r/Theatre • • 3d ago

Theatre Reviews Thread | What Have You Enjoyed Recently?

1 Upvotes

Weekly space to chat about the theatre we've consumed recently!

Discussion of all theatre-related media is welcome! Saw an amazing performance? Tell us about it! Read something on New Play Exchange that clearly deserves more attention? Share it with the world! Just watched a movie or tv series about thespians? Let us know what streaming service it's on! Reading a captivating book about theatre history? Teach us something new! Hated something? Feel free to talk about that as well!

This is a space for casual discussion: "reviews" don't need to be at all formal - you can say as much or as little as you'd like. Sharing links to formal reviews—by yourself or someone else—is also welcome. Only real rule is to talk about something you were an audience for; discussion of productions you are involved with should go to the weekend showcase thread.


r/Theatre • • 2d ago

/r/Theatre 'Vent and Rant' Megathread

1 Upvotes

Here is the monthly thread for all your venting and ranting needs. If you need to let off some steam and complain about something going on in your theatre community (be it professional, community, or school), you can comment about it here.

This space is primarily for commiserating about frustrating experiences, and not meant to be a place to seek advice or solve problems (you can make a post with the 'Advice' flair for that). However, you are free to indicate if you would or would not be open to advice if anyone has any.

As always, all community and sitewide rules apply, especially civility.


r/Theatre • • 18h ago

News/Article/Review Texas school district suddenly cancels production of ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ over female Seymour

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advocate.com
43 Upvotes

r/Theatre • • 20h ago

Discussion can you say “macbeth” in a movie theater?

52 Upvotes

i work at a movie theater and we livestream the MET opera performances, and the next one coming up is a performance of Macbeth.
is it still considered bad luck to say macbeth in a movie theater? most of our patrons just ask for tickets to “the opera” but some of them say the title of whatever the show is, will they get bad luck from this? will i?
very curious how this superstition is supposed to work!


r/Theatre • • 6h ago

Seeking Play Recommendations dystopian young adult stage duologue

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2 Upvotes

r/Theatre • • 12h ago

Advice Feeling drained from tech week

3 Upvotes

I really need some help. Between being sick, having homework, and having rehearsal daily for 4 hours I am burnt out. I can tell that I am pushing my body too far, but since it’s tech week, I can’t just take a day off. I don’t know what to do.


r/Theatre • • 14h ago

Seeking Play Recommendations What are some older plays that would be good for a script reading?

6 Upvotes

I'm part of a script reading series, and im looking for some older, dramatic plays that would be good. I already have an Inspector calls as one of them. I was also planning to do the crucible, but I decided against it because I wasn't sure how to handle the slave character. our town is also in the running, but it is pretty long for a first act so im not sure. any suggestions?

I was also thinking a Dolls house, death of a salesman, or the glass menagerie would be good, but our local high school reads those plays every year for English class, and I think it'd rather introduce people to something new


r/Theatre • • 4h ago

Advice Live foley ideas

1 Upvotes

Hi! I'm directing a very short halloween table-read with live foley this month and trying to source some good household items or similar for actors to use. It's an intimate stage/audience so the noises don't have to be loud and it doesn't have to be perfect!

In particular we're looking for wind (howling), creaking doors and floors, footsteps on gravel/wood etc, heart beat, struggling, and any other generally spooky noise making things.

If anyone has any ideas do let me know!


r/Theatre • • 10h ago

Help Finding Script/Video Searching for a play script by Jean Anouilh

1 Upvotes

If someone can share where can i get a copy of the script ‘Episode in the life of an author’ by Jean Anouilh I’d be extremely grateful. Have tried searching for it online but unable to find it. Thank you.


r/Theatre • • 1d ago

Advice Any tips on how to cry on the spot?

