There will be chats with the leading professionals in the fields of music, art, theater, dance, and literature. You will see the latest news in the museums and art galleries. Arts managers and press agents will provide valued information.
Check out audition and television tips. Writers (not only in the arts field) will contribute their knowledge - along with a few surprises.
I hope you will find "Artistically Speaking" interesting, fun, and informative.
David Muse, the new Artistic Director of The Studio Theatre, is beginning directorship this September. Is he busy? You can bet he is, so I was so pleased he agreed to answer some questions. He says this is a thrill of a lifetime. It is the classic American story of a boy from a small town, born in Appleton Wisconsin and grew up in Fulton, Missouri (pop.11,000). He found his passion and pursued it with dedication and intensity. He graduated from the Yale School of Drama, moved to New York City and came to Washington when Michael Kahn offered him a job with the Shakespeare Theatre Company.
He began his directing career with The Studio Theatre 2ndStage. Muse was the director for The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow. The Helen Hayes Award winning Blackbird, Julius Caesar and Henry V at the Shakespeare Theatre along with many other plays for New York Summer Theatre Festival, Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival and Theater Alliance plus several other theaters.
Enjoy his answers, I did.
DM: It depends a lot on the part and the play, obviously. In general, I like actors with active imaginations and who show some real insight into the character or play. Emotional availability is often of critical importance for the type of plays we do at Studio. Then there are technical skills – speech, voice, movement, skill with style – different skills are more or less important depending on the material. And of course, I’m looking for someone with whom I want to work for five intense weeks!
MD: How far in advance will you be planning your seasons and what determines which plays you will choose?
DM: Season planning is an ongoing process – we’re always reading plays, getting to know artists, and paying attention to what’s going on in the theatre all over the country and around the world. A wide variety of factors influence which plays I’ll choose: whether a play is written with sophistication and style, whether it’s a good fit for our spaces, whether it affords great opportunities for actors and designers to shine, whether it holds commercial appeal, whether there is variety within a season. But mostly, I want a play that lights my fire for some reason, and the danger with choosing things too far in advance is that the fire in your belly that says WE NEED TO DO THIS PLAY NOW can fade with time.
DM: I’ve been influenced and inspired by countless people, but the three most significant are Michael Kahn at the Shakespeare Theatre, Joy Zinoman, whom I’m succeeding at The Studio Theatre, and my high school theatre teacher, Doug Allbritton.
MD: Do you have a dream list of plays you want to produce and direct and why?
DM: The dream list changes all the time, as I change, as the theatre changes, as the world around me changes. As a director, I try to make the play I’m currently working on my dream play for now. You do what’s apposite to the times and relish what’s in front of you, whether it’s a gourmet meal or a burger and fries.
That's it. Thanks.
MD: And I thank you David. I along with everyone involved in the theater wish you well and we look forward to your continued success.
MD: As a director, what qualities do you look for when you audition actors?
MD: Who have been the most influential people in your theatrical career?
The Smithsonian American Art Museum has a stunning exhibition, Telling Stories: Norman Rockwell from the Collections of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. There are 57 paintings and is the first major exhibition to explore Rockwell’s connection to Hollywood and the movies. Norman Rockwell (1894-1978) was not only a painter but a masterful storyteller. Be sure and see the short film with Lucas and Spielberg. This is an exhibition for the entire family. Closes on Jan. 2, 2011. (See Catalog.)
Hallelujah! Evan Smith’s comedy The Savannah Disputation arrived at the Olney Theatre Center. It was an area premiere and it is clever, original and funny. The play is a heavenly debate argued brilliantly by Brigid Cleary, Beth Hylton, Michelle Tauber and Jeff Allin. John Going was the referee-director. It closed on August 22nd.
I went to a lovely reception at the Newseum. The occasion was a preview of the film “The Big Uneasy.” It is a Harry Shearer film about new Orleans and the affect Katrina had on that city. A Q&A session followed the showing of the film.
Grass Roots: African Origins of an American Art is a fabulous exhibition at the Smithsonian African Art Museum. You cannot help but marvel at the handcrafted basket weaving made from sweetgrass in South Carolina. There are several films which show you the weavers applying their craft, from the pulling out of the grass to the finished project. There are more than 200 objects from Africa and the United States. In order to fully appreciate their work you may have to go more than once. Closes on Nov. 28th.
There is an exhibition of the Norwegian artist Edvard Munch (1865-1944) at the National Gallery of Art, East Building. It is entitled: Edvard Munch: Master Prints. There are 60 of his most important prints depicting love, attraction, death and other universal human experiences. It is organized in five sections featuring side-by-side comparisons of related prints. Munch was the most powerful and influential of the modern Norwegian artists. On view until October 31st.
Who would think the Cold War and the game of chess would be material for a rock musical? Well, the male half of ABBA, Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Anderson, with lyrics by Tim Rice did. Signature Theatre’s Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer, who has revamped the show, has made Chess a romantic musical. It is a winner! The cast headed by Broadway stars Jill Paice, Euan Morton and Jeremy Kushnier are terrific, as are the rest of the cast. The musical conductor is Jenny Cartney. Chess is melodic and high-spirited. Highly recommended; extended to October 3rd.
