[caniveaux] Fwd: Vaudeville as avant garde

["Daniel O'Brien" <artistdogboy(!)mac.com>]

RB check out the article in the NY times about how vaudeville is now  
being considered the source of avant garde theater in New York. See  
link below my daughter sent it to me


> http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/17/theater/newsandfeatures/17zino.html? 
> 8dpc



> Hi Alexa,
>
> I like this article you sent.
>
> Having just completed the Moisture Festival here in Seattle it could  
> be argued that
> vaudeville and variety theater may be back in fashion. It could be the  
> times we live in where folks
> are looking for escape from lots of bad news I think. Since this type  
> of theater can drastically change from one act
> to the next it accommodates experimental content pretty readily. This  
> type or theater also is a lot more honest then
> American style mainstream stuff and often makes fun of the serious  
> issues of the day even when it's not intended.
>
> Our festival was a overwhelming success. The 2 week run of 20 shows  
> was a sell out of the
> 300 seat theater we created in a brewery warehouse in the Fremont  
> neighborhood. It's left us a little
> confused about just how to approach next years festival. Should we get  
> bigger or just improve on what
> we have is the general question. We probably could of extended it for  
> several weeks had it not been
> such a logistical nightmare.
>
> We also did a burlesque style late shows on the two Saturdays during  
> the run that were in high demand for tickets. Both of those shows
> had long waiting list for tickets even after they had been sold out.  
> So even if burlesque is probably a passing fad it seems to be
> real popular here right now.
>
> We had a formidable list of performers. Many of the best street  
> performers and established vaudeville performers too, with people like
> Hacki Ginda from Berlin's long established cabaret and variety  
> community. Many of the performers from the Teatro ZinZanni (the local
> dinner variety show that cost $100 a ticket and is in it's 5th year)  
> came to our shows. Some even ended up on stage.
> This was a complement to everyone to have these polished performers  
> join in the fun. It also added to the quality of
> performances and lifted the festival stature I'm sure in the eyes of  
> the general public.
>
> All the people involved in the festival were really excited about the  
> way it turned out.
>
> Now I think the moisture festival has a chance to become as  
> established as other local festivals like Bumbershoot or Folk-life.
>
> Thanks for pointing out the article.
>
> Love Dad
>
> >