Saturday, September 29, 2007
Turning All of Manhattan Into a Broadway Stage
New York Times: "“Musical” is put together by the Miami artist Dara Friedman, who works primarily with film. (She has a work currently at the Museum of Modern Art and recently had a show at the Kitchen in Chelsea.) Last year Rochelle Steiner, the director of the Public Art Fund, which commissions and presents exhibitions in public spaces in New York, encouraged Ms. Friedman to do something for the fund."
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14 comments:
This reminds me very much of the Augusto Boal style of invisible theatre. I am curious if people have tried to get involved and join in. It would totally go along with Boal's concept of breaking the boundary of an audience, and would also serve as fanstastic reality television.
I think one of the points this article brings up is that theater is not just an art... it is a business. It is called show business after all. Shows like Hairspray and Wicked are famous becuase they are able to rake in the dough. This festival is not necessarily chocked full of awe inspiring, high intellectual art, it is made of companies trying to bring their art to higher grounds. And usually to get to those 'higher grounds', you need to make something that will make money.
I disagree with Liz I think that art shouldn't be looked at as a business. At least for me and I think most people going into theatre know that they aren't going to lead a rich lifestyle that's just how this business is but I think people should think of it more as art you have to be creative and you have to be inspired most businesses don't rely on being creative. This article was amusing to me I think that if people want to break out in song in the middle of Grand Central Station that they should be able to the fact that someone is directing these people to sing in random places is even more amusing. It reminds me of when I came to visit Purnell last year and there was a show that was happening in the lobby. I was wondering why CMU was doing a show in the lobby and then I realized that they have a stage they just choose to do a show in the lobby and that was very intriguing to me and very creative and defiantly part of the reason that I decided to come here.
I've done this before. When I get the chance i go to central park and sing out loud with my friends or without them. I'm not saying this is normal behavior, it just feels good. I think its wonderful that someone caught on to how lovely the feeling is and is encouraging it. I persoally think that life should be a musical. If walking down the street people started bursting into song i wouldnt be startled, i would be happy. and i think its good to encrease happiness. This is wonderful.
I am remind of the famous line: "There's no business like Show business"... It is very common to see in Broadway NY or London where so many revenue is generated from tourists coming to watch musicals and performances.
Even when my heart still goes out to off broadway plays, I feel I will still watch the film after it is completed.
I would love to have seen that.
It's one of those things where people who criticize musical theater will go "that doesn't happen in real life" but clearly to the reactions of people in grand central, even if it doesn't happen, it's not a big deal. There is something wonderful about having around the city people singing at different points what they most want to say.
And i vote for Rico to star in that reality show.
I thin tis is actually a very interesting and original conversion of what people consider a traditional musical. "all the worlds a stage." this is true, performances not so randomly strewn about the city, in locations that are as far from a traditional stage as possible. I like the refreshing approach to public performance and i ma very interested in seeing how this project plays out in the future.
There's something fascinating about taking conventional concepts entirely out of the box. There have always been people trying to do this, and in so many separate forms. However, can you imagine other conventional things taken place candidly? Something else besides artistic expression?
Picture three men working out on a bowflex in the middle of a subway station.
Or a person building a computer right in the middle of a corn field.
The things that catch my eye the quickest, are the things that are boundless and completely unexpected. I'm sure many others would agree.
This idea sums up the true meaning of art. It brings out a true emotion in a person, while making you stop and thing. It is so raw, and real, like a page out of a book. At the same time it is done in a way that would make a person think that the actor may just be some crazy bum. Whatever people think of it, this project is still worth while in my mind.
but is there really that much of a difference between this and a bum street performer? maybe it is a little more organized, but maybe we should also be looking at what bums are singing on the street? why not?
Well but what nobody has mentioned is that there are performers EVERYWHERE in NYC. And most people that live in NY don't even bat an eye when one passes by, regardless of what they are singing about. So really the only people who respond and become spectators are tourists, not New Yorkers.
I like the fact that they are actually trying to make musicals happen in real life. That's always been my one vice with the idea of a musical that the true suspension of disbelief is that everyone in this community that the story is taking place knows all the dance moves and words to every song that happen. To have random people start singing out loud in New York, not in an attempt to film reactions but to film the effect it has on people to also burst into song, just seems like and interesting study to me.
i've always wondered what it would be like if a musical actually happened in real life; and this is exactly how i imagined it. some people would look and others, most, would just keep on walking. i think this is a great idea and i would even say that they should try it in a city that is not as desensitized as New York City. no offense, but no one cares in nyc. you could scream for help and most likely everyone would glance and keep walking. it would be really funny to do it in a smaller more conservative town and film that reaction.
Wow, I would love to randomly be walking around and have that catch my attention. I think it is a terrific idea, and not just because I would like to observe people's reactions. I think it would be so much fun and really bring a good mood to the area, lighten everyone's spirits. Plus let's face it, it seems quite entertaining.
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