Bouncing Back - 9 Ways to Recover and Thrive After a Disappointing Production Experience
Plus, your weekly round-up of theatre news you may have missed!
Welcome to The Scene, your weekly round-up of theatre news you may have missed. In this week’s email:
BROADWAY BEAT- Here Lies Love Announces Closing Date on Broadway | Alicia Keys Has Been Working on Her Musical Hell's Kitchen For a Decade | New Mischief Comedy Mind Mangler Begins Previews Off-Broadway | Barry Manilow Finally Gets His Wish: a Broadway Show
HOT TOPICS - The One Where Matthew Perry Wrote a Play, The End of Longing | In Danny and the Deep Blue Sea, Christopher Abbott and Aubrey Plaza Play Messed-Up People in A Messed-Up Love Story | Nothing is Up to Date in Sherman, Texas | House of Representatives vote to defund the NEA does not pass.
WEST END WATCH - Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express Extends Upcoming London Run | Duffer Brothers and ‘Stranger Things: The First Shadow’ Team Tease Henry Creel Origins in Stage Play | Patti LuPone: I was the only one who understood musical theatre in original Les Mis | ‘Chilling’ government statistics reveal a drop in UK performing arts jobs
THE BIG IDEA – Bouncing Back: 9 Ways to Recover and Thrive After a Disappointing Production Experience
PLAYSCRIPTS FREE READ OF THE WEEK - Lafayette No. 1 by Mandy Conner
The Broadway Beat
HERE LIES LOVE ANNOUNCES CLOSING DATE ON BROADWAY by Molly Higgins, Playbill - David Byrne and Fatboy Slim's musical will play its final performance at the Broadway Theatre.
ALICIA KEYS HAS BEEN WORKING ON HER MUSICAL HELL'S KITCHEN FOR A DECADE by Jeffrey Vizcaíno, Playbill - The 15-time Grammy winner on how, in the new Off-Broadway show, she's hearing songs anew.
NEW MISCHIEF COMEDY MIND MANGLER BEGINS PREVIEWS OFF-BROADWAY by Margaret Hall, Playbill -The show previously enjoyed a run in the West End, a U.K. tour, and a successful Edinburgh Fringe run.
BARRY MANILOW FINALLY GETS HIS WISH: A BROADWAY SHOW by Jesse McKinley, The New York Times - “Harmony,” about a singing group undone by Nazism, has been a decades-in-the-making labor of love for the singer and his longtime collaborator Bruce Sussman.
Hot Topics
THE ONE WHERE MATTHEW PERRY WROTE A PLAY, THE END OF LONGING by Margaret Hall, Playbill - The late Perry wrote and starred in an Off-Broadway play, which was down the street from the Friends apartment.
IN DANNY AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA, CHRISTOPHER ABBOTT AND AUBREY PLAZA PLAY MESSED-UP PEOPLE IN A MESSED-UP LOVE STORY by Nate Jones, Vulture - While doing the play, [Aubrey] Plaza is living on the Upper West Side with Patti LuPone.
NOTHING IS UP TO DATE IN SHERMAN, TEXAS by Howard Sherman, hesherman.com - The scurrilous, sensual, and shocking show in question? Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma!” The date of this communication? November 6, 2023.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES VOTE TO DEFUND THE NEA DOES NOT PASS by Ruthie Fierberg, Broadway News - An attempt to cut funding for the National Endowment for the Arts was thwarted.
West End Watch
ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER'S STARLIGHT EXPRESS EXTENDS UPCOMING LONDON RUN by Andrew Gans, Playbill - Luke Sheppard will direct the production at the specially designed Starlight Auditorium.
DUFFER BROTHERS AND ‘STRANGER THINGS: THE FIRST SHADOW’ TEAM TEASE HENRY CREEL ORIGINS IN STAGE PLAY by Abbey White, The Hollywood Reporter - A new featurette highlights how the West End prequel will bring a "cinematic" horror experience to London where fans can join an "audience reacting in a way that simply isn't possible with the show," say Matt and Ross Duffer.
PATTI LUPONE: I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO UNDERSTOOD MUSICAL THEATRE IN ORIGINAL LES MIS by Matthew Hemley, The Stage - LuPone has claimed she was the only one with "musical theatre pedigree" when she originated the role of Fantine in “Les Misérables” in the West End.
‘CHILLING’ GOVERNMENT STATISTICS REVEAL DROP IN PERFORMING ARTS JOBS by Georgia Luckhurst, The Stage - Filled jobs in music, performing, and visual arts have dropped by a total of 35,000 roles in the space of just under a year, UK government statistics have revealed.
