Date: Tue, 18 Mar 1997 00:35:30 -0500
From: aseltine: aseltine@sover.net
Subject: Searching For A Song

Dear Larry,
I wonder if any of your readers might be able to help me locate a song--"I Wish I Were A Lion Tamer". I believe it was written in the 70's, perhaps by Sondheim? I'd be very grateful to learn any details of composer, show, lyricist, etc. I can be contacted at
rosann@bigfoot
Thanks for your help!
Love,
Rosann

From: RMath69@aol.com
Date: Sun, 16 Mar 1997 14:03:32 -0500 (EST)
Subject: colonial theater/ west side story

I would like to see information on this play for April 5th 1997 @ 8p.m.How can I see about seating and ticket purchases?
thank you

LARRY STARK ITERATES:
Dear Rmath:

You can't.

The only way to see a seating-chart and confer with box-office people about available seating on a specific date is to go to the lobby of the Colonial Theatre.

The Colonial Theatre does not have a web-site. They don't even have E-mail.

None of the theatres in Boston's Theatre District do. NONE.

If you call the number we have posted, you may get a box-office person who can tell you what you want to know, but the only seating-chart is In The Theatre's Lobby. Have your credit-card with you when you dial.

This is not something we at Theater Mirror enjoy saying, but I have said it every other month to people who understandably expected that anyone doing business in the twentieth century might have come to terms with its available technology. They may get around to it in three or four years, but don't hold your breath.
Love,
===Anon.

Date: Thu, 13 Mar 1997 20:42:36 -0600
From: Jean Petree: petrjean@cwis.isu.edu
Subject: "Park Street Station"

Hello,
I'm having a difficult time locating any info about a play or musical which I believe was entitled "Park Street Station." I believe an LP may have been put out on the ARISTA label.
Any leads to information about this work would be appreciated.
Thanks.
Jean Petree
petrjean@cwis.isu.edu

Date: 13 Mar 1997 15:15:38 U
From: "Nancy Willis": nancy_willis@qm.ir.lmco.COM
Subject: RE: Looking for "Equus"

Hi Larry! Sorry you didn't get to "Delancey." I hope we'll get to meet some other time (maybe "Lips Together" at Vokes). Anyway, now that "Delancey's" up and running - I'm starting to focus on my next project and need the help of The Theater Mirror's audience.
I'm looking for a pair of the horses heads and hooves used in the play "Equus" for a production I'm directing for the Quannapowitt Player's of Reading that we are entering in the EMACT Drama Festival.
Does anyone out there have the heads we could borrow? We may even consider renting if we had to, however, because it's a festival entry where no income will be generated - we are really under a no-to-low budget guideline!

LARRY STARK REPLIED:
I was about to say The Nora Theatre Company did a production about a year ago --- but G.L.Horton said it before I did.
Anyone else have some leads?
Love,
===Anon.

Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 23:16:36 -0500
From: "Edward J. Yasi" : edy@tiac.net
Subject: Outer Circle Critics Awards, etc...

Larry,
First, KUDOS ON A GREAT WEB SITE!
It's nice to see a web site that is updated as frequently as yours is, especially on a topic that changes so rapidly. This is no small feat! (actually I suspect that you've had yourself cloned...)
Second, what has happened with the Outer Circle Critics Awards? All of you are correct that there is a vital and exciting theatre scene outside the of Boston and Cambridge. I have been priviledged(sp?) to be a part of this scene now for a number of years and have been fortunate enough to work with some amazing talent and risk taking companies the past few years. It would be great to see them get the recognition they deserve.
Please keep us posted! And more power to you for creating and maintaining this site!
Russ Greene

LARRY STARK REPLIES:
I wondered myself, Russ, and got this news from G.L.Horton:

Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 11:28:34 -0500 (EST)
From: ghorton@tiac.net (ghorton)
Subject: Re: Outer Critics' Circle etc

>Second, what has happened with the Outer Circle Critics Awards?

