COUNTRY PLAYHOUSE SEEKS HIGHLY MOTIVATED DIRECTORS:

Reminder - Country Playhouse is taking names!
..and applications!


" for Directors for its 2010-2011 season.
Applications are being accepting submissions for the 2010-2011 season from June 1, 2009 to Aug. 1, 2009."

"Please make submissions only within the submission window of June 1, 2009 to August 1, 2009"


Read all about it and get your apps here:

At the Country playhouse web site "

45 and counting!

By the way, if anyone would like to add a link back in support of theatreport we would appreciate it. [However, it is not mandatory to do so.]

Theatre Southwest is pleased to announce our 2009 2010 Season. And what a Season!!

The Wayside Motor Inn
by A. R. Gurney
Directed by Malinda L. Beckham and Trevor B. Cone

Comedy Tonight
An evening of 1 act comedies
by Various Contemporary Playwrights
Directed by Barbara S. Hartman

Wonder of the World
by David Lindsay-Abaire
Directed by David Holloway

The Women
by Claire Boothe Luce
Directed by Jay Menchaca

Other People’s Money
by Jerry Sterner
Directed by Mimi Holloway

Bug
by Tracy Letts
Directed by Ananka Kohnitz

And of course, the ever popular Festival of Originals

Lots more information including performance and audition dates on our website. Click HERE

I think the link was down for a day or two. It should be up again. Try http://www.houstonfac.com/id6.html and email for your preferred time slot. We try and schedule things so you're not there all night waiting to read.

Quote:
Is that this month? like at the end of July?

There have been some interesting new books out lately. One is on "Alba Emoting", the hot new way to train actor's emotions. It is based on Susana Bloch's work beginning in the 70's in Chile applying certain discoveries in neurobiology with Paul Ekman's research on small muscle patterns in emotional facial expressions and older ideas on breath and feeling to form a training practice that on the surface appears to use simple physical means to tap and release feeling but is more psychologically and associatively driven than it might appear. Wonderful habit breaking type work though when combined with affective memory. Definitely something worth investigating. She is a fascinating writer.

Another work on neurobiology covers the emerging science of "mirror neurons" or our built in basis for empathy. The book is called "Mirroring People" by Marco Iacoboni and it certainly brings a fresh perspective to communication and feeling in acting.

Routledge has come out with an anthology of old Theatre Arts Magazine articles. If you don't know Theatre Arts, it was the premier theatre magazine in the USA from about 1916 to 1965, The depth of material is stunning -- 500 pages of a Who's Who in 20th century acting.

With all the Grotowski stuff happening this year, a recent TDR issue devoted to Grotowski was especially illuminating. Once you move past Grotowski's search for a certain expressive style in theatre for the subject matter he was interested in his actual creative process for good acting is pure old Stanislavsky, right down to the conscious use and application of sense and emotional memory. The new information reveals his true roots so much so that he sounds like Lee Strasberg more than Stanislavsky himself.

The forthcoming new translation of Stanislavsky's "Creating A Role" should prove interesting as it includes a previously untranslated section on training a director in the work of the "system". The section is both funny and telling.

The French are publishing a huge collection of international papers on the work of Michael Chekhov that is wonderful. I have read many of the papars from friends who attended the conference in Paris in 2007. This is a wealth of information. They also have a new book on Stanislavsky's so-called "physical action" developments and a book on the teaching work of Anatoly Vasiliev.

Routledge will be coming out with a book of transcripts of Lee Strasberg's classes on acting, directing and Shakespeare entitled "The Strasberg Notes". Its based on the recordings of his last 5 years of classes and covers in detail his actual training work. There will also be a new book on the history of Stanislavsky based work in America. Look for these in the Fall or Winter.

If you haven't read "Proust Was A Neuroscientist" by Jonah Lehrer you are missing one of the best works on creativity I have ever read. This also goes for "The Talent Code" which outlines how real achievement occurs in art based on one's approach to training. One of those books that shows you what you always suspected was true and makes the case for it brilliantly. I want to go to the Russian tennis school that teaches the game through sense memory!

I'm looking forward at the end of the month to finally seeing Lev Dodin's legendary May Drama Theatre at the Lincoln Center Festival -- the last great -- in the true meaning of the concept -- permanent company, acting ensemble, constantly training, unified visionary theatre. I hope it lives up to its reputation.

There are not enough words to celebrate John Gow's contribution to our lives.

The news of John's passing is sad news. We shall miss him.

My love to everyone. Wish I could be there this evening.

-jef

We do offer auditions throughout the year for chorus and featured or supporting roles, as they come available - they are typically posted here on Theatreport and on our website under "About Masquerade > Auditions".

What I remember most about John when he first came to UH was how fully he listened and the ever so slightly quizzical look he had when he was listening to you. It seemed he was hearing something a little amusing that only he understood. What a great guy.

Here is the obituary (info about the service is included):
John A. Gow, 54, of Houston, passed away Wednesday, June 24, 2009.

He was born on August 7, 1954 in Ardmore, Oklahoma. John graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1978 with a BFA in Scenery and Lighting Design, and went on to receive an MFA in Lighting Design from Southern Methodist University in 1981. He then relocated to Houston to become the Lighting Supervisor and Scenic Artist at the University of Houston School of Theatre.

John was a successful theatrical scenic and lighting designer in the Houston area. In almost 30 years, he designed over 200 productions at many theatres, including, The Alley Theatre, Stages Repertory Theatre, Houston Shakespeare Festival, Children’s Theatre Festival, Main Street Youth Theater, Unity Theatre, Strand Street Theatre, and the University of Houston School of Theatre. He has also designed for the Austin Theatre for Youth in Austin, Texas and The College Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati. As a well-respected member of the theatrical community, he was a mentor to many aspiring students at the University of Houston.

One of John’s favorite pastimes was touring the country on passenger trains. He loved taking the scenic route along some of the nation’s most popular railroads. At home, he was an avid gardener, and enjoyed spending time with his cat, Sport.

Donations in John’s name can be made out to the American Foundation for AIDS Research at www.amfar.org

A memorial service to celebrate the life of John A. Gow will be held 7-9 p.m., Tuesday, June 30 at the A. D. Bruce Religion Center, Entrance 13 on the University of Houston campus.

Well, I like Houston and I like the performing arts of many varied sorts, so It makes sense that I'd still visit here and (oh yes) make an occasional post.