Comments for Mortar Theatre Company http://mortartheatrecompany.org Thu, 09 May 2013 12:35:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 Comment on Dana Lynn Formby by “If You Split A Second” (Pegasus Players): Fascinating Premise | The Fourth Walsh http://mortartheatrecompany.org/company/danalynnformby/comment-page-1/#comment-74672 “If You Split A Second” (Pegasus Players): Fascinating Premise | The Fourth Walsh Thu, 09 May 2013 12:35:17 +0000 http://www.mortartheatrecompany.org/?page_id=29#comment-74672 [...] Playwright Dana Lynn Formby unveils her newest project. A split-second decision changes a man’s life forever. He goes to prison and his life continues without him. The premise fascinates. Formby has written the story to be primarily narrated by the incarcerated Mick played by Dylan McGorty. The effect of Mick’s actions is illustrated through the lives of six characters performed by two actors. Besides Mick, McGorty plays Patrick the brother and John, a man whose own split-second decision binds him to the family. Stephanie Chavara plays Jane the wife, Geneva the daughter and Amber the sister. Under the fluid direction of Ilesa Duncan, McGorty and Chavara morph in and outof characters within seconds. The orchestration is an ever-flowing story. In one of the final scenes, there is a poignant montage performed by McGorty and Chavara. It’s a collection of all the play’s most important moments that made us arrive at the conclusion. It’s a breathtaking flashback dance. [...] [...] Playwright Dana Lynn Formby unveils her newest project. A split-second decision changes a man’s life forever. He goes to prison and his life continues without him. The premise fascinates. Formby has written the story to be primarily narrated by the incarcerated Mick played by Dylan McGorty. The effect of Mick’s actions is illustrated through the lives of six characters performed by two actors. Besides Mick, McGorty plays Patrick the brother and John, a man whose own split-second decision binds him to the family. Stephanie Chavara plays Jane the wife, Geneva the daughter and Amber the sister. Under the fluid direction of Ilesa Duncan, McGorty and Chavara morph in and outof characters within seconds. The orchestration is an ever-flowing story. In one of the final scenes, there is a poignant montage performed by McGorty and Chavara. It’s a collection of all the play’s most important moments that made us arrive at the conclusion. It’s a breathtaking flashback dance. [...]

]]> Comment on Where have all the audiences gone? by Follow up and thanks: Where have all the audiences gone? | Mortar Theatre Company http://mortartheatrecompany.org/2012/06/where-have-all-the-audiences-gone/comment-page-1/#comment-25072 Follow up and thanks: Where have all the audiences gone? | Mortar Theatre Company Tue, 26 Jun 2012 21:10:33 +0000 http://mortartheatrecompany.org/?p=1599#comment-25072 [...] June 26th, 2012 in Chicago Theatre, Season 3 Share After we posted a few honest questions on our blog a couple weeks back, we got a lot of great feedback—comments, emails, messages, notes, tweets. So [...] [...] June 26th, 2012 in Chicago Theatre, Season 3 Share After we posted a few honest questions on our blog a couple weeks back, we got a lot of great feedback—comments, emails, messages, notes, tweets. So [...]

]]> Comment on Where have all the audiences gone? by Michelle Underwood http://mortartheatrecompany.org/2012/06/where-have-all-the-audiences-gone/comment-page-1/#comment-24597 Michelle Underwood Fri, 22 Jun 2012 22:27:58 +0000 http://mortartheatrecompany.org/?p=1599#comment-24597 Thanks for continuing the conversation, guys! I was out of reach of email for over a week and it looks like the blog wasn't set to auto-approve. So now I've pushed through all the comments that were left hanging while I was out. My apologies! Thanks for continuing the conversation, guys! I was out of reach of email for over a week and it looks like the blog wasn’t set to auto-approve. So now I’ve pushed through all the comments that were left hanging while I was out. My apologies!

]]> Comment on Where have all the audiences gone? by Evan http://mortartheatrecompany.org/2012/06/where-have-all-the-audiences-gone/comment-page-1/#comment-24260 Evan Wed, 20 Jun 2012 13:08:37 +0000 http://mortartheatrecompany.org/?p=1599#comment-24260 Take a look at the copy you have written to describe the play. The first three sentences are choppy and confusing and the final three are redundant. Writing good promo material for a play is hard and can make a person go crazy (especially with the convoluted plots contemporary plays tend to have) but bad copy has a huge effect on my expectations. Take a look at the copy you have written to describe the play. The first three sentences are choppy and confusing and the final three are redundant. Writing good promo material for a play is hard and can make a person go crazy (especially with the convoluted plots contemporary plays tend to have) but bad copy has a huge effect on my expectations.

]]> Comment on Where have all the audiences gone? by Jan http://mortartheatrecompany.org/2012/06/where-have-all-the-audiences-gone/comment-page-1/#comment-23806 Jan Sat, 16 Jun 2012 06:57:45 +0000 http://mortartheatrecompany.org/?p=1599#comment-23806 If you want a really big list of shows you can join a group of ushers called Saints. It might cost about $70 for a years subscription. Hundreds of shows Volunteer or just use their site to stay in touch with theater. If you want a really big list of shows you can join a group of ushers called Saints. It might cost about $70 for a years subscription. Hundreds of shows
Volunteer or just use their site to stay in touch with theater.

