and has her own band too. But now I want a Broadway Goes Punk album. Who’s with me?

What’s your favorite theatre TikTok account? I would love to discover more accounts and have more reasons to waste my day away on this app. Let me know what you think!

If you liked this post, check out:

How to Enjoy Theatre in Lockdown

The Best Broadway Shows You Can Stream

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live performance safety guidelines
Broadway, General Theatre

No More Stage Dooring? Live Performance Safety Guidelines Revealed

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Could stage dooring be a thing of the past? According to the 27-page guidelines for COVID-19 reopening released Tuesday by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Stagecraft Safety Committee (IATSE), it is at least for now. These guidelines are intended to be for IATSE members, employers and local unions, but they are interesting to read for anyone interested in how theatre is going to come back. And, despite being 27 pages, it is only supposed to provide general information, according to the IATSE website. Still, 27 pages is a lot, so I’ll go through some of the more important (and interesting) points of the guidelines.

No More Stage Dooring

“Eliminate and discourage the audience and public from congregating outside of the stage
door post performance.”

Like I said above, it’s true! Fans won’t be able to line up outside the theatre for autographs and photos. And honestly, this one is just common sense. While I personally love going to the stage door, as I’m sure many of you reading do as well, it’s way more important to keep the performers safe. Plus, with some of the entitled fans I have been seeing, maybe it’s for the best to keep stage dooring away for a bit.

There will also be no backstage tours given. You’ll even have to grab a Playbill yourself from a rack or table – no more being handed to you.

PPE for Everyone

“All required PPE will be provided and maintained by the employer”

The guidelines require that Personal Protective Equipment is provided to all cast and crew, as well as proper training for how to use it. PPE should be worn everywhere that it can be worn. Everyone also has to practice good hygiene standards and physical distancing when they can.

Special COVID-19 Officers

“One or more autonomous COVID-19 Compliance Officer(s) [CCO] with specialized
training, responsibility and authority for COVID-19 safety compliance and enforcement will
be in the workplace to implement the Covid-19 safety plan and address issues as they arise.”

The CCO will be in charge of a slew of things, including overseeing adherence to things like social distancing, disinfecting, testing, symptom monitoring and anything else the employer decides. The CCO (and whatever assistants they need) should always be available during work hours and should be accessible to all personnel. They also are the ultimate authority in this regard.

General COVID-19 Plans

“Venues must have a written COVID-19 safety plan in place that specifies necessary policies,
practices and procedures. In multi-employer venues there must be a process for coordinating activities related to prevention and control of Covid-19.”

So, everyone needs a plan. Makes enough sense. There are also some more specific plans for how to prepare. Diagnostic testing is good, but as the document notes, it can be imperfect. So it is a good start to reduction rather than a perfect answer. This will depend on how often the employee in question is exposed to the public, and the testing protocols will change as testing does too.

Daily screening will be necessary for workers to ensure that they are not experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms. If they are, they should not come to work (obviously) and if they develop symptoms on-site, they should be sent home. Those who do test positive should alert the CCO, who will alert those who were close to the sick person so that they can immediately quarantine.

If you want to read this for yourself, I’ll link the document again here. What do you guys think? How different do you think theatre will be when it opens up? Let me know!

If you liked this post, check out:

How to Enjoy Theatre in Lockdown

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Best Broadway Shows to Stream
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The Best Broadway Shows You Can Stream

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With Broadway on hold until 2021, it can be hard to enjoy the art form that we love. Luckily, we live in an age where streaming has taken off, and there are actually theatre performances available to watch at any time. So, here are a few of the best Broadway shows you can stream now.

  1. Hamilton
broadway shows you can stream

Where to stream: Disney+

Come on, did you really think I could make this post and not include Hamilton? It’s a modern classic for a reason. Filmed at the Richard Rodgers Theatre and featuring an incredible, ground-breaking score, this show needs no introduction. We all know and love it. And while some of us were lucky enough to see it on Broadway, it’s incredible that now we can watch it over and over again, with the original leads, from the comfort of our own homes. Don’t you love modern technology?

2. Rent

broadway shows you can stream

Where to stream: Amazon, Google Play, YouTube

Long before there was Hamilton, Rent took the theatre world by storm. This famous show started the trend of people camping out overnight to get rush tickets. And while it was made into a movie in 2005 with most of the original cast, I personally prefer this version that was filmed live on stage during the final show of the original Broadway production. If you like the movie, you’ll love getting to see the show as it was meant to be seen, with an all-star cast.

