Where else can you direct a 1920's mystery thriller which opens on Friday the 13th, and the guns don't fire, the tape deck breaks, actors are sick, and the ultimate horror - the toilets back up!!!!
Oh, and did I mention
- you have a full house and a critic in the audience!!

Now, in a moment of "shameless self promotion" - it did all come together beautifully!
Come see "PostMortem" by Ken Ludwig ("Lend Me a Tenor," "Moon Over Buffalo") at the Quannapowitt Playhouse, 55 Hopkins Street in Reading, Mass. Continues September 27, 28, 29, October 4 and 5. Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00. Sunday at 7:00 pm. Come see our former "little red schoolhouse" turned into a 165 seat theater. We're just off Route 128/I95 (take Rt. 28N exit off I95). For information call (617)942-2212.

By the way, love the website!
I've just crawled out of my cave and into the light. Next thing you know someone will invent the wheel!

Hi, Mort! Remember me, I met you at an EMACT meeting a few months back.

This is fun but my "day job" requires me to sign off now. . .

Nancy Curran Willis, Director
Quannapowitt Players, Inc.

Date: 24 Sep 1996 22:51:32 -0000
From: "Mischa Hof"
Subject: Origin of the word Green Room
Date 9/24/96

This does not have anything to do with the current play, but does have to do with the theatre.
I am trying to find out where and what the tru meaning of the word green room is.
Please anyone with the answer Email it to, or leave message:

Mischa Hof
MischaH@HotMaiL.com
Http:geocities.com/timessquare/1540
---------------------------------------------------------
Get Your *Web-Based* Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
---------------------------------------------------------

LARRY STARK REPLIES:

I know Doctor Johnson spoke of visiting the greenrooms of London theatres, but I'm not near an Oxford English Dictionary at the moment. So, everyone, What's the answer?
Love,
====Anon.

Wed, 25 Sep 1996 21:19:52 GMT
From: EMACTJAC@aol.com
Subject: EMACT Web Page

...And off we go, onliners!

The EMACT Web Page is up and running. Since launching on Monday, we've had some comments that in a couple of instances, certain graphics aren't importing, but for all intents and purposes, if that's the only glitch so far - we're very happy.

Kudos to Ken Lord and JulieAnn Charest for getting the page up and running, now it's up to the EMACT Membership to let us know what they think. Please take a minute to check it out if you have internet access, and send feedback!

If any members or member groups would like to link up, E-mail Ken at
KLord@tiac.net.
The more the merrier.
Enjoy!

LARRY STARK REPLIES:

I tried, but the Alta-Vista search-service never heard of EMACT --- at least not Eastern Mass. Association of Community Theaters, or the four initial letters.

I'd like to see what's going on there, so could someone who knows it E-mail me the URL?

Love,
===Anon.

Date: Sat, 21 Sep 1996 18:30:05 -0400
From: Mellifur@aol.com
To: greenrm@shore.net
Subject: Re: You LIKE theater? WHY???

In a message dated 96-09-14 18:44:49 EDT, you write:

<< What's so damned special about theater that you (like me!) will spend any effort necessary to stay in touch with it?>>

It's hard to put something like this into words that don't sound trite or cliched, so I won't write much. Suffice it to say that my earliest days in the theatre were the result of a wish not to be left home alone at the mercy of my brothers while my mother went off to a rehearsal. After watching rehearsals a few times, I asked to be enrolled in a summer children's theatre program. After my first few classes I said to my mother, "You don't know how much fun this is!" Whereupon she said to me, "Why do you think I've been doing it for the past twenty years?"

Theatre *is* fun. And I noticed again and again throughout the years I spent onstage and backstage in my town's children's theatre program just how inclusive theatre is. Even the kids who are ignored or scorned everywhere else often find themselves part of a close-knit group when they join a theatre program. I like that feeling of belonging and welcome. I love the chance to be creative and to join in a creative effort with others. I like the feeling of becoming a team and the thrill when everything begins to click. And hey, it's fun to show off and get the applause, too! And there's also always the challenge of trying to be really *good* in whatever I'm doing, and hoping to help make the show really good, too. I love a challenge.

Date: Wed, 18 Sep 1996 14:13:38 -0700
From: Eric Parrott
Subject: Web Gold Mine, Thanks!

Larry,

I'm a theatre student at the University of Utah (Logan, UT) acting/directing major. I have to thank you for a great web site. I've gotten more info, references and leads from your site than anywhere I've looked. I found the site while trying to track down internship information. I'm looking for an internship in performance that'll work my butt off and give me the opportunity to make some contacts. I've done a little of everything from lighting, sound design and promotions to performance.

