Tony Adams of the Chicago-based site Jay Raskolnikov offers a fantastic example of a theatre artist entering into a conversation with a critic that has reviewed his production. Respectful, intelligent, factual, a little heated, but in the end the kind of…
How To Solve the SAG Crisis
by Colin Mitchell | January 6, 2009
I know, I know, waaaaay off-topic as far as the theatre world is concerned, but I felt compelled with all this Strike talk and schisming occurring within the Screen Actors Guild.
So. How to solve the whole SAG-AFTRA-AMPTP-Merger-Cum-Impending-Strike Crisis?
Get rid of…
Why Americans Don’t Go See Live Straight Theatre
by Colin Mitchell | January 6, 2009
First of all, the phrase “live straight theatre” is just kinda funny unto itself. But everyone knows what I’m talking about. Plays without music that are performed live on stage.
Clarification over.
Secondly, I’m responding to this report from the NEA concerning the…
Why Politics and Theatre Matter
by Colin Mitchell | November 26, 2008
As most in the theatre community, especially the California theatre community, may know by now, Scott Eckern the Artistic Director of the California Music Theatre Company has resigned under pressure from advocates of No on Prop 8.
The Backstage Blog (aka…
The Gift of Poverty
by Colin Mitchell | November 14, 2008
We’ve heard the quote before. Roberto Benigni shouted it from the stage with childlike exuberance when he won his best actor Oscar for “Life is Beautiful”. It’s a notion that gets bandied about all over the world and down through…
Empty Newspaper Boxes
by Colin Mitchell | November 7, 2008
I keep trying to restrain myself from “going rogue” here at Bitter Lemons. In the wake of what happened last night, it’s been difficult. But I think this falls under the category of “theatricality” so I figure I’m in the…
How Much Are You Worth?
by Colin Mitchell | October 6, 2008
A tremendous and always-relevant question posed by Daniel Paul Wilson in this LA Stage Blog post:
http://www.lastageblog.com/2008/09/12/salary.
It was originally posted by the Director’s Lab West. The heart of Daniel’s piece can be summarized in this paragraph from his post:
“I guess what…
Why Russ Stanton and Sam Zell Can Go Jump in a Lake, But Steven Leigh Morris and Don Shirley Deserve Medals
by Matt Wells | September 5, 2008
Although I still subscribe to the print edition of the LA Times, that paper seems to get worse by the day. This year they fired their dance critic. They buried their book review and opinion sections, not to mention the…
In Memory of Dave Depino and Other Thoughts
by Colin Mitchell | August 19, 2008
Just a quick note about the Dave Depino Memorial at the Odyssey last week. Again, I didn’t know him that well, but well enough, and judging by the love and respect from the 50+ people there - many of them…
Re-Imagining the Critic
by Colin Mitchell | August 5, 2008
Maybe we should re-imagine the profession of the critic?
Starting off by perhaps calling them “Advocates” or “Arts Advocates” rather than “reviewers” or “critics”? I realize there’s a gay magazine (or a religious magazine not sure which) called the Advocate -…
