11 Things about 2011

It’s the last day of the year. We’ve been inundated with lists lately, so…..here’s a list of 11 highlights of 2011 for me:

1. Street Scene: I was lucky enough to be a part of the (massive) ensemble that created a highly successful and beloved production of this Elmer Rice script. The cast included children and a dog and a couple dozen actors playing in an intimate (and, frankly, run down) theater. It was a huge show and we worked very hard to bring it together. Because of the the way in which we rehearsed, wherein many people watched other people’s scenes and we were mostly all there most of the time, we developed a great bond as a cast which went a long way to each of us individually, and collectively, owning this piece of theatre. I hope I’m lucky enough in 2012 to have a similar experience. I celebrated that show with several friends at the Ivey Awards where two statues were given out in relation to the production.
2. The 3-Cent Stamp: I wrote, directed and edited a 1-minute “commercial” for inclusion in a local theatre’s mock production of Fargo. I had a blast putting this together and want to do more of this stuff in 2012.
3. It’s not about the money: I got paid. Truthfully, it’s no one’s business but mine (and my agent’s) but a couple well paid gigs this year (primarily a single commercial) made 2011 one of the most profitable years for me as an actor. I’ve put it in savings for a rainy day. And while it’s never about money and there’s not a lot of it, especially in theatre, it’s nice to feel compensated for my time and talents.
4. Testing my skills: I jumped in to a production of a full-length play that didn’t have a full-length rehearsal, and it tested most everything I know about acting, building a character and, in some instances, how to be a nice guy at rehearsals and not get bitchy. Next time I’ll be more prepared.
5. Flexing my (imaginative) muscle: I once again joined a holiday show where in a single hour I had to play multiple characters, be funny, run my ass off and charm and ad lib a small group of strangers. And then do it all over again for the next group. And…once again for a third group. It was exhausting and exhilarating and fun, and made me enjoy performing.
6. Inspirations: I was inspired by many things I saw this year on local stages, and one piece of theatre that keeps sticking with me in my head is Moving Company’s Come Hell and High Water. A beautiful, epic (true) story, done in bold imaginative ways and with the utmost attention to the minutiae of the characters’ lives and details. Steve Epp is one of the best actors I’ve ever seen work. This whole thing made me want to be a better, bolder theatre artist. I was also inspired by the depth of work that goes in to the making of a Scream Blue Murmur piece. I was fortunate to spend some time with these great folks whom I admire so much, and learned a bit more about their process. They’re not messing around. We should all be so diligent.
7. The Silver Screen: I was twenty feet tall. The short film I shot last year was finished and had a sneak preview at the Twin Cities Film Festival. Seeing myself on the big screen was a bit surreal, especially since it focuses primarily on my character and I open and end the thing. It was exciting and makes me want to get to know the film community even better. (On a side note, the other day I discovered that the film is listed on IMDB, so subsequently I’m finally listed there too.)
8. Disappointments: I wasn’t cast in many things, including one or two that I really wanted. But that’s to be expected. In one case I was sort of relieved to not be cast (even though I was a bit surprised.) I know this is all vague but why go into great details…I’m not naming names. Let’s just say that I was invited to audition for a play I hadn’t heard of but in researching it found it to be incredibly challenging and exciting. Done, for lack of a better word, correctly it could be an amazing and powerful piece of theatre. What I witnessed in the auditions and callbacks, particularly from the director and the choices she was making, was that this was not a stellar opportunity and in fact could be a complete train wreck. I debated for days whether I’d take the role when offered. I decided I wouldn’t because the “good enough” and lackluster approach I witnessed was…well, I guess it was challenging to my own standards and beliefs. (See Creed if you need to know more.) Yes, this probably makes me sound pompous. Of course, they didn’t cast me anyway. I unfortunately wasn’t able to see the show either due to my own work schedule, so I’m not sure how big that wreck may have been. I’m confident I made (or would’ve made) the right choice. It’s disappointing though because I think done right it could’ve made a huge splash on the theatre scene.
9. 365 Images of 2011: I shot pictures. Lots and lot of pictures. I challenged myself to post a picture for each day (even if not posted every day.) I don’t think I’m going to make the goal, unless I take and choose another 30 or so in the next 5 hours. Nonetheless, I had fun doing it and found new and interesting images around me all the time. I think some even turned out to be good. I’ll probably add them here over the coming months.
10. Nook: I read. A lot. Although I haven’t written about it I received a Nook for my birthday, and have subsequently doubled the number of books I’ve read. I never thought I’d have the capacity to read more than one book at a time, and keep things clear in my head about each one, but now…it’s only a matter of the mood I’m in when I crawl in to bed at night (that sounds so wrong, but it’s when I do most of my book reading) and I’ll have two or three different books going at a time. Super Sad True Love Story may have been my favorite of the year.
11. What’s next: I imagined. I still have a small dream in the back of my head to make a film of The William Williams Effect. I know nothing about making a movie, truly, but I know some people who do. I’ve been thinking of taking a stab at putting together a film script version this winter. (Note to self: talk to co-writer.) Recently while driving through the rolling Iowa fields (strangely empty of snow for December) and listening to a Mumford and Sons album I was struck with some images of what the film might incorporate and how it might feel and flow. I think I’ll make it a longer term goal, but plan to find a project or two to write and shoot this coming year, as practice, as learning the craft of filmmaking, in preparation for what might come next with that story.

