Oh, John Prine. This is one of my favorites. I go through stages where I play it endlessly. I'm in one of those stages right now.
Sunday, October 07, 2012
Why Write for the Theater? Part 2.
It turns out the question is not why write for theater.
The question is why theater? Why am I making theater? Am I making theater?
Why is it theater?
Does it need to be theater?
You can't assume these things.
You can't just assume that because you're a playwright that you're actually writing a play or that whatever it is you're writing is theater. Or if you're a director that what you make is theater. Or if you're a theater company that what you produce is theater. Maybe it isn't.
It has to be tested.
You test it in the studio. You test it by letting go of your assumptions and expectations. You test it by being open to the question. By interrogating it rigorously. By questioning your motives. By allowing others to question your motives and assumptions. You test it with the audience. Perhaps not the fairest test.
Where is the theater?
To find it you have to be receptive. To find it, you sometimes have to look the other way and let it come to you.
Sometimes you have to say "fuck it" and leap.
The question is why theater? Why am I making theater? Am I making theater?
Why is it theater?
Does it need to be theater?
You can't assume these things.
You can't just assume that because you're a playwright that you're actually writing a play or that whatever it is you're writing is theater. Or if you're a director that what you make is theater. Or if you're a theater company that what you produce is theater. Maybe it isn't.
It has to be tested.
You test it in the studio. You test it by letting go of your assumptions and expectations. You test it by being open to the question. By interrogating it rigorously. By questioning your motives. By allowing others to question your motives and assumptions. You test it with the audience. Perhaps not the fairest test.
Where is the theater?
To find it you have to be receptive. To find it, you sometimes have to look the other way and let it come to you.
Sometimes you have to say "fuck it" and leap.
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