Hashtag 52 plays by women

The #52playsbywomen sounds very neat! In a nutshell: “Could you see a play by a woman a week for a year and tell everyone about it on Twitter?”
Going to try to find feasible and affordable ways to make this possible.

One way recently discovered is to read the scripts (some here: http://venusinorange.com/free-play-reading-list-52playsbywomen/), but nothing can replace a live performance 🙂

Oooo! Idea in the moment as this blog post is being written. Maybe we’ll do podcasts/radio dramas or filmed stage readings (possibly cold) of the scripts to help people participate! While not quite the same as a staged show, it can help busy actors participate in an easy way and make female playwright scripts accessible to more people! More brainstorming to come.

17percent

On Monday, a brilliant new international theatre parity advocacy call to action launches on social media: #52playsbywomen. This international campaign has been started by American writer Laura Annawyn Shamas.

Could you see a play by a woman a week for a year and tell everyone about it on Twitter? (Readings count and if there are not enough performed plays available by women writers in a specific region, reading a play by a woman playwright instead that week is fine.) This should last for a year, so that each participant will have experienced #52playsbywomen.

The rules are simple:

I. Pledge to see a play by a woman (including woman-identified) playwright each week for a year. If you’d like (optional), you can announce your pledge on social media, something like:
“I pledge to see a play by a woman playwright each week for one year to support #52playsby women. Follow…

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On-the-Go Theater

Edited from pics from: clker.com/ and yourgreen2go.com

What is this you ask? It sounds a lot like asking for a doggy bag when you leave a restaurant. It’s kinda like that, but waaaaay better 😉

Theater becomes one of those loves that gets sacrificed for the “I’m too busy” or “I have to pay the bills” reasons. Both are very valid, but fortunately there are ways to end your painful sacrifice; such as, on-the-go theater.

Example of a rehearsal of an on-the-go short-term play at a local university.

For these types of theater, it’s important to note that the process can have a very rough feel. Rehearsals will be non-traditional and many scripts are in-the-works/being work-shopped as rehearsal is happening. They are great for community theater, especially if there is a limited budget. But at the end of the day, the shows turn out awesome and they are sooo much fun to do!

There are many forms of on-the-go theater.
Examples:

1.  Short term theater: This can be broken down into 2 sub-groups:
   • 24 hour theater: Literally only a one day commitment. There are many ways to produce these type of shows.
   • Over 3-8 weeks from the moment the playwright starts writing. For this there are typically 2-5 rehearsals and then show time!
   • Both of these types are fantastic for people with full time jobs, other priorities, and passions.
2. Blind Theater: This is a growing trend. This is where the actors either:
   • Receive the script as they walk on stage, or
   • They are pre-casted, but do not meet anyone (no other cast members, or even the director) until 24 hours before the first performance.
3. Stage Readings: When you have the script in front of you. Some have few to no rehearsals. And you may get the opportunity to help workshop a new script.
4. Pop-up theater: Like a pop-up restaurant where actors and artists show up and put up a show. These shows are typically free too, so it’s great for people who love watching theater. Improv groups have been known to do this.
5. Traveling Theater: Be prepared to perform or rehearse anywhere. If there are good dimensions, space for props and costumes (if there are any, simple is best for this style), and

Venues/rehearsal spaces good for on-the-go theater include:

• University campuses that allow public use or if there is a student in the cast who can secure permission
• Public Libraries
• Coffee Shops
• Public parks in the warm months (make sure you don’t need a permit)
• Community Centers, and
• Churches

Outside the BOX: Rethinking Costumes & Sets

Pure beautiful inspiration by artist Alexa Meade via her live exhibition in “My Modern Met.” Sparks potential ideas for staging shows. 🙂

Fun Gif of one of her pieces:

By Alexa Meade. Discovered gif on Brit Snapper’s Tumber.

I love how she describes her works: “These aren’t paintings on canvas. These are paintings on real, live humans!” –Alexa Meade Art (video edited by Abbey Sacks Art)

Check it out in this kickass video and some pics below.

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