18 Upvotes

Our teacher tasked us to do the tone changes where we drastically change our tones using one line and crying was one of them. I'm not embarrassed to cry in front of others, its just that I force myself to cry in acting which is not advisable from other people. I also tried thinking of a memory that ruins me however it just doesn't work for 3 seconds. The only way that I can actually cry infront of the audience is applying menthol near my eye and it lacks the overall emotion because I am depending on it😭.

Pls help meee, any advice or video recommendations would be appreciated 🥺.


r/Theatre • • 14h ago

Design and Tech Gathering Quotes from Working Stage Managers

1 Upvotes

Hi everyone!

I am a college student stage managing for my university’s theatre program. I am teaching an intro to stage management workshop to the students this Friday, and would love to pull some quotes from working stage managers to include! The google form has all the information you’ll need: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc1l6vqzXqlnMasuLs9tD6rJxMzVWQKztsFhPGeDMxW6sXHpw/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=101280985616526618575


r/Theatre • • 1d ago

Advice Approached by a wealthy patron who wants me to do a specific play. Any advice?

13 Upvotes

no idea how serious or reliable they are but a wealthy patron wants me to put on a classical Greek play to promote Hellenic culture in my local city. they approached me after being impressed by fringe show earlier this year. Im all for it and drafting ideas now. supposed to meet them for lunch soon. any advice or things I should do?


r/Theatre • • 22h ago

Design and Tech Brainstorming a set design solution

3 Upvotes

I'm producing Blithe Spirit (and I'm also set designer....it's community theatre, we wear many hats lol) and I could really use some advice on how to decorate the walls.

The director wants dark red walls. We're doing a stormy blue as an accent color, with gold hardware on the doors/different knick knacks on the set.

The thing is, our flats are super old. Like, you can peel off the layers of paint, old. Some of them are damaged and have holes from screws and nails.

We used to do this thing where we'd screw the flats together, tape the seams with masking tape, and then paint over it. But it always looked terrible. The edges of the flats are all janky, and I'd really like to cover them up. In the past, we've sometimes had a set design that would cover the seams with rocks, wood beams, etc.

However, the Condomine 's house is supposed to look ...wealthy. Taping the seams and painting over them would absolutely show up once painted and it would look like trash.

We've thought about screwing a piece of luan over the flats, so it covers the seams, and then paint the luan, but it's going to be so visually uninteresting. I tried using peel and stick wallpaper last night, and it didn't look right. It would probably also be extremely expensive. The length of our set is 80 feet long, 8 feet high. We have a bookcase, fireplace, and 2 sets of French doors so it's not exactly 80 feet of surface area to cover.

We are running out of time, but I will stay at the theater all night once we hit tech if I have to in order to make this stage look good. We've used wallpaper paint rollers in the past, and that took forever (like an entire day) We also don't have decent wallpaper paint rollers, although I can probably pick one up. We'll have paintings on the walls and what not, but that won't hide everything. We thought about stapling fabric to the walls, stretching it tight so it looks like fabric wallpaper, but since the demise of Joanne Fabrics, getting a large amount of fabric cheap is a little hard.

All of that said, does anyone know of a way to make these flats look nice? What can I try that I already haven't thought of - or am I doing something wrong with my current ideas? How can you take old, beat up flats with layers of paint that are older than I am and paint/cover/or otherwise to make it looks like it belongs in the home of a wealthy British novelist in the 1940's?

Eta: wording


r/Theatre • • 16h ago

Seeking Play Recommendations 4 minute scene for 2 actors?

1 Upvotes

Hello, I’m trying to find a few 4 minute scenes for 2 male actors for our end of year performance - I’m 32 and my scene partner is 18. Does anyone have any suggestions? A strong tone shift & something that carries well in a theatre would be amazing.
Thanks :)


r/Theatre • • 17h ago

Seeking Play Recommendations Good Play Suggestions for a highschool?