Abandoned Theaters, or Losing our Cultural History

Earlier today on Twitter someone posted a link to a buzzfeed article about abandoned theaters around the country. The combination of theatre + history + photography immediately grabbed me.

Grand Theater, Alton, IL. (copyright: CherryRodeo)

It’s a pretty cool collection of images of old vaudeville houses, movie houses and actual theatre theaters. Some have falling plaster, some are filled with broken seats, other are nearly empty vessels where you can almost hear the chatter and laughter of a crowd, the ghostly seats—or what’s left of them—sitting eerily quiet and empty.

I was immediately struck with sadness. These great architectural and design feats, parts of our collective history and cornerstones of a local community, being left to decay. Society’s moved on without them because they’re no longer needed or no longer viable to sustain. The economy of the arts often sits on a precarious cliff, and renovating or maintaining buildings like these is an expensive undertaking.

As I looked at the pictures, questions ran through my head about how it is people could let places like this deteriorate and fall to dust? How sad. Naively I didn’t realize how close to home this really is.

Here in Minneapolis there are a number of old abandoned-and-at-one-time theaters. Some have been repurposed as other things, like an antique store on Lyndale Ave and a gospel mission/church on E. Lake St. They have ornate fronts and shade-making marquees, wide glass door fronts that invite in large audiences. People walk past them every day and probably don’t even notice.

abandoned theater, Hudson Valley NY (copyright: Timothy Neesam)

I walk past and picture a theatre’s logo and name hanging on the facade and a “now playing” announcement spelled out on the marquee. I want to see small cafe tables out front for patrons to gather at intermission.

If I were to win the lottery I’d buy one and renovate it back to its glory. Then again, that’s what I think with every orphaned brick building erected before 1950.

This list of 75 abandoned theaters includes Minneapolis, but ironically it’s the Shubert, a 1910 classic theater which was moved (literally) in the mid 1990′s about a block and a half down the street (to make room for a downtown suburban mall of all things.) There it sat until last year when enough money was finally raised to start the actual renovation and turn it into the Cowles Center for Dance & the Performing Arts. So in this case: NOT so abandoned after all. Good job Minneapolis!

Meanwhile, down the street about 15 blocks , the 1911 Southern Theater is struggling to stay afloat due to mismanagement of funds. After its early life as a vaudeville type stage, when it often presented Swedish productions of traveling performers and had a “sister” theater in Sweden, it became a movie house. Then it spent several decades as a garage. Its interior was all but gutted, and its decorative facade was removed. Finally, in the 1970s it returned to its rightful place as a performance venue. The space has been a mainstay in dance, theater and even music performance since then, but has struggled with its management in the past few years. They’ve put out a desperate cry for help to the community (artists and arts-lovers alike) to raise an enormous sum in only a little over a week.

This request for money has been critiqued and questioned by some people. The question has been posed, “If you’re in trouble over financial mismanagement, what are you going to do with my donation to make sure it doesn’t all fall apart again?” They’ve tried to answer it, but frankly I’m not sure it’s an answerable question.

But will it become one of these 75 (or 74) others?

No one questions the value of the space, the need for a venue plausible for dance and theatre ranging from experimental to classic. The arts community is strong and vibrant, and this place has played an important role. I’ve seen a number of fascinating pieces on this stage, and the space itself is hard to compare to other things. It’s an open, raw space with exposed brick and its history showing in faded paint chips, while its cracked proscenium presents a unique backdrop to any performance. It’s booked year round with shows, and every weekend plays host to Balls – a midnight cabaret of sorts, featuring bits and pieces of myriad performers from different disciplines.

Proscenium of The Southern Theater, Minneapolis (copyright: The Man in the Yellow Hat)

Personally one of my own projects (work I’m most proud of) was produced there a few years ago. The historic true story of The William Williams Effect found a perfectly lovely home on the Southern’s stage, where things felt remote and distant while intimate, raw and real all at the same time. The backdrop perfectly echoed the time of our story. It was only serendipitous that the show was in that space, but looking back I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.

It would be a shame if this stage went dark, if the things it presents lose their home. It would be a difficult venue to replace, and I wonder where those shows would end up. The Southern Theater is worth saving because of the part it plays in the cultural community of this city, a city that’s sadly too often known for not preserving its architectural history. The organization running it needs some serious re-working, and I hope they’re looking as hard for the talent and know-how to do the job as they are seeking the funds to stay afloat.

Take a look at these abandoned theaters, and then keep an eye out for them in your neighborhood.

Self Portrait

Working on a script, May 2009. North Shore, Lake Superior

Popcorn. Bottled Water. Bourbon. MacBook.