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Wednesday, April 08, 2020
Williamstown Theatre Festival to Present its Season in Audio Format on Audible
www.broadwayworld.com: Williamstown Theatre Festival and Audible announced today that the 2020 Williamstown Theatre Festival summer season will be produced on Audible, the world's largest producer and provider of original spoken-word entertainment and audiobooks.
I think it’s really wonderful that Williamstown is trying to output arts in some form this summer, especially with so much work having gone in so far. It’s been extremely depressing week after week to just hear the stories ringing in about highly anticipated events like this being cancelled. I’ve been curious to see how each company or organization is handling the situation—some places are cancelling seasons entirely, some festivals are halting production and starting the same works back up again next summer. This is an interesting choice made by Williamstown. I think it continues to celebrate important works by playwrights and the efforts put in so far by the actors. However, I wonder how the work of the designers is going to be celebrated as well, since there was no mention of that in the article. I’m sure they’ve thought about it, but perhaps that is more complicated and is still in discussion. One of my mentors was slated to design at Williamstown this summer for the first time, I should probably find out those details from him. Like any other situation like this, I feel so bad for artists who have lost amazing opportunities in their lives. But, I’m glad that with audible recordings, the arts can still get out to people in their homes in some capacity.
It is so great that the Williamstown Theatre Festival is trying something new in these hard times for artists. Many other theatre companies have cancelled their season all together with big regrets to their fans and artists. But working with Audible and creating almost radio-like theatre is such a great way to continue Williamstown's festival in a different and intriguing way. One of the works they are going to do is A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams. I have never watched this show, but it will be amazing to hear it for the first time. I too wonder how they are going to incorporate the designers in this process, if they will at all. The vocal artists will be able to continue to be paid for the season and produce their works they have been rehearsing, albeit in a different format. Yet, how will the designers be able to meaningfully contribute to these productions as well? I can see the sound designer and sound engineer working with the artists to create the environment their characters live in. It is a radio drama after all. But how will the scenic and costumes designers help? Will they? It is such an interesting solution, even if it isn't wholly complete in helping everyone in the process continue to contribute to the production.
I read a really thoughtful post from a fellow student in response to stories similar to this that sees theatre companies transitioning to an online audio platform to present their work for summer. What it boiled down to was the idea that jumping straight to audio ignores the inherent qualities in that medium that differentiate it from other mediums. It’s really interesting to consider this idea, because it is completely true. Theatre exists as its own unique medium and has characteristics that allow for a different presentation of a story than through film or television or radio. Theatre seasons are developed by wondering why a story deserves to be presented on a stage. But a story is a story, it just requires a different way of thinking about what stories to tell and how. It’s a similar idea when plays or musicals become movies. What adjustments need to be made to make that transition work? What opportunities are inherent in this medium? What are creative people to do when the job they signed up for no longer fits the destination?
It is a really big disappointment that Summer theatre festivals such as Williamstown have canceled their seasons, especially because this means that students who were planning on interning with Williamstown will not have the opportunity to, however, I think that it is the right choice in order to ensure the safety of all the audience members, cast and crew. I think that audible theater is a really interesting way to adapt to the current circumstances, but I do not know if all of the elements of what an audience member would be experiencing will be there. While theatre is a largely audible experience, it is also equally a visible experience. All of the technical elements of design will not be present, in addition to movement choices that the actors make. While I admire Williamstown for rising to this challenge, as an audience member personally I don't think I would enjoy this audible format as much. Elena Keogh
Although it is sad that summer theatre around the country is being canceled, it is the right decision. I think there is a clarification that this article seems to gloss over. This is not theatre. It’s more a radio play than anything. I think the statement that this is the first time there is a theatre on audible is misleading. Many, many plays have been recorded into audiobooks for audible and I see very little difference in a LibriVox recording on youtube and Williamstown plays on audible. It’s admirable that they are creating jobs and ways for the work to go on without a show. I beg to ask the question if this is a real theatre and just as valuable where does that put design and production? I think more and more things like this will be created and I wonder if there is an audience for it. Many popular plays have an audiobook with professionals already and many musicals have cast recordings as well. If people haven’t cared enough to listen to these play’s recordings up to this point, what is going to make them care now?
