Critical feedback, Slam poetry, free workshops, and more. It's news and such.

Hello Chums -------- What do we want? Critical Feedback When do we want it? At very specific times and from very specific people, but do not assume that you are one of those people unless told so directly. There’s been a few different conversations running through large segments of the performing arts community recently about the quality of work made by Twin Cities theater artists and whether there are enough outlets to give critical feedback about that work. See this commentary in the Star Tribune – Twin Cities Theater needs a boldness injection See also this conversation about a juried MN Fringe – Fringe Festival: Shake it up Then quickly see Bill Stiteler’s response to the idea of a juried fringe – Bill wants you to shut the fuck up Also, see most green rooms in the Twin Cities and restaurants open late on Saturday nights Online eavesdropping on all this chatter got me thinking about myself. Let’s be honest, I was probably already thinking about myself. I don’t pride myself on being a creator of bold theater. I’m not terribly interested in pushing any envelopes. I think good art is about asking questions and its great when those questions are difficult or challenging but the kind of questions I mostly ask with my art fall into the area of what are we most afraid of and what’s funny about that. I like making satire and silliness and absurd things that can make a 5 year old and a 50 year old laugh at the same time. It’s not changing anyone’s life but hopefully reminding people to enjoy their life as it is. The part of these various discussions that does feel very applicable to my work and the work of a lot of my closest collaborators and friends is the issue of artistic quality. How does an artist maintain and perhaps even go beyond his or her desired level of quality in their work? For me the keys to quality are being continually disappointed in myself which pushes me to work harder and do better each time I make something while also working in comedy where the audience clearly indicates whether my artistic goals are being reached by either laughing or staring silently. Add to this the fact that I have a bunch of comedy artists in my life who I trust that will honestly and brutally tell me where I’m failing and where I’m succeeding and I have a mostly reliable quality control system for my theatrical work. I’ve always assumed that all theater artists have these systems in place for their work. I’ve assumed that theater artists are pushed by a dissatisfaction with their finished product and pushed by a desire to get an audience to engage fully with what their doing in the room while it’s being performed. And I assumed that all theater artists had people in their lives that they can turn to for a real, informed, respect and love-based reaction to their work. Sure I love the idea of skilled arts journalists writing about my work and about how they felt. That level of engagement isn’t something you can get from most audience members so its awesome when it happens. But the bulk of theater criticism that I’ve experienced directly and that I’ve read mostly has value for an artist like myself because I don’t have a marketing budget. A description of what happened in a show and whether those events where well done or not helps let audience members know that a show is happening but it doesn’t let me know as an artist whether or not I’m working at the quality level I intend. That comes from the laughs in the audience and from my honest when asked comedy friends. Do most theater artists have these systems in place? Do you? -------- Do you guys know about Poetry SlamMN? Maybe not. But you guys know Minnesota boasts one of the richest slam poetry communities in the country, right? You’re right, Minnesota doesn’t boast about much of anything, but we really do have heaps of amazing slam poets right here in town. They teach, they amaze, they even win national championships. Alright, really quickly even though I’m sure you all know this, here’s a brief description Poetry SlamMN from their website: “Slam poetry is the art of competitive poetry. During our regular season poets compete with original poetry trying to place high enough to earn a spot in our National Team Selection Slam in May. Winners are decided Olympic Style by 5 random audience members who score each poem from 0-10.” If you haven’t seen a slam poetry competition you’ve probably heard someone make fun of them. Sometimes those jokes are true but that doesn’t mean a good slam poetry show isn’t awesome. Because a good slam poetry competition is some of the best, most real theater you’ll see. And the SlamMN folks know how to get good poets to show up and keep things moving while staying loose and open to all levels of poet. Poetry SlamMN Season Opener The new season of Poetry SlamMN starts Tuesday, August 28th, at Kieran’s Irish Pub in downtown Minneapolis. The show is at 8pm. You can go, have drinks, and maybe see poets who will make it into the semi-finals and perhaps the national slam team? -------- Free stuff – check it out! New Bridge theatre company, out of Hastings, is offering free acting and stage combat workshops for young people on Sunday, September 2nd. They’ve got a workshop for 5 to 10 year olds called “Create your own Super Hero of Princess They’ve got a workshop for 11 to 15 year olds called “An intro to Acting And there’s a Stage Combat workshop for 16 to 19 year olds. New Bridge is a fairly new company so I haven’t heard much about what they offer but if you know a young person who wants to be a Super Hero or a teenager who thinks she already is this workshop may be just right. -------- You can watch a Minnesota-made movie full of Twin Cities actors and artists right now on the internet for free. And you wouldn’t be stealing it. Marty Doogin Arts, the folks behind the film ”HOPE,” want you to watch their movie and share it with your friends. “HOPE” features local actors such as; Charles Hubbell, Lauren Anderson, Mike Fotis, Clarence Wethern, Sam Landman, John Middleton and many many more. Give it a watch and count how many people you’ve worked with or watched on Twin Cities stages. -------- Well, that’s a few items to tide you over until they release a follow up to the Hot Cheetos & Takis video. I hope you have a week full of laughs and well-choreographed punches. -Levi