Episodes

Aug. 26, 2011

41 Miss America pageant system and performing arts (Miss Indiana, part 2)

Miss Indiana Jackie Jerlecki joins us for a second episode to talk about how her experience in the Miss America Pageant system dovetails with her performing arts and theatre aspirations. Do young women learn about performance as participants in pageants
Aug. 19, 2011

41B Bonus episode — planning AACT Fest 2013 in Carmel, Indiana

Back in April at the Indiana Community Theatre League festival in Kokomo, we interviewed Larry Creviston, Chairman of the AACT National Festival, which will be in Carmel, Indiana (just North of Indianapolis) in June of 2013. Finally, here is that conversa
Aug. 12, 2011

40 Miss Indiana’s Youth Theatre Dreams

Miss Indiana, Jackie Jerlecki, joined the Geeks to discuss her public service platform, which, incidentally, involves theatre! This is the first of two episodes with Jackie, who is also choreographing Elkhart Civic Theatre's production of Joseph and the
Aug. 1, 2011

39 Do you update a dated play?

Discussion of if, when and how to update older material. Can you? Should you? It depends. John, Dave and Marcia put their collective brains to the problem. Send us YOUR thoughts. Music provided by Music Alley.
July 6, 2011

38: Laugh or Cry: Our personal favorite theatrical blunders (humorous and horrible).

The geeks share some of their favorite personal stories of on-stage bloopers that are sometimes funny, sometimes not. We all have them. Why not share some of yours with us for an upcoming episode? Music provided by Music Alley.
June 18, 2011

37: Flying Blind: Staging a play when the script’s no help

Many scripts are surprising lacking in information about staging, set design, and other details. This challenges the director and cast to do their research and even re-invent the play to fit a particular theatre and troupe. The Geeks (John, Marcia and
April 23, 2011

36: Sixty-eight years in community theatre

Mary Olendorf, a 68-year veteran of community theatre, from New Buffalo, Michigan, talks about her years in theatre, the festival system, and the value of community theatre. This is an interview Dave did during the Indiana Community Theatre League Festiv
April 16, 2011

35: Theatre competitions aren’t about the awards … or are they?

Theatre Festivals allow for some collegial competition between community theatre groups. In this show, recorded before the Indiana Community Theatre League competition, John, Dave and Marcia talk about the pros and cons of such festivals, along with some
April 14, 2011

34: Interview with cast of New World Arts’ “The Pillow Man”

Dave interviews the cast of one of two productions of Martin McDonagh's The Pillow Man at the Indiana Community Theatre League Festival
April 9, 2011

33: Community Theatre Festivals and Competition

The Geeks interview Ross Rowland, Past President of the Indiana Community Theatre League, and active festival adjudicator in the USA and internationally.
March 29, 2011

32: A peek inside the mind(s) of theatre festival judges

When the adjudicators (judges) at a theatre festival evaluate the competition, how do they make their evaluations?
March 12, 2011

31: Dealing with a Diva in the Theatre

Sometimes talented actors can become difficult to deal with, for director, crew and fellow cast members. The diva, or prima donna, can be a special challenge.
Feb. 26, 2011

30: What the #@&! — dealing with profanity and explicit language in community theatre

What to do about those pesky cusswords? Many modern plays have explicit language, unlike most of the classics we grew up with. With changing artistic standards, community theatres often have to make the choice to produce or not produce a particular pl
Feb. 13, 2011

29: Theatre FOR children vs theatre WITH children

In this episode of Theatre Geeks, we have more with children's playwright Kevin M. Reese and the Geeks: Dave Dufour, John Shoup and Marcia Fulmer. The gang talks about the differences between children's theatre (theatre performed for children by adults)
Jan. 30, 2011

28: Writing for children’s theatre

A visit with playwright Kevin M. Reese Children's playwright Kevin M. Reese joins the Geeks for a lively conversation about the art, craft and business of writing, selling and producing plays for kids. Kevin is the owner of KMR Scripts in the Wichita, K
Dec. 23, 2010

27: Developing and caring for donors

Donors are the lifeblood of many not-for-profit organizations and community theatres are no exception. Join the Geeks, plus Rick Ellis and fund-raising/not-for-profit expert Kristin Schwerha-Scott as we discuss the development, care and feeding of your
Dec. 9, 2010

26: Youth and Children’s Theatre

Youth theatre and children's theatre represent great opportunities for community theatres to grow their audiences and train the next generation of players at the same time. This week, in the second of three episodes from Elkhart's Daily Grind, the Geeks
Nov. 10, 2010

25: Plays every community theatre should produce

The Geeks present their picks for community theatre "must do" plays and musicals. Classics, contemporary shows, comedies, tragedies, reviews; they're all candidates, but which will be blessed by the Geeks? Guest Geek Rick Ellis joins us in this epis
Oct. 31, 2010

24: Audience Smack-down 101 (They’re Misbehavin’)

Audience etiquette takes center stage as John Shoup, Dave Dufour, Marcia Fulmer and guest Geek Randy Zonker vent about the things some theatre patrons do to make things less enjoyable for other patrons.
Oct. 27, 2010

23: House Rules: Managing your theatre’s public face

What's the first thing your patrons judge your theatre by? It's not the quality of the play. More likely, it's the cleanliness of your restrooms, the competence of your box office staff, and the friendliness of your ushers. These are all part of
Oct. 5, 2010

22: Let there be light

In community theatre, lighting is often considered something of a (no pun intended) dark art. Many theatres consider lighting last, when it's an integral part of creating moods, adding texture and content, and moving the play's action forward (besides
Sept. 12, 2010

21: You can't always get what you want

The Geeks discuss what directors can and should do when the auditions don't bring in enough or the right kind of actors for a particular production.
Aug. 30, 2010

20: Experimental Theatre (Huh?)

Guest Geek Rick Ellis joins John, Marcia and Dave to discuss the concept of experimental theatre, what it is, how it started, why theatres should undertake experimental productions and more. Theme music comes from Al Phlipp and the Woo Team via Music All
Aug. 18, 2010

19: Death takes a holiday

Holiday shows are a staple of many community theatres' seasons, and they come in all levels of complexity and cost. But why do them at all? Don't we get enough holiday spirit from every other corner without feeling like we absolutely have to mount a h