Behind the Scenes

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 22:01:46 -0400

People often ask me why I write the plays for Center Stage performances. Is it because royalties are expensive for popular shows? Is it because I can tailor the roles to the group of students I have? Is it because I like writing plays? “Yes” to all of those. Royalties for shows are expensive – understandably so – usually in the thousands of dollars for several performances. Most of the popular musicals tend to have only a few lead parts with most of the cast in “chorus” roles. The number of vocal solos might be very limited and dances either too difficult (“West Side Story”) or almost non-existent. On the other hand, the big name musicals attract lots of new students and a very good audience (ticket sales).

I began writing my own plays to provide the opportunity for more students to demonstrate their skills and talents, keeping in mind the group of students I anticipated working with for each show. I do thoroughly enjoy the entire creative process. It begins with outlining a story line, writing the script and developing characters, inventing new lyrics to well-known tunes or musical scores, like Tchaikovsky’ s “Nutcracker.” That is only the first step though, as another whole level of creative collaboration happens the minute the roles are filled and we begin to rehearse. There are often huge changes that happen at that point – new characters added, new lines, deleting whole scenes – that cannot happen with a popular show for which we have to adhere to a contract.

Our March 28 & 29 production of Disney’s “Mulan” has been an experiment, so to speak – the first traditional show in Center Stage’s repertoire. The very next week, beginning April 1st, we will be jumping right back into rehearsals of our Spring Show, “Sleeping Beauty.” I wrote the script over my winter vacation, and will write the lyrics to Tchaikovsky’s beautiful ballet score within the next couple of weeks. The story is a blend of many traditional Fairy Tale elements with lots of fun characters and little twists. We will be returning to our usual procedure of auditions which split the students into three levels of “workshop” days, which will require and include the Triple Threat classes as well as the rehearsals. To avoid confusion and much additional office time, we are also reverting back to a single fee paid to Center Stage (Stage Hands, Inc. will still get a production fee, but your individual payments will be pooled into one check from Center Stage).

I would love some feedback from people involved in “Mulan,” as well as others of my plays, as to what you like or dislike about both. Do we want to continue with the original plays? Or do we want to do more plays like “Mulan?” Both? What do the students find to be more rewarding? What makes sense financially? These are all questions we will explore when planning for next year. Thank you for your comments!
TAK

Behind the Scenes

Thu, 6 Dec 2007 21:53:21 -0500

Have you ever seen James Lipton’s “Actor’s Studio” on the Bravo channel? Each hour show is an interview with one particular famous actor, a master class for the theater students at the new School in NY. I love to hear the likes of Matt Damon or Meryl Streep talk about their early acting experiences and training - most of them speak very fondly of those years, often feeling that theater was the one place that they fit in and felt terrific.
They also demonstrate an enormous amount of discipline and hard work - no one is ever an “overnight success.” There are all the small roles - and even rejections - that come before that break-out role in “Titanic.”
Our little conservatory here at Center Stage is not much different. The kids who are in the limelight are, almost without exception, those who are serious students, here almost every day in private lessons, dance classes, theater workshops and performing groups, as well as opportunities at school. They often remain in a beginner or intermediate level class for two or three years, watching and learning from other students as well as their teachers, improving their skills in all three areas (singing, acting, dance - the so-called “triple threat”) and make the most of any of their time on stage.
It is not only class time but especially performance experience that fosters growth. We have students in lead roles in our current productions who have been in over a dozen shows at Center Stage in addition to their school plays, and have sung over 30 performances with the Center Stage Singers, acting, singing, dancing, playing the piano - all are great fun and full of so many of life’s important lessons, including an appreciation for hard work, patience, and most of all the wonderful sense of community, support and affection the students have for each other.
It is our goal at Center Stage to offer the best opportunities we can to make that happen for our budding performers.
TAK

Behind the Scenes with Director Tish Anne Kilgore

Behind the Scenes

Behind the Scenes

Behind the Scenes with Director  Tish Anne Kilgore