Fame or Famine

I wrote a while back about the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre’s version of Willy Wonka. Thankfully not anything like the Tim Burton version, this one not only borrows from the 1971 Gene Wilder oeuvre but also draws from the books by Roald Dahl himself for inspiration – which makes it a darker, more intense experience.
While the staging looks minimal, I suspect that the lighting and other designers will have made the entire theatre into a magical candyland before the night is out. I’d especially love to see how they shrink Mike Teevee on the stage. Click past the cut for a …read more

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There’s a fascinating article in the Times right now about the closing of RENT. The writer, Campbell Robinson, talks about how he came late to RENT and late to the city, too, since the musical is set in a very narrow, very specific time and place.
Image details: Cast Members From "Rent" Perform At Broadway For Life served by picapp.com
The question becomes, then, why does it have such appeal outside New York? If it’s too unrealistic to people who live there now, what is it that makes it appeal so much to people like my daughters (who in fact introduced me …read more

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Steve on Broadway (SOB) has a very poignant column out today about George Carlin. It’s sweetly memorable with a personal touch, and he notes that unlike contemporaries like Robin Williams, Carlin never did a Broadway show. Kind of surprising, when you think about it, for such a big name.
However, a little research reveals a CNN interview which may explain why. Carlin never wanted to do the traditional “[insert name of comic] on Broadway!” schtick. Like many of his acts, he wanted a bigger picture to be there. “That’s not really a Broadway show. That’s kind of using Broadway as a …read more

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I’m afraid my internet connection punked out on me at the end of the Blog-Off, and I didn’t make all 24 posts in 24 hours. But I had a lot of help from guest bloggers, and here is one article by Dana Pellebon, an actor, writer, and producer from Madison, WI.
Writer’s groups are a dime a dozen these days and very few distinguish themselves.  Inkslingers, based out of Madison, WI, is one of the very few who do and manage to have their work produced.  I have been lucky enough to act for them on and off throughout the past …read more

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By Blog-Off Guest Blogger Michael J. Wallach
© 2008 Michael J. Wallach – Used by Permission of the Author
It used to be simple. You met an agency that you liked and you were presented with an agency contract that you could comfortably sign.  But, it doesn’t work like that anymore. What do I mean by that?  In the old days (not more than approximately five years ago) there was basically just one contract that an actor was given to sign. You were presented with a SAG Franchised Theatrical Motion Pictures and Television Contract. No problem. Signing it was easy because there …read more

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As we come back to following the progress of July 20th, the GREAT BLOG OFF around the globe, we come to Newfoundland, home of Artistic Fraud. Specializing in “chorus based work,” the group is directed by Jillian Keiley and Robert Chafe.
All About Numbers
As the video on their site will tell you, in the past 9 years Artistic Fraud has called for:

81 school desks
 32 flourescent semaphore flags
790 maps
36 vibraphone keys
2400 square feet of polyester wedding dress lining
Over 300 performers.

You can see a short film about the relatively small production Fear of Flight on YouTube now, and hear the ensemble as they …read more

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Welcome to the first post of the Great Blog Off here at B5Media! It’s part of our charity drive to raise money for the Actor’s Fund.
Even though it’s technically still the 19th here at Fame or Famine Central, I’m starting the Blog Off now because in England the clock just ticked over to the 20th, the day we are going for one blog post per hour. We have a few different bloggers set to guest post here, including a wonderful in-depth article about the Screen Actors Guild.
But let’s start with something completely different: a backstage tour of the London production …read more

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Out of New Zealand comes the performing arts group Soul Speed, a combination of artists from dance, live music (traditional and classical), costume design, and theatre all with a mutual concern for the environment. They draw inspiration from Awe Waiwai, or ancient essence.
A Collaborative Approach
“The power of theatre and dance as a catalyst for positive action and change is what drives Soul Speed’s performances. We work collaboratively, drawing inspiration from who we are and where we live,” says Ardre Foote, the director. ” Our performances are kaupapa (vision) driven with an indigenous contemporary approach.” …read more

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As we chase June 20th around the world, we find ourselves in Sydney, Australia, where the Belvoir Street Theatre is hosting Ride On company’s production of “An Oak Tree.” The creation of playwright Timothy Crouch, it’s an interesting exercise in the unknown.
Two Actors, One Script
The concept is as simple as it is radical: one actor ( in this case John Leary) is one character and the one who has actually seen the Obie-award-winning script. The other actor is the “guest” – drawn from Sydney’s dramatic community, people like Wayne Blair, Patrick Brammall, and Brendan Cowell. They have never seen …read more

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I know, you were all so stumped you weren’t able to figure out the clues to who said what, so here are the answers. Remember, the choices for celebrity quotes were: John Lithgow, Kristin Chenoweth, Brooke Shields, L. Ron Hubbard, and Gray Miller (well known B5Media Entertainment blogger, dontcha know).
Here are the quotes, and who said them:

“She’s a pro and I’d say to be herself,” John Lithgow, her co-star in All My Sons
“She’s going to be wonderful.” That would be John Lithgow again.
“We haven’t worked together yet but it’s going to be great.” Once again, Mr. Lithgow, beginning to sound …read more

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