]]> Comment on Where have all the audiences gone? by Jeremy Wechsler http://mortartheatrecompany.org/2012/06/where-have-all-the-audiences-gone/comment-page-1/#comment-23789 Jeremy Wechsler Sat, 16 Jun 2012 02:43:43 +0000 http://mortartheatrecompany.org/?p=1599#comment-23789 I started to respond, and then it got too long for your comment box, so I've posted my analysis on our blog, http://www.theaterwit.org/blog I also quoted you, Alison, as I think you have the most germane point. let me know what you think I started to respond, and then it got too long for your comment box, so I’ve posted my analysis on our blog, http://www.theaterwit.org/blog

I also quoted you, Alison, as I think you have the most germane point. let me know what you think

]]> Comment on Where have all the audiences gone? by David C. http://mortartheatrecompany.org/2012/06/where-have-all-the-audiences-gone/comment-page-1/#comment-23680 David C. Thu, 14 Jun 2012 20:29:22 +0000 http://mortartheatrecompany.org/?p=1599#comment-23680 So frustrating.....unless it has 4 stars from Chris Jones people are afraid to take a chance. Other critics don;t really have a lot of weight in Chicago. We have a following and we STILL struggle with new material. Yes, Chicago has a vast amount of of theater which is both a blessing- and a curse. Take advantage of as many free resources to plug the show as possible. Good luck. BTW, I think your artwork looks fantastic (if it's the photos displayed on top of the website). So frustrating…..unless it has 4 stars from Chris Jones people are afraid to take a chance. Other critics don;t really have a lot of weight in Chicago.

We have a following and we STILL struggle with new material. Yes, Chicago has a vast amount of of theater which is both a blessing- and a curse. Take advantage of as many free resources to plug the show as possible. Good luck. BTW, I think your artwork looks fantastic (if it’s the photos displayed on top of the website).

]]> Comment on Where have all the audiences gone? by Adam http://mortartheatrecompany.org/2012/06/where-have-all-the-audiences-gone/comment-page-1/#comment-23678 Adam Thu, 14 Jun 2012 20:26:37 +0000 http://mortartheatrecompany.org/?p=1599#comment-23678 Howdy Mortar Theate Peeps. Let me suggest that you have the answer and walked right by it. At the end of your post, you said this: P.S. And if you were one of the wonderful people that did purchase full price tickets Wait. Someone purchased full price tickets? Who are these wonderful people? Where did they come from? How did they find out about the show? Those are the people I would worry about. I wouldn't worry about those who, for whatever reason, decided not to come. Every arts org lives or dies on the back of the committed audience members. Not the ones who come and go. The committed ones. Those are the people who will ultimately convince their friends and neighbors to come see your work. Your job is not to "market" your work to an "audience". Your job is to figure out the people that love you and give them the tools to tell their friends about the work. That's how a young storefront theatre can last long enough to become an old established one . . . assuming that is your goal. Your committed audience may be small. In fact, I'm almost certain it is. But I think you'll have much more success organizing and mobilizing this group versus investing a ton of effort trying to find "new audience". Hope that helps. Adam Howdy Mortar Theate Peeps. Let me suggest that you have the answer and walked right by it. At the end of your post, you said this:

P.S. And if you were one of the wonderful people that did purchase full price tickets

Wait. Someone purchased full price tickets? Who are these wonderful people? Where did they come from? How did they find out about the show?

Those are the people I would worry about. I wouldn’t worry about those who, for whatever reason, decided not to come.

Every arts org lives or dies on the back of the committed audience members. Not the ones who come and go. The committed ones. Those are the people who will ultimately convince their friends and neighbors to come see your work.

Your job is not to “market” your work to an “audience”. Your job is to figure out the people that love you and give them the tools to tell their friends about the work. That’s how a young storefront theatre can last long enough to become an old established one . . . assuming that is your goal.

Your committed audience may be small. In fact, I’m almost certain it is. But I think you’ll have much more success organizing and mobilizing this group versus investing a ton of effort trying to find “new audience”.

Hope that helps.

Adam

]]> Comment on Where have all the audiences gone? by Ali http://mortartheatrecompany.org/2012/06/where-have-all-the-audiences-gone/comment-page-1/#comment-23657 Ali Thu, 14 Jun 2012 13:12:09 +0000 http://mortartheatrecompany.org/?p=1599#comment-23657 How about having some earlier shows? For me, a 6pm show would make a world of difference. It would mean I am walking home from the train station at 8pm instead of 10pm, and when you live way out in the suburbs with a half hour walk home that is a huge consideration. How about having some earlier shows? For me, a 6pm show would make a world of difference. It would mean I am walking home from the train station at 8pm instead of 10pm, and when you live way out in the suburbs with a half hour walk home that is a huge consideration.

]]> Comment on Where have all the audiences gone? by Eileen http://mortartheatrecompany.org/2012/06/where-have-all-the-audiences-gone/comment-page-1/#comment-23591 Eileen Wed, 13 Jun 2012 18:35:33 +0000 http://mortartheatrecompany.org/?p=1599#comment-23591 Good golly, I miss living and working in Chicago. My two cents, even though I couldn't have seen the show from California and the marketing stuff has already been combed through: In all the Facebook blasts and emails, I (at a glance) assumed this was a fundraising event. Obviously, because of it's unique title, that won't be the case with every play you produce, but I was surprised to learn, just a week or so ago, that this was a production, not a fun, sexy Bingo fundraising party. Which would be cool in its own right! Anyway, glad you're providing this forum, keep on rolling. Good golly, I miss living and working in Chicago.

My two cents, even though I couldn’t have seen the show from California and the marketing stuff has already been combed through: In all the Facebook blasts and emails, I (at a glance) assumed this was a fundraising event. Obviously, because of it’s unique title, that won’t be the case with every play you produce, but I was surprised to learn, just a week or so ago, that this was a production, not a fun, sexy Bingo fundraising party. Which would be cool in its own right! Anyway, glad you’re providing this forum, keep on rolling.

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