Episodes

Marcia takes a look at theatre’s past First show of 2014! Does your theatre recycle? A lot of shows seem to be recycled from earlier works these days: musicals based on movies, plays based on novels, musicals based on movies based on even older movies. Is all this recycling good or bad? Is it even a new phenomenon. The Geeks discuss how it seems everything old is new again — and whether it’s always been that way. Music provided by Music Alley. . . . → Read More: Everything old is new again: ...

Should you trade theatre quality for theatre quantity (i.e., bums in the seats)? All community theatres crave the full house, but is it worth bending the standards occasionally to get it? Do you do a less than par holiday show because you know you can get an audience? Or the umpteenth revival of Fiddler because there are always those audience members who will dutifully show up for a classic, no matter how well it’s done? The Geeks take on this dilemma, and although we probably don’t solve it, ...

Wife-Husband Team Shirley Mitchell and Heywood Banks translate classic story into musical Swamp Opera. When Shirley Mitchell wrote the script and lyrics for a musical version of the folk tale “Froggy Went A-Courtin’,” she asked the man she calls “the King of Melody” to turn her words into the songs in “Swamp Opera.” No, it wasn’t Barry Manilow. It was her husband Stuart, best known as Heywood Banks, who has been delighting, inspiring, amusing and sometimes even mildly grossing out audiences fo...

The Geeks’ theatre Christmas gift recommendations – there’s more out there than you realize! What do you get a theatre geek for Christmas? We’re glad you asked! In this episode, the Geeks discuss the myriad possibilities for theatre Christmas Gifts, starting with a couple of books, some apps, some musical cast albums and even some ideas from the world of antiques. Listen in then check out some of the links to theatre Christmas gifts here in the show notes. Any of these will make your favorite ...

Second City Conservatory student Carlie Barr talks about her work and study at the Chicago improv landmark Carlie Barr Second City is well-known as the launching pad for such talents as John Belushi, Joan Rivers, George Wendt, Tina Fey and many others. But did you know there’s actually a school for improv there, where aspiring actors can learn the craft and hopefully, make it to the theatre’s Main Stage? In this, the third of our 2013 live episodes at the Bristol Opera House, Second City Cons...

Comic Dave Kempher shares his humor and his observations on stand-up comedy, improv and theatre Dave Kempher Dave Kempher is a long-time member of the Geeks’ home theatre group, but has also been honing his chops in stand-up comedy and improv for the the last decade. Currently, Dave appears at open mike and other improv and standup events around the midwest region, and has appeared in New York and other cities as well. Stand-up is a relatively new passion for him, however, In 2010, Dave was r...

The legacy of puppetry innovator Martin Stevens lives on in Northern Indiana (and around the world) Bob Walls, Dave, and Martin Stevens’ Cowardly Lion, built in 1966 and still performing. To the Geeks and many others in Northern Indiana who knew him, Martin Stevens was something of a one-man phenomenon. He was a brilliant artist, performer, storyteller and teacher, but it is his puppets for which he is best known. His company of wooden actors, known collectively as Stevens Puppets, began in 19...

What’s your theatre meter? We Geeks got to talking about plays we’ve seen and NOT enjoyed, and realized that sometimes we don’t actually know we’re viewing a turkey until we start receiving certain signals. Basically, these are physical symptoms that, once we become attuned to them, reliably reflect the quality of plays we attend. Find out more as we discuss our play-rating secrets! You’ll know how bad the play is before the reviews come out! Vote for us in the Podcast Awards With your help, w...

Social media tips from our first international guest ! Facebook, Twitter, Google + and the whole panoply of social media can be important tools for community theatre promotion, but using them effectively can be confusing. Our new best friend, Bettina Horvath of Capetown, South Africa, dropped in via Skype to share some thoughts for making these powerful social media work for community theatre. Bettina is a social media consultant for small to medium sized businesses and is also an honest-to-Go...

A stroll down theatre memory lane with the Geeks Class play circa 1956 What is your earliest theatre experience? Dave teaches an intro to theatre class at Indiana University South Bend, and one of the class assignments is to write a short essay about a first theatre experience, either as a performer or audience member. Such experiencesare very meaningful and make a difference in how one views the theatre later. Each of us has a unique experience that means something to us. Some will remember ...

When do microphones on stage hurt more than they help a performance? Microphones on stage can be a boon or a bane, depending on the production, the house, the point of view of the director and the skill of the performer(s) involved. They can be a technical nightmare as well, and quite often they affect the level of performance. The Geeks get into all of this in this great episode. Theatre Geeks - community theatre and the performing arts

Make your stage photography tell the story and promote your show The Geeks discuss what’s needed in good, promotional stage photography. Whether it’s to record the show’s progress, preserve a record of the set, costumes etc., or for publicity purposes, your photos need to work for you and tell a good story. Midway through the show, “surprise” guest Deirdre Lovejoy pops in to talk about digital outlets, and in particular, the importance of social media in the distribution of stage photography t...