3. Falsettos

broadway shows you can stream

Where to stream: Amazon Prime and BroadwayHD

This 2016 revival of William Finn’s show about a gay man, his former wife, their child and his boyfriend was originally filmed for Live From Lincoln Center, but now you can stream it, too. It’s a wonderful, emotional show with a cast of many beloved actors, like Andrew Rannells, Christian Borle and Stephanie J. Block. If you’re unfamiliar with the show, this is a must-see for sure. And check out BroadwayHD while you’re at it. A streaming service just for theatre? Sign me up!

4. Into the Woods

broadway shows you can stream

Where to stream: Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google Play

I love Stephen Sondheim. Who doesn’t? Into the Woods is one of his best works, and you can watch the original cast from the comfort of your own home. Being able to watch the legend that is Bernadette Peters is a true gift. And while the movie is enjoyable, again, there is nothing better than seeing a musical performed the way it is supposed to be, especially with such an iconic cast in an iconic show.

5. Oh, Hello on Broadway

broadway shows you can stream

Where to stream: Netflix

Is Oh, Hello a musical? No. Is it still worth seeing? Absolutely! John Mulaney and Nick Kroll are hysterical as their elderly alter egos. It’s fun, it’s silly, it’s a unique piece of theatre with an all-star guest appearance. And while it’s much different from the other shows on this list, it’s a must watch for any theatre lover.

Theatre is meant to be seen on a stage, the way it is intended to be. Unfortunately, right now, we can’t do that. So we’ll settle for the next best thing, and stream them on our TVs or computers as we wait for Broadway’s intermission to end.

If you liked this post, check out Theatre in Other Forms: “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”

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How to See a Broadway Show Without Leaving New Jersey

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It’s a lot of fun to head to New York and catch a Broadway show. But with the average cost of a single tickets going for about $120, add in travel and food and things can add up quickly. Luckily, you don’t have to go to NYC for a Broadway caliber show. You can see one here without paying top prices and traveling very far.  Here are five great theaters to see a play in New Jersey.
1.     State Theatre New Jersey (New Brunswick, NJ)

This old vaudeville theater located in Central Jersey,  has  an array of programming (this reads a bit like a press release. A little boring) including Broadway shows. Built in 1921 by the theater and cinema designer Thomas W. Lamb, it was revitalized into a performing arts center in the 1980s. Each year, State Theatre presents their Broadway Series, which features touring productions of hit musicals like Beautiful: The Carole King Musical and Fiddler on the Roof. You can see concert and stand up at the 1800-seat-venue. As one reviewer, Zakiyia Forbes put it in her Google review. “Too many award-winning shows to name take the stage; an eclectic mix of options for all tastes and ages.” This summer, from June 5 throguh June 7, they will be presenting the tour of the 2018 Tony Award winner for Best Revival of a Musical, Once on This Island. Tickets range from $40-$98. www.stnj.org
2.     Mayo Performing Arts Center (Morristown, NJ)

Built in 1937, this Morristown theater was renovated about a decade ago to become a premiere performing arts facility for North Jersey. The 1300-seat-theater including Broadway tours like Rent and A Chorus Line. MayoPAC has a performing arts school with over 600 students of all ages. The venue also hosts a rotating art gallery. “It’s a very nice theater and well worth the price of the tickets. Just as good as a Broadway show,”  one TripAdvisor user said. Now in their 25th season, they will be presenting the tour of Broadway hit Finding Neverland from March 6-7 and a concert with six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald on May 1. Their Broadway tickets typically range $59-$99. www.mayoarts.org
3.     Two River Theater (Red Bank, NJ)

This theater presents American classics, world classics, and new works. Founded in 1994, the venue houses two theaters, a 350-seat mainstage and a 99-seat black box theater. The theater has hosted many guest performers and directors, like Alec Baldwin, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Joel Grey. Recently, they had their first Broadway show, premiering Joe Iconis and Joe Tracz’s Tony-nominated Be More Chill. Google reviewer Shary Galloway gave the venue five stars, saying “One of the best values and benefits of Central Jersey. Many of their originating shows move on to Broadway. Professional productions with primo talent…Clearly one of New Jersey’s best kept secrets.” Catch the world premiere of Tony Meneses’s newest play, The Hombres, this spring from April 11-May 10. Depending on the date, tickets can be anywhere from $53 to $73, with a discount for seniors and people under 30. www.tworivertheater.org
4.     Paper Mill Playhouse (Millburn, NJ)