What's happened is that you and I and Beverly have returned our ballots, and the others have not. The latest request was to jog people's memory by listing the nominations so far and sending them to the dilatory. That seems ok to Bev and me -- do you approve? Although if the idea of the "Outer" is to honor the obscure but meritorious, seeing other's picks may induce an undesirable tendency to favor performances seen by the most of us, rather than to pluck from obscurity brilliance that flowered (relatively) unseen.
We're still working the kinks out of the process, obviously.
It's not too late for other "Outers" to join via the Mirror. You have an email version of the ballot, don't you?
You might also ask for "People's Choice" votes.
I would be nice to have winners by Oscar-time.
I think for next year we should narrow our focus, and specify: short run, low-budget, small audience productions.
Anyway, I have combined the ballot picks so far into one list, and am ready to give it to Beverly Creasey to send to those who have not yet responded.

Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 19:26:41 +1000
Reply-To: judyt@magnet.com.au
Subject: Joe Orton

My name is Judy Taylor and I am from Melbourne, Australia.
I am about to start writing a Masters thesis on Joe Orton. I will be looking at the reception of his plays over the last 30 years.
It would be great to contact anyone who has been involved in a production of any of his plays...amatuer or professional.
Hope you can help
, Judy Taylor
judyt@magnet.com.au

LARRY STARK REPLIES:
I can send you my review of the LYRIC STAGE production last January, and if G.L.Horton has archived a review from AISLE-SAY I'll send that, too.
The director of the Lyric's production is
"Robert Bouffier" who might like to share his insights with you, so I'll forward your note.
Anyone else have opinions or information about "Entertaining Mr. Sloane"?
(Oh, now let's not always see the same hands!)
Love,
===Anon.

LARRY STARK EXPLAINS:

the mail to "CRITICK@Genie.com" was temporarily discombobulated, and only today eighteen pieces of correspondance with a wide variety of conflicting dates appeared in my E-Mail-box. That's why the following entries are a little out of order.

: Sat, 1 Mar 1997 18:36:18 -0500 (EST)
From: Jean Strong: jstrong@buttco.com
Subject: HELP!

Larry,

I am trying to get my musical,"Domestic Bliss," produced in or around Boston. Can you tell me what you would do if you were me? Any advice would be very, very helpful.
Thanks!
Jean strong
617 776 9863

LARRY STARK OPINES:
First, if you leaf down through the GREENROOM a few weeks, you will find information on how to put this notice into the "NETheatre list" where directors and producers in academic and community theatres, and a lot of other people, will see it.
Second, you might tell us more here in The Mirror, such as the physical requirements, cast size, style of music, period, maybe something about plot, and some indication of whether it's been produced abywhere before in either full or workshop form.
Then glance through our COMING ATTRACTIONS, and E-mail or write every company that is planning a musical, asking the same question. Theater people are very helpful, and if you don't get nibbles you might get good horse's-mouth advice.
And then, turn to our THEATER WEB-SITES list, and check what all these companies have announced for their current and coming productions, and E-mail anyone who expects to do a musical.
But first, scroll down another letter and get in touch with Nancy Willis, who is a director working with several community groups who has yet to attempt a musical, but is tempted! And, Break A Leg!
Love,
===Anon.

Date: Mon, 10 Mar 1997 19:16:28 -0800
From: Donald Wolford dwolfor9@idt.net
Subject: "Break a Leg"

Could you tell me where the expression "Break a Leg" comes from?
It seems to be an unusual way to wish an actor luck.
Thank you for your help.

LARRY STARK REPLIES:
I can, but only vaguely. I think if you check back through the first year of GREENROOM entries, you will find a long and lively discussion of this conundrum --- and it's less than dramatic solution.
So I won't actually tell you the answer, but I'll let people speculate, and invite responses!
I will tell you what the phrase means in My mouth, though:
There may be a hell of a lot of luck involved in becoming a theater practitioner, in getting inspired teaching, in getting cast, and in finding a decent director/company/cast/play in which to work.
But after that, it's the WORK any practitioner does that is the real deciding factor in success or failure --- and blind dumb Luck no longer has anything to do with it.
That being true, to wish an actor "Good luck tonight" is tantamount to an insult on the order of "Your work so far has been so poor it'll be a miracle if you don't get through the show without disaster. But, Best Of Luck anyway!"
"Break a leg" means "Once that curtain goes up, the show is Yours to make or break, so Do Whatever's Necessary to make it work, even if it means breaking a leg to do it." I.e.: DESERVE your applause...