1 Upvotes

Hello! My high school is putting on a show but our original plans fell through due to a licensing issue and we are scrambling to find a replacement. We have been told we can only do a place from a Canadian licensing company. We would like something a little more recognizable or easier for marketing, something appropriate for a high school too. Any ideas?


r/Theatre • • 11h ago

Advice is it stupid to want to be on broadway?

0 Upvotes

so question for all the actors of the world- is it like extremely stupid that i (a teen) have an actual goal of being on broadway someday (even js as ensemble)? i wouldn't say i'm EXTREMELY talented at singing or dancing but im working so hard at it every day and i can definitely act. telling people i want to be an actor when i grow up sounds like im a little kid saying they want to be a princess or something. it is my one goal in life and i'm honestly willing to do anything to make it happen. it's been my dream for as long as i can remember and i'm willing to be told no thousands of times before i even hear one yes. i just know i can do it. but like is this stupid? i want to go to school for musical theatre and my parents don't love that idea because i'll be a "starving artist" (valid concern tho) so like... anyone have any advice on convincing them OR advice on how to actually make it as an actor? what is the "it factor" you need? is it rly js knowing people and having connections? (if so, how do i get those lol) thanks for reading, so sorry this was so long!


r/Theatre • • 19h ago

High School/College Student is it that bad?

0 Upvotes

I’m currently submitting for many schools for BFA Acting and most of them need supplementals. Most of them have the same prompts and is it horrible if I wrote one for UNCSA and if another school has the same prompts I change certain things to accommodate that school?


r/Theatre • • 1d ago

News/Article/Review How do independent theatre artists attract larger audiences to their shows?

5 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I'm interested in learning how independent theatre artists and small theatre companies promote their productions and reach new audiences.

With so many performances and events happening, getting people interested in a show and encouraging them to attend can be challenging.

For those working in theatre, what strategies have worked best for promoting productions, building an audience, and getting more people to attend live performances?

I'd love to hear about your experiences and suggestions.


r/Theatre • • 16h ago

Discussion Have you ever felt that other people deserve your role more than you?

0 Upvotes

for example, you are cast as the lead when your a freshman, and the seniors are pissed. your acting feels mediocre, your voice keeps cracking, and you start to feel maybe you didn’t deserve the role.


r/Theatre • • 1d ago

Advice How to switch emotions fast in a short play???

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0 Upvotes

r/Theatre • • 1d ago

Seeking Play Recommendations Need help finding 2 woman shows to perform for an older crowd

3 Upvotes

Hi there! I am a librarian that has always loved performing and acting, and I need some help finding a show or two that myself and my co-worker can perform for a group of senior citizens. Something that they would find funny without being offensive. Our town is quite small and leans very Catholic/Christian, especially with the older folks. I've been searching, but I'm just having a hard time finding anything that is ONLY two actors/actresses. And, if at all possible, I'd like to have the plays be within 10-30 minutes and doesn't require a license to be purchased. Thanks for the help, if you can give it!


r/Theatre • • 1d ago

Miscellaneous TSE Tickets in NYC

1 Upvotes

This is random but did anyone here ever work for a company called TSE Tickets in NYC? It was around about 10 years ago, and the guy who ran it was named Dan Tomayo, and it sucked. I think he's been chased out of the industry now. If you worked here, I would love to hear some of your stories.


r/Theatre • • 1d ago

Advice most affordable spots in nyc for rehearsal space?

5 Upvotes

hey guys,

I’d love to hear your picks. There are some places that offer as low as $10-20/hour for rehearsal space. I know of one or two, but I’d love to know more. TIA! ❤️🎭


r/Theatre • • 1d ago

High School/College Student Acting universities in NYC?

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0 Upvotes

r/Theatre • • 2d ago

Discussion Where do you sit as an individual?

11 Upvotes

I am a solo theatre goer and I’m curious, where do I sit? I feel like if I put myself 1 chair away from someone it will now allow pairs of people to sit next to each other?

Edit I should have specified, the types of seating I am talking about are general admission not assigned.