It’s our 100th episode and Lucky Us! Deirdre Lovejoy joins the Geeks! Deirdre Lovejoy joins Theatre Geeks’ 100th episode to talk about her Lucky Guy experience, her new one-woman show, Broadway and more. Dede (as we know her) was in the cast of Lucky Guy with: Tom Hanks, Courtney B. Vance, Peter Scolari, Maura Tierney et al. Deirdre, who was once a player at the Geeks’ home theatre, certainly considers Lucky Guy a career high point, one which she chronicled in her Lucky Girl blog. Over the cour...

Taking a chance on new talent when casting a play Most directors have faced this casting problem: the known quantity, an actor you know gives a good audition. You’ve worked with him before and you trust him. But a new face, someoone you don’t know, gives a better audition. Who (and how) do you choose. The Geeks talk about this common issue and explain how new actors can overcome being less-known during the audition. Music provided by Music Alley. Theatre Geeks - community theatre and the perf...

The Geeks air some pet peeves about audience etiquette Every once in a while we just have to have another audience smackdown. Whether we’re creating or attending theatre, we are very aware of those audience members who are rude, crude, illegal, out-of-order, loud, boorish and just plain annoying. In this episode we talk about some of our most recent audience etiquette observations. Some other audience etiquette references Audience etiquette is not a new subject. Even Emily Post has a column ab...

Good theatre productions require an eye (or several) watching the “little stuff”. You’re attending a theatre production of Annie Get Your Gun (stay with us here), and you’re enjoying the production numbers but suddenly realize that one of the women is wearing shoes from today. Or that a character’s dress really doesn’t fit very well. or that the set has an unpainted detail that, once you notice it, pulls focus and takes us out of the moment. Or an onstage gun looks too much like plastic. making...

At an audition, we’re often asked what role(s) we’re interested in, and sometimes, if we’re willing to take another role if offered. What to do? Many actors say they’ll only accept a particular role, but when there are many parts to fill, a director may offer a different part anyway. At times, a director will feel that an actor is better for a role he didn’t request at the beginning of the audition. Geeks advice: be flexible, consider other roles. BUT, if you really don’t want a role, be honest...

When it comes to wigs and beards, one-size doesn’t fit all Wigs and beards (and other hairy add-ons) require a lot of care in their selection, use, styling, and maintenance, and this week, the Geeks explore their use on stage. Most community theatres have had the experience of an actor or actress who needs a wig for a particular role, but plainly doesn’t look good in it. There are several possible reasons for this: Fit (we’ve all seen the poor actor with a wig that looks more like a wild anim...

Theatre critics aren’t always nice, or fair. Is there anything we can do about reviews we don’t like? Episode 94 Lashing back at theatre critics makes for some interesting news stories, and there isn’t a community theatre actor or director who hasn’t wanted to give a theatre critic a piece of their mind. But is it really a good idea? Inspired by this Playbill.com article by Robert Simonson, the Geeks explore this issue as it relates to community theatre. Marcia, a theatre critic herself, has s...

Miguel Nunez talks about his journey from community theatre to Chicago’s Theatre Scene Miguel Nunez The Geeks got to know Miguel as Michael Natoli a decade ago when he arrived at our home theatre (Elkhart Civic Theatre) with a thick Venezuelan accent but loads of enthusiasm. It turned out community theatre was just one step along the way to a professional acting career. Today, Miguel is a working actor in Chicago, performing in both traditional and Latino theatre productions around the Windy C...

Some scripts read well, but don’t play well How do you save the show when the script that seemed great when you picked it, starts looking like a disaster once rehearsals are underway? Community theatre play selection is usually a careful process. Selection committees read dozens of scripts, consider their potential casting, and create a season the theatre’s patrons will like. But once in a while, there’s a play script that makes for a great read but somehow falls flat when the actors get hold o...

Community support isn’t always about the dollars — ideas from an expert Community theatres are nothing without community support, but getting it can be difficult. Keith Martin, John M. Blackburn Distinguished Professor of Theatre at Appalachia State University has been helping performing arts organizations get community support of all kinds for more than 35 years. He joins the Geeks to talk about cultivating corporations and individuals for stronger monetary and in-kind support for community th...

Twelve top rated play excerpts competed June 17-22 in Carmel, Indiana Carl Wiesinger and Brent Graber in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde AACTFest 2013 showed the world that community theatre may be, technically speaking, amateur theatre, but it’s often far above “amateur quality.” Twelve community theatres competed at Carmel, Indiana for the American Association of Community Theatre’s AACTFest, including the Geeks’ home theatre, Elkhart Civic Theatre, with a production of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. AAC...

Emerging playwrights and unique plays gain exposure and a shot at publication Casey McLain (left) and Amy Marsh of Samuel French, Inc. The Geeks are joined by Amy Marsh and Casey McLain of Samuel French, Inc., in New York, to talk about the Samuel French Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival, a competitive play writing festival now in its 38th year. Samuel French, Inc, is the largest of the theatrical publishing and licensing companies, and has been around since the early 1800s. The company ha...