Saturday, January 28, 2006

Interplayers' future

The only bright light on the Interplayers horizon lately was the relative success of its readers theater version of *To Kill a Mockingbird,* which played to larger-than-usual and at least one nearly sold-out house.

Ann Whiteman, who directed *Mockingbird* and had a small role in it, has been asked by Interplayers management to perform one of the two roles in the upcoming reading stage version of A.R. Gurney's epistolary two-hander, *Love Letters.*

But everything else about *Love Letters* is up in the air: the director, the male actor, all the logistics, etc. Whiteman jokes about the show, saying, "I just wanted to get Jim West and Shannon Sullivan up there."

*Mozart and Salieri* has certainly been scrubbed as a project. *The Miss Firecracker Contest* may not be produced at all, or may be produced only as a readers stage show. That leaves the possibility of *Romeo and Juliet* -- and the fact that, as of February, Interplayers will have presented only three main stage shows -- *Someone To Watch Over Me,* *The Mystery of Irma Vep,* and "The Fantasticks* -- in season that at one time was supposed to be seven shows.

Whiteman says, for the record: "I suggested [to Interplayers management] that they not hire an artistic director, that they save that salary for a year. Don't fill it -- instead, let local directors make suggestions about shows that they would like to do. Make a pitch about a show you'd like to do. You'd pick a play that you'd have passion about."
"I know that theaters don't usually give that much freedom to directors," she continues. "But despite what some people might say, in some areas of the country, this [idea] would be considered kind of progressive. I think it would be a good way for local directors to come to the forefront and help this theater."

Whiteman also says, on the record, that she has urged Mary Ann and Jim McCurdy to go ahead with *Romeo and Juliet,* "but to move the time up so that it's on when people are still in school and can study it. I think they ought to do it with the fewest number of actors possible, and make it very high-concept. And I told them that I would like to help make that happen."

Full disclosure: Back when Robin Stanton was artistic director at Interplayers — and in response to a comment of hers that she would like to do a Shakespeare play, but that they were so expensive because of the cast size involved -- Bobo volunteered to her an outline of how to cut and rearrange *R&J* so that, in a pinch and with gender-bending, it could be done with six actors. (Could be _done_ -- not necessarily, done _well_. Seven or eight actors, still with doubling and tripling of roles, of course, makes it much more manageable. And there's precedent: the (admittedly, not very good) five-actor *Macbeth* done at Ashland circa 2001.) Bobo also forwarded that six-actor outline to Nike Imoru and Braden Abraham (who was slated to direct *R&J* but is apparently off the project). Bobo is not implying that a six-person *R&J* would be the magic bullet for Interplayers, not by a long shot. The theater has far more pressing problems. In an atmosphere of "What's happening over at Interplayers?" I'm just broaching some possible developments.

Whiteman emphasizes that, whatever some people may think or whatever negative rumors may fly, the McCurdys (Mary Ann is executive director; Jim is on the board) and the Interplayers board "are working very hard to make it happen" -- i.e, to safeguard Interplayers' future.

An example: a proposal has been made -- and perhaps already been enacted? Bobo's trying to make the necessary contacts with the Interplayers board -- that a member or members of the Interplayers board should purchase the theater ($390K was a _rumored_ price) for the purpose of leasing it back to the theater for a rate considerably below the $2,500 monthly rent they're apparently paying now. If true, that's conceivably a courageous move by Interplayers management to try to save the theater, or at least greatly improve its longterm financial outlook. Somebody, in effect, is stepping up to the plate and making a big contribution to try to keep Interplayers alive. Details still unfolding -- but not all rumors are necessarily destructive.

Additional posts keep being appended to the Cat on a Hot Tin Roof cast list post, the Proof review, and the rumors? post as well, so keep hunting around for what people have to say about these developments.

36 Comments:

At January 28, 2006 9:52 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sounds like Ann should be the next AD for Interplayers. Not a bad choice at all. :) And for all you people who like to read negatively, this is not a sarcastic comment.

 
At January 28, 2006 10:42 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks for the input, Ann

 
At January 29, 2006 11:18 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Who are we kidding ... isn't the real future on Interplayers Michael Weaver? I mean really?

 
At January 29, 2006 5:29 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

But why would Weaver want to go back to Interplayers? He can do whatever he wants at ART. He's built it into the best theatre in town. From what we're hearing about Interplayers, there he wouldn't be able to do half what he's doing now. He'd be taking a big step backwards if he were to go back to Interplayers.

 
At January 29, 2006 7:10 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

He is the continuing legacy of Interplayers. He left it a shell of its former self.

 
At January 29, 2006 7:22 PM , Blogger Bobo the Theater Ho said...

Michael Weaver caused the downfall of Interplayers? He was (mistakenly) passed over for A.D.
If it's a shell, it's not his doing.

 
At January 30, 2006 4:03 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Nicely ssaid, Bobo. Weaver is the hero of this theater community if anyone is.

 
At January 30, 2006 7:25 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I would have to agree it only makes sense for Weaver to go back. I'm surprised it hasn't already happened.

 
At January 30, 2006 8:33 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

There are things that ART does well, and others that fall short. The consistency isn't there yet. The best of the year for ART is Mrs. Warrens Profession.

If Weaver would go back to Interplayers, he would have the same upward battle that any competent artisitic director would have. I would say that he doesn't go back because the financial situation doesn't work. There is a whole bunch of theater administration expenses and troubles that on the college campus, he doesn't have to be concerned with. Quality would suffer.

