Althouse: "The thing that hooked me was just working my butt off onstage, drenched in sweat, and then you get out of costume and you step outside, and you’re under this canopy of stars and it’s just beautiful."

August 13, 2024

"The thing that hooked me was just working my butt off onstage, drenched in sweat, and then you get out of costume and you step outside, and you’re under this canopy of stars and it’s just beautiful."

"You feel like you’ve done something worthwhile, and you feel like you’ve made some kind of impact in human beings’ lives."

Said Gavin Lawrence, a member of the core acting company at the American Players Theater, quoted in "An Unexpected Bright Spot in Theater? Look to Wisconsin.No musicals and no mics: At American Players Theater in Wisconsin, nothing comes between the actors, their words and the public" (NYT).

Great to see a big article in the NYT about APT.

18 comments:

Iman said...: Stunningly brave…; 8/13/24, 8:34 AM
Temujin said...: It does sound like an amazing venue to see theater.; 8/13/24, 8:40 AM
Ann Althouse said...: There's a lot in the article about how they have not succumbed to microphones and how much better that is and how well they work on being heard humanly.; 8/13/24, 8:51 AM
Temujin said...: It almost makes me want to come up to Wisconsin for the first time in decades, to see a performance. Looking at the map, it's also near Taliesin, so we could make a 'thing' out of the trip. Maybe next summer. When we're in the pits of heat and humidity down here. I'll have to keep an eye on the schedule at APT.; 8/13/24, 9:00 AM
Emilie said...: Hope to make a trip to Wisconsin to see APT. We traveled to Staunton, Virginia earlier this year to see three plays staged by the American Shakespeare Center at Blackfriars Playhouse. Sounds like a similar philosophy - no microphones or electric instruments. However, Blackfriars is a gorgeous recreation of Shakespeare's indoor theater (not the Globe, which was open to the elements). The actors were incredibly energetic and fun to watch. Very creative adaptations of the plays. A highly recommended road trip!; 8/13/24, 9:10 AM
Eva Marie said...: “working my butt off drenched in sweat”
It’s somehow seen as heroic when performers work through pain and discomfort for the entertainment of an audience. Seen as stupidity or employer abuse in any other profession.; 8/13/24, 9:57 AM
Eva Marie said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 8/13/24, 9:57 AM
RCOCEAN II said...: Looked up their website. An amazing variety of plays. 2 black plays, 1 Hispanic play, 2 by Shakespeare, 1 French comedy, 1 Irish play, and a romance by Nick Payne.; 8/13/24, 10:27 AM
Anne in Rockwall, TX said...: When I was a kid, we had The Kenley Players every summer at Memotial Hall I Dayton. I saw Yul Brenner in The King and I, Sonny Bono in A Funny Thing Happened obpn the way to the Forum, Carol Lawrence I Funny Girl. It was a magical time every year.

From Wikipedia

The Kenley Players was an Equity summer stock theatre company which presented hundreds of productions[1] featuring Broadway, film, and television stars[2] in Midwestern cities between 1940 and 1995. Variety called it the "largest network of theaters on the straw hat circuit."[3] Founded by and operated for its entire lifespan by John Kenley, it is credited with laying the groundwork for Broadway touring companies.[2]

The company's success was predicated on booking big-name stars for their box office potential, casting them in familiar plays and musicals, and keeping prices low, thereby attracting large crowds.[4] In its heyday, Kenley Players productions drew crowds of 5,000 in Dayton, Akron, Columbus, Flint, Michigan, and Warren, Ohio.[1] Kenley "pioneered the notion of putting TV stars in summer stock."[5] In a 1950 interview Kenley told The Washington Post, "I only charge $1.50 top...I'd rather have full houses every night than be stuck with a batch of empty seats."[6]

