Community Theater

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/24/22 at 9:40am

On Sunday afternoon my neighbor suggested that we catch a performance of THE FOX ON THE FAIRWAY by Ken Ludwig. It was being presented by the local community theater group. As I had nothing planned for the day, I accepted the offer.

As we bought our tickets, the woman who sold them to us said, "I want to hear you laughing. This is a comedy" (Duh!)

I could go on about what was wrong with the production but suffice to say it broke the cardinal rule about staging a farce: its pacing was sluggish enough to let the audience think about the plot. Bad news and this wasn't one of Ludwick's better efforts.

The biggest problem for me, though, was the group of people in the last row of the theater. Obviously connected with the production, they laughed loudly at even the most insignificant joke and one of them kept repeating, "Oh, this is so funny!" (Maybe it was the woman who sold us our tickets) As a result, a mildly entertaining afternoon at the theater became an annoying one.

 

Updated On: 5/24/22 at 09:40 AM

[Nolan LuPone]

Posted: 5/24/22 at 10:32am

I can't stand community theatre for this reason. I've seen three productions, each time hoping for something at least mediocre, but each time being extremely disappointed. The poor actors are always pushed by the directors to act in over-the-top fashion.

Updated On: 5/24/22 at 10:32 AM

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/24/22 at 10:35am

One of these days I'll write a novel about the kinds of people who are drawn to community theater.

[Nolan LuPone]

Posted: 5/24/22 at 11:03am

Dollypop said: "One of these days I'll write a novel about the kinds of people who are drawn to community theater."

Many messages on BWW have made me smirk, but this has me cackling.

[BroadwayRox3588]

Posted: 5/24/22 at 11:04am

I love community theatre. It saved my life when I was in high school, and for some people, it's the only way they can have access to the arts. Community theatre can be a gateway for countless people.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/24/22 at 11:16am

Phrases used in community theater:

"You should have been here last night because we were so much better"

"This is better than Broadway"

"We went over like gangbusters"

"That's my Sammy in the 2nd row"

"Where's the cast party?"

"She's never had a singing lesson"

"We're dedicating this performance to... "

"Don't touch the scenery. It isn't dry yet"

"My name is misspelled in the program"

"Closing night is on Sunday. I'm sure he'll know his lines by then"

Updated On: 5/24/22 at 11:16 AM

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 5/24/22 at 11:27am

I'm the Secretary of my home town (rural Minnesota) community theater group, and I've acted in productions from four or five other groups in the area, and let me tell you... the drama isn't only on the stage.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/24/22 at 11:36am

I knew one of the secretaries of a local community theater used to keep a stack of business cards from local divorce lawyers in her purse...just in case.

[Pashacar]

Posted: 5/24/22 at 1:08pm

This certainly sounds like a bad experience, but your dismissal of community theater in general feels a bit uncalled for. It is what it is, and it serves as a valuable outlet for so many people. Plus, quality varies widely; I just saw a Urinetown outside of Philly that was better than most of the professional productions I've seen lately.

[SidebySidebyLogan]

Posted: 5/24/22 at 1:09pm

Imagine being so miserable that you CHOOSE to attend a community theatre performance and then get on a board to discuss professional theatre so you can rag on nonprofessionals who are volunteering their time to help spread the arts to people who aren’t lucky enough to afford professional productions.
 

Here’s an idea, you already know you’re not going to enjoy it because you have an admittedly closed mind concerning community theatre, so don’t go and definitely don’t get on the internet and troll people for trying. No wonder people think the theatre is full of elitist pricks…sheesh

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 5/24/22 at 2:21pm

Aside from artists being paid, the main difference between amateur theatre and professional theatre is this: amateur theatre is for the artists, and professional theatre is for the audience.

That said, community theatre has an important place in this world. There is no need to trash it. And like educational theatre, most audience members are there to support friends and family, not to necessarily see a good show (which not to say that amateur theatre can't be good). 