5 comments:
I think it’s really wonderful that Williamstown is trying to output arts in some form this summer, especially with so much work having gone in so far. It’s been extremely depressing week after week to just hear the stories ringing in about highly anticipated events like this being cancelled. I’ve been curious to see how each company or organization is handling the situation—some places are cancelling seasons entirely, some festivals are halting production and starting the same works back up again next summer. This is an interesting choice made by Williamstown. I think it continues to celebrate important works by playwrights and the efforts put in so far by the actors. However, I wonder how the work of the designers is going to be celebrated as well, since there was no mention of that in the article. I’m sure they’ve thought about it, but perhaps that is more complicated and is still in discussion. One of my mentors was slated to design at Williamstown this summer for the first time, I should probably find out those details from him. Like any other situation like this, I feel so bad for artists who have lost amazing opportunities in their lives. But, I’m glad that with audible recordings, the arts can still get out to people in their homes in some capacity.
It is so great that the Williamstown Theatre Festival is trying something new in these hard times for artists. Many other theatre companies have cancelled their season all together with big regrets to their fans and artists. But working with Audible and creating almost radio-like theatre is such a great way to continue Williamstown's festival in a different and intriguing way. One of the works they are going to do is A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams. I have never watched this show, but it will be amazing to hear it for the first time. I too wonder how they are going to incorporate the designers in this process, if they will at all. The vocal artists will be able to continue to be paid for the season and produce their works they have been rehearsing, albeit in a different format. Yet, how will the designers be able to meaningfully contribute to these productions as well? I can see the sound designer and sound engineer working with the artists to create the environment their characters live in. It is a radio drama after all. But how will the scenic and costumes designers help? Will they? It is such an interesting solution, even if it isn't wholly complete in helping everyone in the process continue to contribute to the production.
I read a really thoughtful post from a fellow student in response to stories similar to this that sees theatre companies transitioning to an online audio platform to present their work for summer. What it boiled down to was the idea that jumping straight to audio ignores the inherent qualities in that medium that differentiate it from other mediums. It’s really interesting to consider this idea, because it is completely true. Theatre exists as its own unique medium and has characteristics that allow for a different presentation of a story than through film or television or radio. Theatre seasons are developed by wondering why a story deserves to be presented on a stage. But a story is a story, it just requires a different way of thinking about what stories to tell and how. It’s a similar idea when plays or musicals become movies. What adjustments need to be made to make that transition work? What opportunities are inherent in this medium? What are creative people to do when the job they signed up for no longer fits the destination?
It is a really big disappointment that Summer theatre festivals such as Williamstown have canceled their seasons, especially because this means that students who were planning on interning with Williamstown will not have the opportunity to, however, I think that it is the right choice in order to ensure the safety of all the audience members, cast and crew. I think that audible theater is a really interesting way to adapt to the current circumstances, but I do not know if all of the elements of what an audience member would be experiencing will be there. While theatre is a largely audible experience, it is also equally a visible experience. All of the technical elements of design will not be present, in addition to movement choices that the actors make. While I admire Williamstown for rising to this challenge, as an audience member personally I don't think I would enjoy this audible format as much. Elena Keogh
Although it is sad that summer theatre around the country is being canceled, it is the right decision. I think there is a clarification that this article seems to gloss over. This is not theatre. It’s more a radio play than anything. I think the statement that this is the first time there is a theatre on audible is misleading. Many, many plays have been recorded into audiobooks for audible and I see very little difference in a LibriVox recording on youtube and Williamstown plays on audible. It’s admirable that they are creating jobs and ways for the work to go on without a show. I beg to ask the question if this is a real theatre and just as valuable where does that put design and production? I think more and more things like this will be created and I wonder if there is an audience for it. Many popular plays have an audiobook with professionals already and many musicals have cast recordings as well. If people haven’t cared enough to listen to these play’s recordings up to this point, what is going to make them care now?
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