This 1200-seat theater in Millburn produces new works and revivals and presents some tours as well. It has hosted many well-known actors throughout the years, including Anne Hathaway, Bernadette Peters, Liza Minelli and Patrick Swayze. Founded in 1934, the theater is credited with being one of the first to begin the American regional theater movement. It was awarded the 2016 Regional Theatre Tony Award. They have produced many shows that have gone to Broadway or launched tours, such as Newsies, A Bronx Tale: The Musical and Bandstand. Paper Mill also hosts the Rising Star Awards, a statewide competition that celebrates high school performers in New Jersey. Here’s what one TripAdvisor user had to say: “Best theater outside of NYC and sometimes better. Masterful musical productions in an easily accessible and safe neighborhood…Just took our granddaughter to see Cinderella and it rivaled most of what I have seen on Broadway. A must!” This summer, they will be presenting the world premiere of The Wanderer, the musical story of Rock and Roll hall of famer Dion DiMucci from May 28-June 28. Tickets range anywhere from $32 to $122. www.papermill.org
5.     McCarter Theatre (Princeton, NJ)

Located on Princeton University’s campus, the theater produces over 200 events each year of new work and reworked classics. well-known for being a pre-Broadway venue since its founding in 1930, in 2012, it hosted the world premiere of Christopher Durang’s Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, which went on to win the 2013 Tony Award for Best Play. It also had the world premieres of classics like Thornton Wilder’s Our Town and Kaufman and Hart’s You Can’t Take it With You. One Google reviewer, Joanna Smith, gave it a five-star rating, saying “Great productions. It’s just like seeing a Broadway show right here in Princeton.” Check out their presentation of Nathan Alan Davis’s The Refuge Plays this spring from May 8-June 7. Tickets are $25-$78. www.mccarter.org

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Why Everyone Should Listen to The Prom

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Hi. Have you listened to The Prom yet? That’s ok if you haven’t. Just go listen to it first and then come back here. It’s on Spotify. It’s even better if you have! Go put it on anyway. Don’t worry, I’ll wait.
Now, at this point, you may have figured out that I am a bit of a theatre fan. It’s true. I love listening to so many musicals. Yet very rarely there comes along a musical that is so incredible that I want to completely submerge myself into it. I listen to it nonstop, I read all the information about it, I watch cast videos on Youtube, and, of course, I beg everyone around me to go with me to see it. I think the last musical that I felt this way about was…Fun Home, in 2015.
Then I listened to The Prom.

This musical is amazing. It’s loosely based on a real story of a prom being canceled because a teenage girl wanted to bring her girlfriend as her date. But in this version, a group of aging Broadway stars come from NYC all the way to Indiana to save the day.
Doesn’t it sound AMAZING?
It is. It really is. It is so good. The music is great. It’s hilarious. Seriously, the cast album alone makes me laugh out loud. And it has SO much heart. It is probably one of the best musicals I have listened to in a while. Beth Leavel is everything. Christopher Sieber is always so funny (I saw him in Pippin, but perhaps you remember him as Mary-Kate and Ashley’s dad on “Two of a Kind”). And Caitlin Kinnunen, who I remember from being a MASSIVE Spring Awakening fan in high school, is so sweet as Emma, and it makes me so happy to see her getting the success she deserves.
This show is so important. Think about it. How many musicals center around lesbians? How many get happy endings? HOW MANY HAVE BROOKS ASHMANSKAS SINGING ABOUT GOING TO THE PROM FOR THE FIRST TIME?
I don’t want to say to much. You have to experience it for yourself. Just…go listen to it. You can find it everywhere. Heck, go buy tickets. Just one request if you do, though – take me with you!

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Revisiting Old Favorites: American Idiot

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I am a very sentimental person, and because of this, I spend an awful lot of time thinking about the past.

Yes, at 20 years old, one of the scariest things I can do is think about being in high school. And yet, lately, I have found myself thinking a lot about that, and who I was back then.

And, of course, that means thinking about all the musicals I used to listen that I haven’t touched in years. So I thought I would make a blog series where I revisited my old favorites.

The first one I decided on was Broadway’s “American Idiot“.

I was so obsessed with this in high school. A good friend of mine and I used to listen to it all the time and talk about it every day. Also, it was so popular on Tumblr back in 2013. Even so, I hadn’t listened to it in years.

“American Idiot” (the musical) is of coursed based off of Green Day’s conceptual punk opera album “American Idiot”. The original album, by the way, is probably one of the greatest albums of all time. It’s absolutely a masterpiece. The musical follows three young friends trying to find meaning in their lives. It’s the perfect musical for disillusioned millennials, or any Green Day fan, which I would hope is most people.