There isn't exactly an incredible amount of opportunity in this area for performance. Most students fight for the few positions with the Idaho and Utah Shakespeare festivals. The Idaho Shakespeare Festival is in Boise, ID and is really a wonderful company, if you are interested in checking it out, try http://www.idahoshakespeare.org/

The season is pretty much over, except a few performances in association with the Sun Valley Repertory Company, Sun Valley, ID.

If you have happen to have any advice for a determined young actor with hopes of his own theatre, e-mail me at sl7q0@cc.usu.edu.

Thanks Again!!

Eric Parrott

Date: Tue, 10 Sep 1996 13:24:18 +0000
From: Mort Kaplan
Reply-To: mkaplan@gis.net
Subject: What's happening?

I have been checking periodically the last few weeks to see what's happening but there doesn't seem to be anything after the middle of August. Is everything alright? What you have been doing is of great value. Hope all is well and you are continuing.

MORT

LARRY STARK REPLIES:

Someone Noticed!
We were both on vacations, Mort.

In my case, that meant nine days with a television-set --- complete with cable and a VCR. I doubt that I have ever seen more bad acting in my life. Mugging, "indicating" and breaking character seems to be required of anyone with a SAG-AFTRA card.

Of the movies, some of which were on BRAVO and some in the apartment where I was ferret-sitting, those I'd recommend were GOODBYE COLUMBUS, CALIFORNIA SPLIT, THE RITZ, and a surprising old Bogart movie called DEAD END --- plus four movies by or about SXamuel Fuller. And Maggie Smith in SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER. (Oh, and the Democratic National bash and the U.S.Open's first week.)

I still prefer to breathe the same air the actors breathe. I'm back in a t-v-free environment, and never missed it for a moment!

Love,
===Anon.

Date: Wed, 11 Sep 1996 11:21:04 +0000
From: Mort Kaplan
To: The Theater Mirror
Subject: Re: What's Happening?

Glad you are back and you are refreshed and all reved-up for the forthcoming theatrical season.--Boy x Man is in callbacks this evening and by the weekend I hope to have a very good cast ready for the first rehearsal on the 24th. I have a fine production staff already: Judy Staicer who designs and teaches at Tufts has come up with a very evocative set; Marc Klureza, recent MFA grad from Brandeis, is working on designing the lights and comes up with some interesting ideas. Still interviewing costume designers, believe it or not. I guess good ones are hard to get and those that are interested are already doing other things. Same goes for a sound designer. That and the fact that we ALL are doing this for beyond next to nothing seems to inhibit things on this level of theatre. --Tom Vance the GM and Joe Antoun the artistic director are extremely supportive, dedicated and nurturing.---I will keep you posted. MORT

INRODUCTION:

The dialog below grew out of comments about MUNCIE ON-LINE, which Ty Morton is trying to build at
http://www.muncieonline.com
As he says, he was trying originally to work through the Chamber of Commerce. But he's as much a theater person as I am, and now he's free (except for some interesting problems you'll learn about if you plug into his page!) to cover the Greater Muncie Area in the area of theater as thoroughly as we try to do it for the Greater Boston Area.

What caught me was his passionate interest in acting. He is involved in putting together a third theatrical company, the first of which was called The Torchlight Theatre. The new company will start out with "Richard III".
((My comments are preceeded by ">>"):

Date: Fri, 6 Sep 96 23:40:35 -0000
From: Ty Morton
>>Ahah!!! T O R C H L I G H T Theatre!!!! A very PRETTY web-site, at least.

I always hated that damn website! I thought it was ugly and offered too much "look how cool we are" and not enough substance.

>>The title "Muncie OnLine" all by itself looks like the work of the Chamber of Commerce --- without any more information revising that picture.

It started that way. The Chamber decided they didn't want to be too innovative and actually have a useful website.

>>"Richard" is a really uppity show to start with! I assume the company has some sort of track-record from the past companies?

I wouldn't exactly call it "starting with." I've produced and directed a few before this one.

Too many people view Shakespeare a tough production to pull off, but actually, it's quite the opposite, since the words themselves do most of the work for you. It's modern drama - plays that rely so heavily on visual elements to succeed - that is tough.

Besides, my dear Richard is many things, but "uppity" is not a term I 'd use to describe him! (Henry IV and his overreactionary son, now they are uppity!)

>>But I digress. Are you a director, or an actor-manager?

Yes.

>>What's so damned special about theater that you (like me!) will spend any effort necessary to stay in touch with it?