[Kad]

Posted: 5/24/22 at 2:50pm

Count me amongst those who don’t understand why we need to be trashing community theater here. Yes, community theaters have their quirks and their dramas, and the productions are often crummy. So? They’re also the most accessible version of theater in the country. And you’d be hard pressed to find theater professionals who did not get their start in community theater. And aside from that, it’s an excellent artistic outlet for people who aren’t in artistic careers.

[DrJekyll]

Posted: 5/24/22 at 5:13pm

SidebySidebyLogan said: "Imagine being so miserable that you CHOOSE to attend a community theatre performance and then get on a board to discuss professional theatre so you can rag on nonprofessionals who are volunteering their time to help spread the arts to people who aren’t lucky enough to afford professional productions.


Here’s an idea, you already know you’re not going to enjoy it because you have an admittedly closed mind concerning community theatre, so don’t go and definitely don’t get on the internet and troll people for trying. No wonder people think the theatre is full of elitist pricks…sheesh"

 

Elitist prick. BINGO!

 

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/24/22 at 5:24pm

I guess a lot of you here are involved in community theater.

[Highland Guy]

Posted: 5/24/22 at 5:37pm

Dollypop said: "I guess a lot of you here are involved in community theater."

No, I am not.  But apparently unlike you, I respect those who are.

 

[BarnabyTucker]

Posted: 5/24/22 at 5:38pm

I have nothing but respect and admiration for anyone who works a 9-5, raises a family, or goes through any of the other humdrum motions of life and then goes onstage and rips it up in their community theatre production of MAMMA MIA.

Community theatre should be a space for joy, artistry, and human connection.  If you can't appreciate that then stay away.  Living in a transactional society where everything has a price tag has ruined us.   

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/24/22 at 6:41pm

You see, the community theaters I've been exposed to aren't particularly "artistic". There's greater concern for where the crown will go drinking after the rehearsal/performance than for the performance being given. 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/24/22 at 6:48pm

That makes it ok to sh!t on it?  Its their hobby, they're having fun and trying to do something both for themselves and for an audience- shame on you for being overly pretentious. 

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 5/24/22 at 10:04pm

Dollypop said: "You see, the community theaters I've been exposed to aren't particularly "artistic". There's greater concern for where the crown will go drinking after the rehearsal/performance than for the performance being given."

Hey, as another member of my community theatre board says, "The more they (the audience) drink, the funnier we are!"

Seriously, though, the appreciation of the crowd is enough.  After struggling through 8 weeks of rehearsal, getting your lines down, assembling a set from scratch, setting up choreography, and making sure more than a dozen different people's schedules all fit together, there's nothing like being able to fit it all together in front of a crowd that you can just feel appreciates you being there.

[Rudy2]

Posted: 5/24/22 at 11:50pm

My work in community theater propelled me to years of acting training (Esper Studio) and joining Equity.

You have to start somewhere. Not all of us are Timothee Chalamet or a Kristen Stewart or a Gyllenhaal or a Deschanel. The greatest gift is being surrounded by professionals from birth. I wonder what it would have been like to be Lily Rabe and grow up thinking of Pacino as “Uncle Al.” I can only dream of such a thing.

Back when I was still doing community theater, a local production of “Children of a Lesser God” was auditioning and I studied sign language and correct vocal inflection for Orin, who is deaf. By the time the audition was near I was prepared, but nervous - I never wanted a role so much.

The director canceled night two of auditions at the last minute because he wanted to go to a Super Bowl party. I didn’t even have a chance to show my work, and was denied one when I asked.

That speaks to the lack of standards of community theater, doesn’t it?

I’ve met some wonderful and very talented people in CT. I just saw one such friend perform in a play last week - the production was abysmal, but my friend was deliciously funny and saved the evening from being a total failure. It was still a good night out.

Of all the shows I’ve done in CT, I only genuinely believe three or four were strong, professional quality productions. It still kills me that I was in a production of Twelve Angry Men that would have been sublime had it not been for one actor who could not get convincingly angry. He played the foreman. If not for him, it would have been a near-perfect show. 

My perfectionism cannot withstand being a part of CT in general anymore. I am tired of the people who go on the stage for reasons that are not in service of the playwright or the audience. I think people should be ashamed if they’re only doing it for their own satisfaction.

