Tuesday, May 23, 2006

 

Shubert (now LaSalle) Theatre Exquisitely Restored

The Shubert, which closed for the renovation in January 2005, never fell as far as the Oriental Theatre or the Cadillac Palace, the two other downtown theaters to be restored to their former glory in this past, extraordinarily resuscitative decade for Loop venues. And even with its plush new seats (with added legroom) and its new, sparkling coats of paint, the place still lacks the flashy baroque charm of the Oriental, or the Versailles-inspired grandeur of the Cadillac Palace. This place looks like a grand old theater, not a fantastical palace.
But for longtime Shubert attendees, the newly glorious auditorium will be a jaw-dropper. Over the years, the finer details had become obscured. Relighted and freshly and exquisitely painted in a rich, dark red-and-gold theatrical palette, the moldings, leafing and other decorative elements that had been present for 100 years now pop with astonishing new vivacity. All of the incredible detail had been painted over in that beige and brown, says George Halik, principal in the architectural firm of Booth Hansen, who did the restoration. Now people will finally be able to see it
(from Chicago Tribune).

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posted by David August at 8:10 PM - 0 comments -  
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Saturday, May 20, 2006

 

The Dynamic Laws of Casting

A list of things that apply to all actors who audition, and may lend comfort/assuage anxiety.

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Thursday, May 18, 2006

 

Rehearsal Space Available Evenings

Open Eye Productions has evening rehearsal space available now! Nights, days, weekends. Affordable rates and great location only 2 blocks from the Paulina and Addison brown line. Piano. Good street parking. Near Starbuck's and Dunkin Donuts! E-mail oep_rentals@yahoo.com.
This is all I know about this; caveat actor (or rather producer).

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posted by David August at 1:35 AM - 0 comments -  
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Tuesday, May 16, 2006

 

Day Job: Servers needed by Park Grill

...my friend Scott who runs Operations at the Park Grill is looking for servers. It's a high class place - anyone know anyone who needs a serving gig? Let me know, thanks!

Lauren Golanty
Managing Director
Appetite Theatre Company

-Original Message Follows-

We Need Experienced Servers. Can you help?

Scott Floersheimer
Director of Operations
Park Grill Food Services
11 N. Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60602
www.parkgrillchicago.com
Email: sfloersheimer@parkgrillchicago.com
Phone: 312-521-7434
Fax: 312-372-7275
This is all I know about this; caveat actor.

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Friday, May 12, 2006

 

Originality in the World (and in theatre, film/tv)

The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun
(Ecclesiastes 1:9).

This reinforces the common idea of their being seven basic plots:
  1. man vs. nature
  2. man vs. man
  3. man vs. the environment
  4. man vs. machines/technology
  5. man vs. the supernatural
  6. man vs. self
  7. man vs. god/religion
Which of course is open to debate about the number, or the veracity of the whole idea the recycling of stories verses truly original work.

Without getting into a discussion of the boundaries of art, its context, this question of originality can become largely semantics/philosophy. Theatre is unique in each performance, which, being live, can't be repeated; theatre exists in real time, at an exact moment and location, with all of the players and audience never to witness the identical performance again.

No matter whether the 'art' exists on the stage or in the minds/hearts of those watching, in both cases it is intangible and ethereal; theatre cannot be held, touched, or weighed. It leaves only permanent artifacts (e.g., photos, videos, scripts). Therefore theatre would seem to be original always and essentially, even if it participates in traditions and/or echos other works in a more general sense.

Film/TV can be reproduced mechanically, but if we view the 'art' as being what the audience experiences/feels, not the photons (light particles) produced in patterns representing actors, then like theatre, film/TV exists in a given context only once. The audience brings different experiences, thoughts and emotions on each viewing of the same material (e.g., the film Wag the Dog is viewed differently now then when originally released because it was made and initially released before Clinton's impeachment). Therefore, again in a specific sense, Film/TV is always original.

Perhaps each project/story we create or work on is specifically unique, and in a more general sense is inexorably tied to projects/stories that have come before it.

posted by David August at 4:13 PM - 0 comments -  
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Thursday, May 11, 2006

 

