Theatre Geeks: Recent Episodes
Theatre Geeks
News and commentary about community theatre and the performing arts in general. Dave Dufour, John Shoup and Marcia Fulmer are long-time community theatre participants. John is artistic and technical director at Elkhart Civic Theatre, Marcia Fulmer has been an entertainment writer and critic for many years and Dave Dufour is an award-winning director, and actor, who is also a full-time advertising consultant. Join us for some great interviews, common sense advice and interesting takes on theatre news from around the world.
Happy New Year! As we gear up for some new episodes in 2017, Dave is clearing out some of our backlog of episodes that have been left unedited and saved "for a rainy day." So here's another one of these, on the pros and cons of adjudicators.
Marcia’s final episode from March 2019, in which she talks about her years in theatre and the newspaper business. Marcia passed away a few weeks after this was recorded.
In our first new episode in sometime, we get the three of us together along with actress and Theatre Geek Marcia Fulmer's daughter Deirdre Lovejoy to talk about Marcia's years in and around the theatre, newspapers and our shared experiences in communit...
Happy New Year! As we gear up for some new episodes in 2017, Dave is clearing out some of our backlog of episodes that have been left unedited and saved "for a rainy day." So here's another one of these, on the pros and cons of adjudicators.
Patrons who make noise, patrons who unwrap loud candy and even patrons who stink. What to do??
This episode, Texas playwright Elaine Liner joins us to talk about her latest work, Finishing School, which gets its world premiere September 8 at the Geeks home theatre, Elkhart Civic Theatre at the Bristol Opera House. -
The Geeks return to the issue of enunciation and diction in community theatre productions, how to deal with actors that just don't get it, and why it's so important.
Music provided by Music Alley.
In this episode, the Geeks chat with Bronson Bontrager, Elkhart Civic Theatre's college intern for the spring 2017 semester. We discuss the benefits of internships, for both the theatre and the student.
We are finally back on the pod. After a lengthy absence John, Dave and Marcia are recording episodes again. More will be coming your way, as there are several in the can and we have plans for more in the near future.
In this episode we discuss a problem that plagues most of our theatres: do we do the old familiar shows, or risk something new that audiences are less familiar with? It's hard because many audience members don't like the idea of going to something that is outside their experience. We all know people who love seeing a classic any number of times, but don't go for what's mainstream today. But we also hear from people who DON'T want to see another production of Fiddler in the South Pacific near Oklahoma! Decisions, decisions. Maybe we can help, or at least add our insight to the perennial problem.
What do you do when you give a new actor a chance, based on a good or even great audition, but they never seem to rise to the same level in performance? The Geeks discuss.
Music provided by Music Alley.
Deirdre (Dede) Lovejoy joins the Geeks to talk about the recent Patti Lupone cell-phone snatch, working with Ang Lee in the upcoming "Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk," plus her own autobiographical play, "Bird Elephant China." Join us for great conversation.
Music provided by Music Alley
Improv artist making a difference in Chicago Jill is the founder of Storytown, a Chicago improv troupe that performs every Saturday morning in an interactive show for young people. Through Storytown , she works to cultivate creativity and arts appreciation while introducing audiences to story structure and problem solving. Storytown uses the core improvisation fundamental of “yes, and” so every suggestion and idea is accepted, embraced and developed. Storytown is a interactive improvisational musical that gives children hands on ownership of the arts. Children are encouraged to take an active role in Storytown. They can chose the location, design the backdrop, give suggestions for characters and plot, become characters themselves, and aide our performers in any way they can imagine. Storytown becomes the canvas for their imaginations.
Jill is also the current Chicago Director of Funny Bones Improv. Through this organization, she is able to bring the magic of improv and laughter to children and their care givers in Chicago hospitals. She is Improv Professor of Merriment with The Laughing Academy and Theater Teacher for Dream Big Performing Arts Workshop. She has served as Program Coordinator for This Is ME and Child Whisperer for The Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival. Jill Olson is originally from Towson University where she graduated Cum Laude with a BA in Theater Arts. She moved to Chicago and studied improvisation and is a graduate of the Second City and iO Training Programs.
The Geeks met Jill Olson when she came to our theatre as a judge for our Comedy Criminals Improv Festival and Competition, and it was a blast getting to know her. So, we couldn't wait to have her as a Theatre Geeks guest. In this episode she talks about the power of improv and theatre for kids (and adults).
Music provided by Music Alley.