But a great deal of incredibly talented people work in community theater and take their art just as seriously as if they were at Lincoln Center. It was these people who made me learn very early on that making a career in the arts was such a game of chance, because if they didn’t make it, what chance did I have?

The chance to see people like that, and celebrate their artistry, is what keeps me going to CT as a member of the audience.

[CCB5]

Posted: 5/25/22 at 10:27am

"One of these days I'll write a novel about the kinds of people who are drawn to community theater."

Kurt Vonnegut already wrote "Who Am I This Time?" in his Monkey House anthology.

Henry Fonda and Marlon Brando started out at the Omaha Community Playhouse.  Raymond Burr, Ariana Grande, Victor Mature, Charles Bronson, Gene Hackman, Dustin Hoffman, Sally Struthers, Jamie Farr, John Ritter, Ed Asner, Ruth Buzzi, Nick Nolte, Al Pacino, Martha Graham, and Tyrone Power are on a long list of Pasadena Community Playhouse alumni.

[CCB5]

Posted: 5/25/22 at 10:57am

Rudy2 said: "But a great deal of incredibly talented people work in community theater and take their art just as seriously as if they were at Lincoln Center. It was these people who made me learn very early on that making a career in the arts was such a game of chance, because iftheydidn’t make it, what chance did I have?"

This (and a great big casting couch!) is why I tell my kids not to pursue a career in the arts.

[perfectliar]

Posted: 5/25/22 at 11:38am

Dollypop said: "On Sunday afternoon my neighbor suggested that we catch a performance of THE FOX ON THE FAIRWAY by Ken Ludwig. It was being presented by the local community theater group. As I had nothing planned for the day, I accepted the offer.

As we bought our tickets, the woman who sold them to us said, "I want to hear you laughing. This is a comedy" (Duh!)

I could go on about what was wrong with the production but suffice to say it broke the cardinal rule about staging a farce: its pacing was sluggish enough to let the audience think about the plot. Bad news and this wasn't one of Ludwick's better efforts.

The biggest problem for me, though, was the group of people in the last row of the theater. Obviously connected with the production, they laughed loudly at even the most insignificant joke and one of them kept repeating, "Oh, this is so funny!" (Maybe it was the woman who sold us our tickets) As a result, a mildly entertaining afternoon at the theater became an annoying one."

What's the point of this post? People don't have to be involved with a production to enjoy it. I've seen wretched community theatre shows that have received riotous laughter and applause, because SOME PEOPLE go to the theatre to have fun and escape, and in some places, live theatre is cheaper than the movies.

Apparently you went to this show so you could feel superior and come on this board after the fact and spread bitter, b****y contempt.

[Rudy2]

Posted: 5/25/22 at 11:56am

CCB5 said: "Rudy2 said: "But a great deal of incredibly talented people work in community theater and take their art just as seriously as if they were at Lincoln Center. It was these people who made me learn very early on that making a career in the arts was such a game of chance, because iftheydidn’t make it, what chance did I have?"

This (and a great big casting couch!)is why I tell my kids not to pursue a career in the arts."

I wouldn’t necessarily say not to pursue it, but to make sure you have a viable backup plan.

If anyone tells you not to have a backup plan, run away from them as fast as you can.

Without a second viable career option you run a great risk of ending up bitter, broke and deeply lonely.

If working toward a second career is not possible, then, of course, I would say your advice is spot-on.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 5/25/22 at 4:12pm

perfectliar said: "What's the point of this post? People don't have to be involved with a production to enjoy it. I've seen wretched community theatre shows that have received riotous laughter and applause, because SOME PEOPLE go to the theatre to have fun and escape, and in some places, live theatre is cheaper than the movies.

Apparently you went to this show so you could feel superior and come on this board after the fact and spread bitter, b****y contempt."

Hell, I've seen wretched productions at all levels, from Broadway to the lowest community or school productions. I've also seen great productions at all levels as well. But, like many, I've never cared for this sort of contempt that gets shown to community theaters and other non-professional level productions. It's why I always hated that old mega-thread of "bad" high school and community theatre clips that people found on Youtube and insisted on keeping going for far longer than it should have.