And I can assure you that has nothing whatever to do with the true etymology of the phrase!

I have seen people speculate that to curtsy is to bend or "break" a leg; or that an actor called for an extra solo bow would have to "break" thorugh the "legs" or teaser-drops at the side of the stage to do it. These imply that "Break a leg" means "take a deserved bow tonight" --- and though these are plausible interpolations or interpretations of theatrical history, they are romantic but untrue.
And, since "There is an artt to the building of suspense" I will leave the discussion open until next week!
Love,
===Anon.

Date: 4 Mar 1997 12:50:50 U
From: "Nancy Willis" nancy_willis@qm.ir.lmco.COM
Subject: Re: Crossing Delancey at B

Larry - On 2/25 you wrote:
--------------------------------
"... Just showing off my Dramaturg's Urges, I myself had a flash of inspiration about Sondheim's MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG ......... "
---------------------------------

Thanks for sharing your idea. I'm not familiar with that particular musical, however, I do happen to like Sondheim. You have piqued my curiosity enough to read the script and listen to the music. The interesting thing is that this musical has been recommended to me as one which I may be interested in directing. It came up in a discussion with my "musical" friends about when and what musicals I would EVER consider directing. My answer has always been it would need to be a strong book musical and a dramatic one or one with a strong story line - "Chess" being a good example. I have yet to "bite the bullet" and agree to direct a musical but I will admit, I am more tempted than I used to be about the prospect. Having done drama, farce, comedy, contemporary and period pieces, the only thing left would be a musical (other than Shakespeare).
Anyway, I guess I better stop fussing about what I haven't directed yet and focus on getting "Crossing Delancey" ready to open on Friday. Are you going to let me know what date is good for you?
By the way - did you get to Vokes' "Invalid?" I heard John Barrett went on for the sick actor and did a good job. What a shame to have to actually cancel a performance.
See ya . . . Nancy CW

LARRY STARK REPLIES:
Those last two notes refer to my thwarted attempts to review two suburban Boston productions last week.
I didn't hear directly about the Vokes Theater show, so I'm glad to hear all went as well as can be expected under the circumstances.
Love
===Anon.

Date: Sat, 08 Mar 1997 10:46:31 -0800
From: Stowe Theatre Guild : theatre@pwshift.com
Subject: Site up and running!

Larry, our website is up now. I'd appreciate you adding it to your list of theatre links. Here's the URL:

http://www.pwshift.com/theatre

Thanks!

Meghan Reichelt
Stowe Theatre Guild

LARRY STARK REPLIES:
Okay, Meghan, I did it!
This is a good-looking, informative site worth looking into. And one important thing I found in it was a list of five theater web-sites in Vermont that were new to me! And they're good, solid, useful sites, all different, each with its unique flavor.
Finding these new sites was important to me because I've begun a column in the monthly NEW ENGLAND ENTERTAINMENT DIGEST about (what else!) theater web-sites on the Internet!
It'll start in the April issue, and you'll only be able to read it by buying the magazine --- which contains a lot of other goodies as well.
Take a look!
Love,
===Anon.

Date: Thu, 06 Mar 1997 11:36:03 -0400 (EDT)
From: drobinson@WESLEY.IT.EMERSON.EDU (Davis Robinson)
Subject: Krazy Kat

Larry- Beau Jest is bringing Krazy Kat, their stage adaptation of the classic comic strip, to the Picollo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC. If you are a fan of physical comedy, pop in to the Footlight Players Theater between May 24- June 8, or contact me, Davis Robinson (the director), at Emerson College-drobinson@wesley.it.emerson.edu. We are also interested in bringing Krazy Kat to New York City for a run: anybody interested in producing, please come preview the show as our guest. We think it could have a successful commercial run in a small-to-medium size venue, and need help getting there. Thanks-Davis

Davis Robinson
Divison of Performing Arts
Emerson College
100 Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02116

voice: (617) 824-8376
fax: (617) 824-8799
e-mail: drobinson@emerson.edu

Date: Tue, 04 Mar 97 21:11:45 0000
From: mike moore
Subject: (no subject)

National Students' Theater is holding a National Play Competition for high schools and colleges. Deadline is March 14. Check website,
http://www.thestu.org

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