Saturday, January 31, 2015
Prop Thtr: Not About Money, But Art
The Clyde Fitch Report: 1981. Do you remember what you were doing that year? I learnt to walk, talk and eat with a spoon. Yep, it was a big year for me. It was also a big year for Stefan Brun and Scott Vehill because that’s when Prop Thtr mounted its first production. And just sit on this for a moment: Prop Thtr is still here. They are not only in performance with their latest production, Viral Kitty, written by Paul Carr, but hosting Rhinofest, Chicago’s longest running fringe festival.
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2 comments:
It is really refreshing to hear about this kind of almost-guerilla theater. The community and camaraderie the productions naturally foster was one of the most enticing things about working on theatrical projects. Prop Thtr sounds like it has really remained loyal to its roots, which is impressive considering how much time has gone by since its founding. The diversity of people it attracts is also a testament to how welcoming the Thtr is - everyone from an original member to a high schooler. Too often, I see productions devolve into a hierarchy, where senior performers cooperate with, but don't truly interact with younger performers. And that is a missed opportunity to rear a wiser, better, stronger generation of actors. In an age where productions are streamlined to utmost efficiency, it is sometimes easy to forget the human element. Everyone becomes their job, and the production becomes a machine, instead of a community. Don't get me wrong - productivity is vital to the success of any production, but it should never come at the cost of the community and network, which often proves more valuable over time than any individual production.
I’m really glad that there are still theatre programs and art programs like this that are still around. I love the adjectives that they used in this article to describe the program and the environment that they offer. Educational, Freedom, and Authenticity. Art and theatre that has some sort of takeaway from it is something that for me personally is extremely inspiring and I love that they harbor this type of educational environment. As an artist- of any kind- you need freedom, you need to be able to make the character-the piece-the production your own and make the creative decisions for yourself. Or even make an entirely new piece yourself. Freedom is key in theatre and art. Authenticity is key in every situation- aside from just theatre. The genuine aspect of art is what makes people passionate about the spectacle unfolding in front of them. I am in full support of the Prop Thtr.
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