Headliners included Tallulah Bankhead, Cyd Charisse, Rosemary Clooney, Olivia de Havilland, Veronica Lake, Gypsy Rose Lee, Arthur Godfrey, Rudy Vallée, Tommy Tune, Burt Reynolds, George Maharis, Ethel Merman, Mae West, Billy Crystal, William Shatner, Betty White, Florence Henderson, Mickey Rooney, Roddy McDowall, Marlene Dietrich, Jayne Mansfield, Rock Hudson and Gloria Swanson.[5][7] Those who appeared in more than five productions included Edie Adams, Ed Ames, Vivian Blaine, Mitzi Gaynor, Vincent Price, Genevieve, Robert Goulet, Lois Hunt, Van Johnson, Carol Lawrence, Paul Lynde, Gordon MacRae, Ann Miller, Karen Morrow, John Raitt, Martha Raye, Alexis Smith, Betty White, Barry Williams, and Earl Wrightson.[8] In 1972, 1973, and 1975, Karen Valentine appeared in Columbus, Ohio.[9] In 1978, Sue Ane Langdon appeared in Chicago in Columbus, Ohio.[10]

Backstage called the Kenley Players "a legendary summer stock circuit."[6] Playbill called it "for decades, a renowned midwestern summer stock outfit."[4] During the period The Phil Donahue Show was broadcast from Dayton, celebrities appearing in Kenley productions appeared regularly, giving Kenley national publicity.; 8/13/24, 10:28 AM
Rusty said...: It is the best venue for Shakespear as long as there are no mosquitos, and it isn't raining, and it's not too hot, and if everybody took a shower beforehand.; 8/13/24, 1:59 PM
Dr Weevil said...: Emilie:
If you saw an old bald guy with a cane sitting in one of the corner Gallant Stools (front or back) at any of the shows, that was me. I live a block away and go every week. Be sure to say hello if you come again and see me there. (I'm a bit claustrophobic - a serious handicap for a theater fan - so I'm always at the end of whatever row I'm in.); 8/13/24, 2:26 PM
loudogblog said...: When I was doing summer theater at Occidental College in the early 1980s., we did five shows in rep; a modern play, a classic play, a Shakespeare play, a musical and a Gilbert and Sullivan. We had to be heard to the farthest seat out in the giant, concrete, outdoor amphitheater and it was big. It could seat about 2000 people. And there were no microphones. Now, all the performers at The indoor Bird Cage theater at Knott's Berry Farm insist on using wireless microphones even though the audience is only about 20 feet away. (At the furthest) As an actor, I can definitely say that adding microphones has taken away some of the human element of performing and affected theater negatively. It's also made a lot of performers vocally lazy. They talk in quiet, conversational tones when the characters should be raising their voices.

https://www.google.com/search?q=remsen+bird+hillside+amphitheater&rlz=1C1VDKB_enUS1072US1073&oq=Remsen+Bird+Hillside+am&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBwgBECEYoAEyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRigATIHCAMQIRigATIHCAQQIRigATIHCAUQIRigATIHCAYQIRirAjIHCAcQIRirAtIBCTY5MzlqMGoxNagCCLACAQ&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8; 8/13/24, 3:10 PM
rehajm said...: I reckon with their budget he’s gotta wear that sweaty costume again tomorrow…; 8/13/24, 3:48 PM
Paddy O said...: The science of sound and George Whitefield speaking to massive crowds; 8/13/24, 4:23 PM
Mikey NTH said...: Like high school theater. Enunciate and project.; 8/13/24, 7:49 PM
walter said...: Are they Twerking out there now?; 8/13/24, 9:02 PM
Emilie said...: Dr. Weevil, that is wonderful! What a lovely area in which to live, aside from the great bonus of having Blackfriars Playhouse a block away! I may indeed remember seeing you - is it possible that at one point in A Midsummer Night's Dream you had the donkey's ears placed on your head, or am I thinking of someone else? The actor/audience interaction is certainly an entertaining part of the show.; 8/14/24, 5:40 AM
Dr Weevil said...: Yes, that was me. Back gallant stool on the left. And they didn't put it on my head, they handed it to me to hold and I put it on my head. Lots of opportunities for those on stage to join in the action. Ask for gallant stools next time you come. And do say hello.; 8/14/24, 8:35 PM