This week I decided to interview my hubby, Festival Co-Chair, 44 Plays for 44 Presidents Founding Father, co-author, and history nerd. Here’s what he had to say about why this Festival is so important to him. What gave you the idea to take something like this on? It was after I saw the Actors’ Theatre of Louisville production in 2008, and the audience reaction to the alternate ending they had us write… there were all these disenfranchised, theatre-going Kentucky Democrats, vehemently screaming for the Obama play at the end. They were just so into that—and the play in general. I was moved by the effect the play could have during an election year. It seemed to make people feel the opposite of how they usually feel when bombarded by negative advertising and insipid media coverage: They were excited about history being made. And I thought, “Wouldn’t it be great if…
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LATEST NEWS
The Fishtank Brings Kansas City Into the Festival!
Kansas City is the coolest city I’ve never been to, and they’ve got a really great theatre company there that I know I would love. Now I’m a jerk for never visiting for two reasons: 1. The Fishtank. 2. Barbecue. It’s been a while since we’ve announced a major metro area in our Festival, and we’re really excited that it’s the The Fishtank taking up the mantle for KC. The Fishtank, curated by Kansas City theatre artist Heidi Van, develops works from concept to concert by providing a low risk, low cost environment that nurtures the development of new work and inspires theatrical entrepreneurship. It’s my favorite kind of company: small, super-creative & prolific. The Fishtank Performance Studio is host to several on-going series that are generated by Resident Artists, Companies and Associate Artists. They do these window plays, (pictured right) which really caught my eye and got my imagination going. When…
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Penobscot Theatre brings Maine into the Festival
Penobscot Theatre Company, America’s Northeastern-most professional theatre company, housed in the beautifully restored Bangor Opera House in Bangor, ME…has joined the Festival. PTC has a long and impressive history and too many cool things going on in their space to name all of them. Two highlights: the Northern Writes New Play Festival and a mad commitment to education and outreach. Beyond the theatre’s mainstage season, Penobscot Theatre’s educational and outreach programming is the largest in the state, serving thousands of Maine students in schools with workshops. PTC has chosen fellow New Engander, John Quincy Adams, as their contribution to the video project. Very interesting fact about John Quincy Adams and Maine…when JQA was Secretary of State, he was instrumental in the negotiations that defined the border between Maine and Canada…this sounds simple but apparently it was a HUGE, complicated nightmare. Much like mounting a production of 44 Plays for 44 Presidents! We’re…
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Welcome Fitchburg State University…where it all started….sort of…
OK, this post will be shamefully personal. I can’t help it. Because Fitchburg State University is my alma mater. And the Falcon Players, the student-run theatre group that’s mounting 44 Plays for 44 Presidents as part of this Festival, also produced my very first play back in 1996. I make it sound like my play was approved by a committee back then but what really happened is my group of friends, led by Randy Meech and Shane Desmond, resurrected the Falcon Players after several decades of nonexistence. Then, we just did stuff. And one year, we did my show. Because we could. I stacked it with my friends and cajoled a pretty girl to audition because I was into her. (And she was really good! She made me look honest. Hi, Jen.) Anyway, the Falcon Players still exist! And you’re welcome… They’ve chosen my stuff again, but this time they’re all grown up and so put me…
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Knox College Becomes 6th Production in Illinois!
Knox College is special to us for two reasons: It’s the sixth–count ‘em–SIXTH production of 44 Plays for 44 Presidents happening this year in the great state of Illinois. Also, Knox is in Galesburg, which is the birthplace of Genevra Gallo-Bayiates, cowritter of 44 Plays (and my lovely bride.) We’re very excited to welcome Knox into the fold. The production will be directed and performed by students at Knox College, but sp0nsered by the Department of Theatre. Knox has a lovely theatre program with a mission I appreciate. They promote “observation and analysis of all dimensions of human experience, and public performances that engage audiences on multiple levels.” That is not at all incompatible with our little show! Check and check. Knox has chosen the tragically assassinated William McKinley for their contribution to the video project. When I asked show producer Isaac Miller why he chose McKinley for Knox, he said: “McKinley was the only…
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Sean Daniels: A Man with a Mission
As promised, this week I spoke with Festival Co-Chair and several-time director of 44 Plays for 44 Presidents, Sean Daniels, to learn more about his upcoming production at Geva Theatre Center. So how’s it going? Great! I think it’s always best when doing a large national project to make it a bit larger in scope and more complicated.That’s my signature move. That’s a good lead in. You’re casting for the Geva production right now, right? Yes. For the Louisville show, we used all professional actors, casting mostly out of New York, and the show was really top notch… a fantastic cast. But I didn’t just want to chase that production again. So, for this production, the idea was to work with local college students as a way not only to increase the exposure of the play to their peers, but also to use this show as a civic and education engagement…
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Little Rock Remount
The directors from Little Rock Central High School, a school and national historic site, took a time out from their testing to talk about their remount of 44 Plays. Jeff Mosser: How did Little Rock High School find out about 44 Plays for 44 Presidents? Kimberly Dade: In 2006 Ms. Beith [Melinda] was granted an invitation to take a group of students to the American High School Theatre Festival to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. We saw another troup there from Decalb and we thought it was so unique and so awesome — going through the whole presidency, just thought it was so neat! And it was quick! JM: What is it like to perform the Eisenhower play at Little Rock Central? Melinda Beith: The scene is very personal for us. The kids loved the scene. The show is written for anensemble fo five, but we did an ensemble of…
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Newt Out, Mitt It… and a Barely-Seen McCain Play
It’s official. Gingrich has finally stepped out and Mitt Romney has essentially secured the nomination for Republican Presidential Party Candidate. I don’t know if they capitalize it that way in their literature for the convention or press releases and such… but it certainly makes it seem appropriately “big.” I have been waiting for this moment for what feels like a very long time now. Not because I’m particularly invested in the outcome (though I have to say this year’s primary process has been fascinating in what, for me, has been a jaw-dropping, head-shaking, stunned sort of way). But that’s a digression. The reason I’m so excited it’s finally settled is that it opens up insanely creative and exciting doors for Festival producers! We’ve got an official nominee, and everyone in the Festival lineup yet to mount their show is about to embark on a production featuring presidential politics and personalities…
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President James A. Garfield, The Relevant
That there is a picture of Chandler Harnish. Heard of him? Probably not. It’s likely that you wouldn’t have either, had you not clicked over to this blog today. He’s someone special. During last week’s NFL Draft, he earned the title of Mr. Irrelevant 2012 by being the last player selected. Here at Plays for Presidents, we’ve been watching our own similar competition unfold for honor of President Irrelevant. With 34 of our productions announced, and most of the remaining presidents reserved but unrevealed, President Irrelevant’s anointment seems imminent. This is not to say being chosen last actually makes one irrelevant. Among the football players, some Irrelevants become all-stars (like Jacque MacKinnon, 1961) or appear as a contestant on The Bachelorette (like Ryan Hoag, 2003), and it can be generally assumed that Mr. Irrelevants, one and all, are loved by their friends and families. It’s just that the rules of the playground…
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