Pittsburgh Arts, Regional Theatre, New Work, Producing, Copyright, Labor Unions,
New Products, Coping Skills, J-O-Bs...
Theatre industry news, University & School of Drama Announcements, plus occasional course support for
Carnegie Mellon School of Drama Faculty, Staff, Students, and Alumni.
CMU School of Drama
Wednesday, October 14, 2020
Pittsburgh Troupe Turns To Radio-Style Drama During Pandemic
90.5 WESA: Most theater companies have adapted to the coronavirus pandemic with live-streaming and other newfangled technologies. PICT Classic Theatre is using them, too, but with a vintage twist.
I am personally a huge fan of audio stories. I get ads all the time for that meditation app called Calm, where they have celebrities with relaxing voices tell stories with some cool background music to help people relax. To me, this is kind of the same concept but obviously with a very different goal. For a solution to the pandemic, this is a great idea. You can still reach a number of people, and honestly, for adults who grew up in the generation without TVs widely available, this could be a pretty nostalgic and cool thing for them. Also like, how amazing that this production group advocated for their employees benefits??? Like the bar is SO low for things we praise employers for, but right now this is likely helping out the families of those involved and that is very important. I might go ahead and purchase a ticket for this. Could be a neat way to experience theatre in the new era.
To be completely honest, I might get a ticket and listen to this play. Even though it’s a medium that puts me out of a job, I love listening to audio stories, podcasts and this radio play genre of storytelling. What I think is particularly interesting about this example of pandemic theatre is the full union contract that PICT was able to negotiate and use with Equity performers. To second Sammy, we love employers that properly compensate their employees. I think it's interesting that radio plays fall under AEA’s jurisdiction, and it makes me wonder why we haven’t seen more theatres try to capitalize on this concept? I can understand not wanting to cut out other design departments, or not having the equipment for this kind of work, but I keep reading articles about how theatres are financially struggling because they are not creating work, and this seems like a reasonable pivot.
I thought this was a great article to talk about because I am a huge fan of podcasts, and while most are formatted as live talk shows, there are a few that are actually drama series, which are always great to listen to while working on projects and tasks. It is really encouraging to hear about how these acting troupes are working to create despite limitations during the COVID-19 Pandemic. I am so uneasy about the ways that most people are “bringing theatre back” because most theatre groups are adding live audiences in some capacity, which I think is highly unsafe and irresponsible during this time. But, a 1930’s style radio show brings entertainment into the home, and keeps troupes working despite the lockdown. Not only does this entertainment enrich the community, but it also brings work to people who are unable to work as usual. The radio drama format has a traditional comfort as we work in these new, trying times.
I love the Radio Play idea that PICT is doing and will almost certainly buy a ticket to listen in. I am personally attached to PICT and their work because I did some work with them pre pandemic and found them to be an absolutely wonderful and welcoming company and group of people. I am very glad they have found a way to keep going because I think that the city would be seriously amiss without their work and enthusiasm about the traditions of theatre. These traditions I think are wonderfully recognised in the form of a radio play. It is a fun way to harken back to old ways of theatre and I think that the two plays chosen will glean much from the format. I also am very impressed that PICT is keeping with the traditional and kind of silly way of creating sound effects. That will just add a little something extra to the authenticity of the productions.
4 comments:
I am personally a huge fan of audio stories. I get ads all the time for that meditation app called Calm, where they have celebrities with relaxing voices tell stories with some cool background music to help people relax. To me, this is kind of the same concept but obviously with a very different goal. For a solution to the pandemic, this is a great idea. You can still reach a number of people, and honestly, for adults who grew up in the generation without TVs widely available, this could be a pretty nostalgic and cool thing for them. Also like, how amazing that this production group advocated for their employees benefits??? Like the bar is SO low for things we praise employers for, but right now this is likely helping out the families of those involved and that is very important. I might go ahead and purchase a ticket for this. Could be a neat way to experience theatre in the new era.
To be completely honest, I might get a ticket and listen to this play. Even though it’s a medium that puts me out of a job, I love listening to audio stories, podcasts and this radio play genre of storytelling. What I think is particularly interesting about this example of pandemic theatre is the full union contract that PICT was able to negotiate and use with Equity performers. To second Sammy, we love employers that properly compensate their employees. I think it's interesting that radio plays fall under AEA’s jurisdiction, and it makes me wonder why we haven’t seen more theatres try to capitalize on this concept? I can understand not wanting to cut out other design departments, or not having the equipment for this kind of work, but I keep reading articles about how theatres are financially struggling because they are not creating work, and this seems like a reasonable pivot.
I thought this was a great article to talk about because I am a huge fan of podcasts, and while most are formatted as live talk shows, there are a few that are actually drama series, which are always great to listen to while working on projects and tasks. It is really encouraging to hear about how these acting troupes are working to create despite limitations during the COVID-19 Pandemic. I am so uneasy about the ways that most people are “bringing theatre back” because most theatre groups are adding live audiences in some capacity, which I think is highly unsafe and irresponsible during this time. But, a 1930’s style radio show brings entertainment into the home, and keeps troupes working despite the lockdown. Not only does this entertainment enrich the community, but it also brings work to people who are unable to work as usual. The radio drama format has a traditional comfort as we work in these new, trying times.
I love the Radio Play idea that PICT is doing and will almost certainly buy a ticket to listen in. I am personally attached to PICT and their work because I did some work with them pre pandemic and found them to be an absolutely wonderful and welcoming company and group of people. I am very glad they have found a way to keep going because I think that the city would be seriously amiss without their work and enthusiasm about the traditions of theatre. These traditions I think are wonderfully recognised in the form of a radio play. It is a fun way to harken back to old ways of theatre and I think that the two plays chosen will glean much from the format. I also am very impressed that PICT is keeping with the traditional and kind of silly way of creating sound effects. That will just add a little something extra to the authenticity of the productions.
Post a Comment