The Big Idea
Bouncing Back: 9 Ways to Recover and Thrive After a Disappointing Production Experience
As a theater teacher, you pour your heart and soul into every production you bring to life. However, sometimes things don't go as planned, and a disappointing production experience can leave you feeling discouraged and unsure of how to move forward. Remember, setbacks are a natural part of the creative process and present valuable opportunities for growth and learning. With this in mind, here are 9 ways to help you recover and thrive after a disappointing production, ultimately strengthening both your students' skills and your own resilience.
Allow Yourself to Feel: Acknowledging and validating your emotions after a disappointing production is essential. Allow yourself to feel disappointed, frustrated, or even a bit defeated. Remember, it's natural to be invested in your work, and experiencing these emotions is a sign of your dedication and passion.
Reflect and Seek Feedback: After a lousy production experience, take a step back and reflect on what went wrong. While it's crucial not to dwell on every little mistake, understanding the root causes will help you avoid them in the future. Seek feedback and advice from trusted friends, colleagues, and especially fellow theatre educators. Constructive criticism can be invaluable in identifying areas for improvement.
Focus on the Wins: While it's essential to address disappointments, it's equally important to celebrate wins. Identify the moments and achievements that were successful in the production. Recognize and appreciate your colleagues and students who demonstrated hard work, dedication, and growth. Focusing on the positives can maintain morale and motivation for future productions.
Revisit Your Goals and Realign Expectations: Reevaluate your initial goals for the production and assess whether they were realistic. Perhaps you set the bar too high, or maybe unforeseen circumstances impacted the outcome. Adjust your expectations accordingly, considering the resources and constraints you face, to ensure you have set achievable goals for future productions.
Encourage Student Reflection: Engage your students in a reflective exercise to help them process their emotions and learn from the experience. Provide a safe space for them in small groups to express their thoughts and feelings about the production. Encourage them to share what they believe went well, what could have been improved, and what they individually learned from the experience. This discussion will not only help foster a sense of community but also provide valuable insights into the production process. Encourage students to brainstorm ideas for improvement and actively involve them in decision-making for future productions.
Seek Inspiration and Professional Development: In challenging times, get inspired! See professional theater, attend workshops, or participate in professional development opportunities. Learn from experienced professionals who have faced similar challenges and discover new techniques and strategies to enhance your teaching skills. Continuous learning and seeking inspiration will help you grow both personally and professionally.
Build a Supportive Network: Connect with other theater teachers, both locally and online, to share experiences, seek advice, and find support. Join theater teacher associations, participate in forums, or attend conferences to connect with like-minded individuals who understand the challenges of the profession. Building a supportive network will provide a valuable source of encouragement and help you bounce back from disappointments more quickly.
Take Time for Self-Care: Recovering from a lousy production experience can be mentally and emotionally draining. It's crucial to practice self-care during this time. Engage in activities that bring you joy and relaxation, whether it's reading a book, going for a walk, or indulging in a favorite hobby. Taking care of yourself will help rejuvenate your spirit and restore your enthusiasm.
Reinforce the Importance of Perseverance: Teach your students the valuable life lesson of perseverance. Remind them that setbacks are a natural part of any artistic journey and that true growth comes from rising above challenges. Encourage them to continue pursuing their passion for theater, emphasizing the importance of dedication, hard work, and resilience.
Recovering from a disappointing theater production experience is not easy, but with the right mindset and strategies, you can turn setbacks into stepping stones for future success. Remember, disappointments are temporary and they provide valuable opportunities for growth and learning. You are not alone in this journey, and with time, patience, and perseverance, you will create extraordinary theatrical experiences for your students and audiences alike.
FREE READS
Read entire plays for free! Free Reads titles are perfect for your theatre, school, and competition performances. Click on the play’s title or image to be taken to the Play’s page; once you are there, click the "READ NOW" button and enjoy!
Free Read of the Week
Lafayette No. 1
by Mandy Conner
The Story: As the yellow fever epidemic ravages the streets of 1816 New Orleans, no one thinks of the orphans known as the Forgotten--except for Lizzie Landry. Lizzie brings bread from her mother's kind employer to the band of homeless youths she's befriended, even though local police and politicians consider them nothing but a nuisance. But when the epidemic entangles Lizzie's fate with those of the Forgotten, they all must band together to hold the city accountable for their most vulnerable citizens. A haunting and immediate historical drama.
Drama | 35 - 45 minutes | 8 W, 7 M, (15-25 actors possible: 8-13 W, 7-12 M) | Set: Minimal