This show is just so special to me. It’s not the most amazing show ever, but it holds a special place in my heart. It has a message that I think a lot of people can relate to today. Especially people my age. We all feel disillusioned and confused about the state of the world, and a lot of us are angry about that as well. (Also, related, for some reason Trump was there? But Billie’s response was everything)

When I listened to this for the first time in ages just the other day, I felt so happy and emotional. I still remembered all the words to all my favorite songs. (Which are, BTW, “Favorite Son”, “Last of the American Girls/She’s a Rebel”, “Too Much Too Soon” and “Homecoming” but specifically “The Death of St. Jimmy”) And as I sat in my car crying as I listened to Tony Vincent singing some of my favorite lines – “Jimmy died today / He blew his brains out into the bay / In the state of mind / In my own private suicide” – I remembered why I fell in love with such an unconventional musical in the first place. Because I feel it deep in my heart.

DOES IT HOLD UP?: Heck yeah it does!

(Also, Theo Stockman will always be the OG bae, thnx)

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So What’s Next for Me?

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I am SO excited. This Saturday, I’m going to see “Hello, Dolly!“

I cannot wait. Ever since they announced that Bernadette Peters and Victor Garber were going to be in it, my mom and I knew we HAD to go. My mom has been a Victor Garber fan since she listened to “Godspell” for the first time when she was 13. And Bernadette Peters…I mean, she’s Bernadette Freaking Peters.

I mean, Bette Midler is Bette Midler, and yes, she truly took charge of the stage when she won that Tony. It was incredible, I’m not denying that.

But Bernadette Peters, to me, is everything. It’s just so exciting! I can’t think of the words to say, because I’m just SO EXCITED!

And, of course, Victor Garber. I love “Godspell” too, thanks mom. I don’t love him nearly as much as my mom does, though, but I don’t think anyone does. And Gavin Creel is in it, a man I have had a crush on for quite some time – I had both a “Thoroughly Modern Millie” phase and a “Hair” phase. Although, I just did read that Santino Fontana is going to replace him in March, and if you have read my previous posts, you probably already can tell that I am pretty upset I’ll be missing that. But Creel also did win a Tony for this, which was just so incredible to watch, so I’m still excited.

So Friday morning I will be leaving with my family (and my boyfriend) to head to the city. We’ll hit up my favorite place, Shake Shack, to meet up with my older brother and his girlfriend, and then go our separate ways. My dad and younger brother will go do some stuff I don’t care about, and my mom, my boyfriend and I will GO SEE BERNADETTE PETERS IN “HELLO DOLLY!”

Don’t expect me to be able to post about it afterwards, because seeing her sing “Before the Parade Passes By” will honestly just kill me.

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Theatre in Other Forms: "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend"

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Theatre is just theatre, except when it’s not. What? That’s right, theatre isn’t just on Broadway – it’s on our TV screens, too.

“Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” on the CW is my favorite TV show and honestly one of the funniest shows currently airing (the other funniest show is NBC’s “The Good Place“). But what is it? It’s a dark comedy/musical show. Isn’t that great? A musical, on my TV, every week. I love it! It’s so funny, and so twisted. It chronicles Rebecca Bunch’s (Rachel Bloom, whose Youtube channel alone is hysterical, but pretty NSFW, so be careful!) journey with mental illness after she uproots her big city life to move to California to chase after the man of her dreams, Josh Chan (but she didn’t move here for Josh).

The show also features a great cast of singing talent, including Broadway stars such as Tovah Feldshuh, Patti LuPone, Santino Fontana, Lea Salonga, Josh Groban and more.

The songs are hilarious, written by Bloom herself alongside Jack Dolsen and Adam Schlesinger. My personal favorites include “Let’s Generalize About Men“, “I Go to the Zoo” (but the explicit version specifically), “Settle for Me“, “You Stupid Bitch“, “Ping Pong Girl” and “Dream Ghost“, but so many are incredible.

Now, just because the show is a musical doesn’t mean you can only enjoy it if you like musicals. I got my boyfriend into it, and he is nowhere near as into theatre as I am. He even complained about the songs at first, saying that he wished the show was just the plot, because of how funny it is. But as we’ve watched more together, he’s realized how important the music is to the plot. And it makes everything funnier!

I don’t want to give away too much of the plot, because it really needs to be experienced firsthand. Just watch it, it’s amazing.

The first two seasons are on Netflix, and the third just finished airing, so I expect to see it up there soon. The CW hasn’t officially renewed it for a fourth season, but I’m hopeful. Watch it if you haven’t. If you have, time for a rewatch – I just started my third time through the show!

What do you guys think? Have you watched this? Do you think it’s amazing? Or did it fall flat? Let me know in the comments!