Friday, July 13, 2012
What Fantasy Production Would L.A. Artistic Directors Put On If They Had Unlimited Money?
LA Weekly: How would L.A. stages change if the theater gods were able to wave their magic wands and transform the local scene into a utopia? We asked a number of artistic directors around town what would be their fantasy production to helm, had they unlimited resources and the cast of their dreams.
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This article brings to life a point that I like to think about. “What if I had unlimited resources?” I love imagining how I would design a play, without worrying about money or space, or anything like that. I find it to be a good exercise in letting the imagination run wild and really pushing myself creatively to see with no boundaries what I can come up with. Even in the real world, when I do have design deadlines and resource constraints, I like to begin my thought process with thinking about this. Its only after the idea is established that I then figure out how to make it fit the resources. I feel that if you go in the other direction, it’s like stifling yourself creatively from the very beginning because you are constantly aware of what you can’t do. Its like when brainstorming how there are no bad ideas, because everything could become something at a later stage in the process no matter how absurd it is initially. I do however agree with this article that having completely no boundaries, when producing an actual show, can be a bad thing. I think this tends to make the shows artistic team push the boundaries so far that the content of the show itself can get lost and then in turn the show is messy to watch, like is the case with Spiderman.
This article was very interesting to me because I got to see how directors chose the productions they wanted to do and with who they would do it with. Michael Ritchie wanted to put on something that was never realized, never became a finished product, where as Frederique Michel, wanted to put on a new version of a classic. These two directors were at opposite polls for their reasons, and with unlimited resources I was happy to not see shows like Spiderman as their choices.
I think that anyone in theatre's dream is to have unlimited resources. The endless possibilities would provide designers and builders with the ideal situation, the ability to fully express themselves creativity. However, one aspect of this concept has flaws. In my opinion, the limited resources is what makes theatre exciting and enticing. The pressure to work with only what you have is some of the fun, and the pride you feel when you make something successfully with those resources is what makes it worthwhile.
Unlimited resources is always a big aspiration for anyone working in theatre. Being able to produce/direct any production one wanted is a huge question that can involve a lot of thought. Like the article mentions, there's always the risk of turning out like "Spider-Man," where you spend so much on the effects that the show loses its value. Something that I found very interesting was that many directors asked didn't choose "seat-fillers" in hopes to put on a fun show that people will all come to see. Instead, the directors all chose shows that they truly wanted to have performed, which I feel is always a good sign.
No limitations is a pool of endless possibilities, but it is also an opportunity for danger and unrealistic ambitions. If could do any show, even with limitations i think it would have to be the lion king. producing the lion king would be an amazing experience but it would also be the hardest thing i ever would have to do. my favorite part about theater is the ability to see the same material multiple times and to experience it in different ways each time. If a designer can present a piece that has been done before, and still offer audiences new experiences, then in my book, the designer is not only successful, but is also imaginatively brilliant.
I do think that no limitations is not only unreasonable and dangerous, but it is also a game changing concept. The production process is shaped by the budget limitations, as well s the limits of the physical world, so to even contemplate any situation with no limitations is just a waste of time.
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