I was invited to a lovely lunch at the Kennedy Center. It was their annual Membership Legacy Luncheon, which honors all the supporters of the Center. Everything about it was perfect. The food and drink were excellent, and we had as an added treat two young performers. Alexander Biniaz-Harris, pianist 17 years old and the violinist Brian Hong, 16 years old. They played two selections, Beethoven and Massenet. A great time was had by all. I think it would be nice if they had this every week.
Woolly MammothTheatre Company started their 31st season with Sarah Ruhl’s 2010 Pulitzer Prize-Finalist In The Next Room or the vibrator play. It is directed by Aaron Posner. We are in the 19th century. We are talking decorum where things are not spoken about, certain things are never done or are they? Her play is about relationships between the sexes and what actually goes on in the next room. The actors are all excellent. Is it sexy? Absolutely. But there is also lots of comedy and the audience loved it. Closes on Sept. 19th.
Theater J is presenting Willy Holtzman's political play Something You Did. The scene is a prison library where a woman who was a member of a radical activist group has been in prison for 30 years for anti-war bombing which resulted in the death of a police officer. Her lawyer has a new plan to get her a parole. Old wounds are opened up as past secrets are revealed. Deborah Hazlett, Rick Foucheux, and Norman Aronovic star under the direction of Eleanor Holdridge. It is a gripping drama. Closes Oct. 3rd.
That’s it for now. See you in October.
Here are a couple of places you may not be familiar with or if you are you haven’t been there in a long time.
Here is where you can discover thirty-five hundred works of art throughout three floors of open storage.
You can stroll through this handsome facility or check out their audio tour if you desire. You’ll see paintings, sculptures, miniatures, craft objects and folk art pieces from the collection of the Smithsonian American Art Collection.
If you prefer a guided tour they have them at 1:30 pm. (Meet in the F Street lobby). Complimentary coffee or tea is available every Wednesday through Sunday 1:30-3:30 pm. It is self service and there are tables and chairs where you can sit and enjoy it.
Every Tuesday 3-4:30 pm there is sketching and drawing. You can get inspiration from artists’ sketches and drawings and then spend some time in their workshop doing your own artwork. Some materials are provided. It is best to bring your own sketchbook and pencils.
Free public Wireless Internet Access (Wi-Fi) is available in the Luce Center.
It is not overly crowded so you can take your time exploring all the artwork and sit and relax.
Right around the corner on the third floor you’ll find the Lunder Conservation Center. As you walk along the corridor there are glass walls from floor to ceiling where you can observe the conservators at work in five different laboratories. This is work that is usually done behind the scenes.
To preserve our cultural heritage the art conservator, the art historian, the conservation scientist all work together.
Go up to the fourth floor and watch how the paintings are being preserved and in some cases repaired.
You are not allowed to go into the laboratories, but the glass walls afford you a great view of the work that is being done.
Every Wednesday at 3 pm there is a tour where you can see first hand how this all works. Meet at the Luce Foundation Information Desk, third floor mezzanine.
If you have any questions about a painting, frame, drawing, print or object you own, American Art conservators are available, free of charge on the first Wednesday of the month. You need to make an appointment and that is easy, just e-mail DWRCLunder@si.edu and specify CLINIC in the subject line.
The Center presents many public programs to members of the professional conservation community, students who aspire to a career in conservation and families who want to learn more about how to preserve their own treasures. All programs and tours are free unless otherwise noted.
See: www.LunderConservation.si.edu for more information.
Location and time the same as the Luce Center.THE LUCE FOUNDATION CENTER FOR AMERICAN ART
Location: Eighth and F Streets NW
Hours: 11:30-7 pm daily (except Dec. 25th)
Free admission
Web site: LuceFoundationCenter.si.edu
Albert Bierstadt
Among the Sierra Nevada, California, 1868
Photo courtesy of the Smithsonian American Art MuseumLUNDER CONSERVATION CENTER
Before
AfterCONSERVATION CLINIC
This is a large and beautiful catalog. It complements the current exhibition at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. It is written by Virginia M. Mecklenburg, senior curator and organizer of the exhibition. There is a contribution by Todd McCarthy on Norman Rockwell’s Camera Eye. He is the long time film critic for Variety.
Rockwell drew his images from American life during the first half of the twentieth century. He said “I tell the stories through the characters.” Both Lucas and Spielberg still feel the power of the Rockwell magazine covers they encountered as young boys.
The written words are wonderful. However it is the pictures that will bring back memories to many. To those of you who have never seen these magazine covers you will see how truthful he was. You will also realize what a master illustrator he was.
Rockwell was a genius at finding and visualizing stories that endure says Elizabeth Broun, The Margaret and Terry Stent Director of the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
This is a catalog you will want to own. The pictures have humor, pathos, drama or as the title says “Telling Stories.” Indeed they do. (See Applause.)