 
At January 30, 2006 2:47 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Artistic directors are more often chosen from out of town (as no man or woman can be a prophet in his/her own town). Chosen for their record of particular taste and proven commercial success. Chosen because they have some proven ability to unite new money with art. It's a full time job. It's fun to play with that idea of "If I Were In Charge..." but I'd like to be able to work with the many groups I have already. I suggested that by not filling that artistic director niche for the next season that Interplayers could pay directors something more than the past standard for all the extra work a director (working as his or her own producer) would take on during recovery. And I think it is also too much to expect an artistic director to direct so many plays in a row as Nike has. Bit of a break in style, chance to act, breathe, eat, sleep....lure angels.

 
At January 30, 2006 2:51 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I did not mean Michael was the cause of Interplayers problems, I meant he left a gaping hole. I admire him both personally and professionally. My comment was never meant as a slam against him, and I'm sorry it came over that way.

 
At January 30, 2006 4:49 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

My goodness all this speculation and intrigue.Why dont we just relax and see what unfolds.I hope Interplayers succeeds ,however they decide to do it.We need as much theatre as possible in this town.I'm proud of all the theatres for struggling to put it out there.All the theatres have had their ups and downs ,good shows and bad shows,and they still strive to put it out there.It's what it's all about!

 
At January 30, 2006 11:47 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think what is being overlooked here with the sujestion of local directors coming in and directing/deciding the season is that an AD does much more than direct. Yes, that was a lot of what Nike did, but that was her choice. Interplayers needs an AD to help bring it back up, because right now it is not working without someone in that position.

 
At January 31, 2006 8:18 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Maybe it's being overlooked in the small world of this blog, but I think the majority of Theatre people are well aware of the need for a strong Artistic Director.

 
At January 31, 2006 12:13 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

You can not run a theatre by commitee Ann, sorry.Artistic director please.

 
At January 31, 2006 12:14 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think RJ would be a huge mistake.

 
At January 31, 2006 3:41 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Rumors rumors rumors!

 
At February 02, 2006 1:13 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Bobo why don't u wait until they announce something?

 
At February 03, 2006 12:15 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

 
At February 03, 2006 10:59 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

 
At February 03, 2006 11:22 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Why would anyone launch a personal attack against someone because of this in a public forum? You really are a heartless person!

 
At February 03, 2006 2:42 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

About time you did something to control the petty rantings on this blog. I can't wait for some real theatre conversation.

 
At February 03, 2006 5:55 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

interPLAYERS is dying a slow death. Pity it's suicide because of poor choices made by the board of directors. This is an artistic institution being run with NO ARTISTIC STAFF. I find it humorous that Ann and the bloggers here know more about the place than their employees. But that's because they refuse to listen to their employees. Unless you say "free", interPLAYERS at this point turns a deaf ear to anything Artistic.

 
At February 03, 2006 10:19 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am 100% in agreement. They need to pull their heads out!

 
At February 04, 2006 8:40 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

It is the sad thruth isn't it. I still say Michael Weaver needs to go back and make things right.

 
At February 04, 2006 9:52 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sounds like a faithful employe wrote that last blog.

 
At February 04, 2006 9:56 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

BOBO looks like it might be over hugh?

 
At February 04, 2006 12:46 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm thrilled this blog is now moderated! I'll gladly start posting comments now. I wouldn't before, and was dissappointed, because I thought this was going to be a fun, informative and usful discusion of local theatre. But it quickly became obvious this blog was being used primarily as a forum for the arm of the theatre community who wanted to complain but didn't want to sign their name to their rants. Maybe now we can be done with the people who obviously felt threatened by the success of others, and have some real conversations. I'm really looking forward to it.

 
At February 09, 2006 8:55 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Interplayers website says they're doing Stepping Out instead of the previously announced Miss Firecracker. Why is a financially strapped professional theatre changing a show from a cast of six to a show with a cast 13? How does that help? How many times can you change your season? Does anybody know what they are doing?

 
At February 10, 2006 4:15 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

A faithful employee would not trash it's employers.Tacky

 
At February 10, 2006 5:12 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anyone able or willing to comment on the accuracy (or falsity) of rumors I've been hearing this week that Interplayers' production of Miss Firecracker Contest is being replaced by a Spokane Theatrical Company production of Stepping Out?

 
At February 10, 2006 6:31 PM , Blogger Bobo the Theater Ho said...

It's on the Interplayers Web site. And see Bobo's brief preview, posted above on Feb. 10.

 
At February 10, 2006 10:42 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well then, speak to the rumor that the remainder of Interplayers' season is being replaced by productions of Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men and Simon's Laughter on the 23rd Floor directed by ????, please.

 
At February 11, 2006 10:14 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Troy Nickerson directing doesn't make it an STG production. I was under the impression that STG no longer existed.

 
At February 11, 2006 2:03 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Faithful means you stick around in times of trouble, and trouble is what Interplayers has been going through. Any employee of any establishment should be able to speak their mind, especially if they have already spoken their mind to their employers, which is what Swan has done. Swan is obviously faithful and very concerned about Interplayers' future in order to still be there today.

 
At February 14, 2006 10:43 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

STG still exists producing many murder mysteries at the davenport and anything else they want to do.

 

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