Humor: Chicago Slang

Grachki (grach'-key)
Chicagoese for "garage key" as in, "Yo, Theresa, waja do wit DA grachki? Howmy supposta cut DA grass if I don't git intada grach?"
Sammich
Chicagoese for sandwich. When made with sausage, it's a sassage sammich; when made with shredded beef, it's an Italian Beef sammich, a local delicacy consisting of piles of spicy meat in a perilously soggy bun.
Da
This article is a key part of Chicago speech, as in "Da Bears" or "Da Mare" - the latter denoting Richard M. Daley, or Richie, as he's often called.
Jewels
Not family heirlooms or a tender body region, but a popular name for one of the region's dominant grocery store chains. "I'm goin' to Jewels to pick up some sassage."
Field's
Marshall Field, a prominent Chicago department store. Also Carson Pirie Scott, another major department store chain, is simply Called "Carson's."
Tree
The number between two and four. "We were lucky dat we only got tree inches of snow DA udder night."
Over by dere
Translates to "over by there," a way of emphasizing a site presumed familiar to the listener. As in, "I got the sassage at Jewels down on Kedzie, over by dere."
Kaminski Park
The mispronounced name of the ballpark where the Chicago White Sox (DA Sox) play baseball. Comiskey Park was recently renamed U.S. Cellular Field (DA Cell)
Frunchroom
As in, "Get outta DA frunchroom wit dose muddy shoes." It's not the "parlor." It's not the "living room." In the land of the bungalow, it's the "frunchroom," a named derived, linguists believe, from "front room."
Use
Not the verb, but the plural pronoun 'you!' "Where use goin'?"
Downtown
Anywhere near The Lake, south of The Zoo (Lincoln Park Zoo) and north of Soldier Field.
The Lake
Lake Michigan. (What other lake is there?) It's often used by local weathermen, "cooler by The Lake."
Braht
Short for Bratwurst. "Gimme a braht wit kraut."
Goes
Past or present tense of the verb "say." For example, "Den he goes, 'I like this place'!"
Guys
Used when addressing two or more people, regardless of each individual's gender.
Pop
A soft drink. Don't say "soda" in this town. "Do ya wanna canna pop?"
Sliders
Nickname for hamburgers from White Castle, a popular Midwestern burger chain. "Dose sliders I had last night gave me DA runs."
The Taste
The Taste of Chicago Festival, a huge extravaganza in Grant Park featuring samples of Chicagoland cuisine which takes place each year around the Fourth of July holiday.
Jeetyet?
Translates to, "Did you eat yet?"
Winter and Construction
Punch line to the joke, "What are the two seasons in Chicago?"
Cuppa Too-Tree
is Chicagoese for "a couple, two, three" which really means "a few." For example, "Hey Mike, dere any beerz left in DA cooler over by dere?" "Yeh, a cuppa too-tree."
588-2300
Everyone in Chicago knows this commercial jingle and the carpet company you'll get if you call that number - Empire!
Junk Dror
You will usually find the 'junk drawer' in the kitchen filled to the brim with miscellaneous, but very important, junk.
Southern Illinois
Anything south of I-80.
Expressways
The Interstates in the immediate Chicagoland area are usually known just by their 'name' and not their Interstate number
the Dan Ryan ("DA Ryan"), the Stevenson, the Kennedy (DA "Kennedy"), the Eisenhower (DA "Ike"), and the Edens (just "Edens" but "Da Edens" is acceptable).
Gym Shoes
The rest of the country may refer to them as sneakers or running shoes but Chicagoans will always call them gym shoes!
(from Lauren).

posted by David August at 9:56 PM - 13 comments -  
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Monday, May 08, 2006

 

Warner Bros. Domestic TV Embraces Small Format/Online Video

When the reps at Warner Bros. Domestic TV Syndication bring out Two and Half Men this week for the Fall 2007 season, they'll be selling both the small screen off-net rights and the internet rights. In addition to the standard TV rights, stations who pick up the show will be able to stream episodes on their websites 5x week, after their initial airing of the episode on television. Stations will also have local inventory in the webisodes. As for the future cable network who picks up the series, probably for the 2010 season, it too will have the same internet rights as local stations. WBDTD will retain the rights to sell episode downloads of the series via iTunes or other internet 'stores', and will also do what it can to prevent the unlicensed streaming of the show on non-licensed sites
(from Cynopsis). Part five of the Small Format and Online Video series of posts:
  1. Confusion Over Small Format Video
  2. Online Video May Affect Production, Distribution and Our Income
  3. TV to Become Small Format Online Video More and More
  4. SNL Half Gets Online Video
  5. Warner Bros. Domestic TV Embraces Small Format/Online Video

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posted by David August at 2:27 PM - 0 comments -  
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Monday, May 01, 2006

 

Midwest Independent Film Festival May 2nd

The Midwest Independent Film Festival takes place Tuesday, May 2nd at 6 p.m. at the Landmark Century Centre Cinema, 2828 North Clark Street [Google Map].

posted by David August at 4:22 PM - 0 comments -  
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