I dunno.
Because when I'm not doing it, I wish I were. (I really hate the pretentious-actor-on-the-rise stock answer of "I have to.")
The audience is part of it, but not really the thrill of the applause. Just sharing yourself - and not all of you, but a very specific part doled out in precisely measured quantities - with a group of people and having it effect them in an emotional way, to the point that they laugh out loud or cry or get angry or whatever, is an exhilirating experience. The applause at the end is just an affirmation of the effect. I get much more out of a laugh at an obscurely funny line.
That, and getting an opportunity to be, actually BE someone else, to wear their shoes, think their thoughts, explore the decisions they make and really understand them... I don't think anyone who hasn't done it, and done it seriously, can understand the real value of it. People that just learn their lines and go to the cast party are really missing out on the big reward. In a way, it's like a self-induced schizophrenia, but you know, very few people get to understand themselves as well as dedicated actors get to understand their characters.

And for me, directing is just an extension of that - with just enough god thrown in to extend the possibilities.

What about you?
_______________________________
Ty Morton
Proprietor
MuncieOnline
http://www.muncieonline.com
________________________________

I asked Ty if we could "go public" with what started as private mail, and got this reply:

Subject: Re: Go Public or not? EDIT if necc
Date: Thu, 12 Sep 96 00:52:19 -0000
From: Ty Morton

Please, be my guest. I wasn't aware that my answer was to be published, but if I were, I probably would have botched by saying something corny (like "Because I have to!" - j/k).

If you want to work it in, the new theatre project is called the TwoPenny Revelers (from the Globe Theatre's original prices - you could get a great seat for two pennies).

We'll have our own website pretty soon
(http://www.twopenny.com)
It will list all of the theatre in East Central Indiana; have some posting boards; an ftp site for exchanging theatre related software, designs and the like; a script exchange, for browsing new scripts; and eventually a Green Room chat and a searchable Complete Works of... site (starting with Shakespeare, obviously, but later growing to include Aristophanes, Sophocles, Moliere, and if I can get the rights, Williams, Miller and the like.

And by the by, I directed Julius Caesar last summer and not only cast a woman (an extremely talented woman named Lysa Franklin) as Cassius, but had her play it as a woman. It put a real interesting spin on her relationship with Brutus, as well as Brutus' estranged relationship with Portia.
I've enclosed a picture, if you'd like to use it.
- - - - -------------------------------------------- - - - -
Ty Morton
Proprietor
MuncieOnline
http://www.muncieonline.com
- - - - -------------------------------------------- - - - -

From: E Noonan
Subject: Reminder! THE TURN OF THE SCREW opens Friday night!
Date: Thu, 5 Sep 1996 07:17:04 -0400

>
>
>                            THE TURN OF THE SCREW
>                            Masque Theatre Company
>                        Memorial Hall Cultural Center
>                               30 School Street
>                                 Milford, MA
>
                                             

Break a leg E Grace!!!!!!!!
Love,
===Anon.

Date: Mon, 18 Aug 1980 16:07:23 -0400
From: paul
Subject: Re: RENT

Read recently that RENT will begin in the Boston Shubert theatre in November....Any truth to this ? If it is, how can one get info. and/or tickets for this production? Would be appreciative for any information concerning this. Thanks.
Paul Sawka RD5 Box 5902 Lake Ariel, PA 18436
saskwach@prolog.net

LARRY STARK REPLIES:

Yes, Paul RENT will be produced here in Boston at The Shubert Theater this fall.......
but the people who bought the rights to the production are actually across the street. They are the people at
THE WANG CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
270 Tremont Street, Boston MA 02116
1(617)931-2787

This situation is something of a scandal here. An independent producer bid for the rights, intending an open-ended run at Ye Wilbur Theatre. The Wang management topped his offer in a bidding- war, and has arranged to RENT The Shubert, apparently for several years.

Nothing would be odd in that, except that the Wang, which is the biggest house in Boston, is a NON-Profit operation. Just where they got so much money is a bit of a mystery, and their using these funds not only to rent a commercial house but to light it with the hottest property in the nation seems to some to be monopolistic trade at the very least.

None of this should mean anything to you, of course.

I haven't seen a firm opening date for the show yet, but The Wang has no Internet or even E-Mail capability at this point, so phone or write them directly.

Let us know what you find out!
Love,
===Anon.

Date: Thu, 05 Sep 1996 21:53:37 +0000
From: crsaze@diamond.jcn1.com (Chris Hayes)
Subject: Auditions

To whom it may concern,

Hello, my name is Chris Hayes. I am a performer from the St. Louis area who is moving to Boston. I am looking on the web to try to find some audition information.
I haven't been so lucky yet.
If anyone could help me, I would appreciate it.
I would also be interested in some information about local talent agencies and programs.

Thank you,
Chris Hayes
crsaze@diamond.jcn1.com

LARRY STARK REPLIES:

Well, one of the best publications I've yet seen is the NEW ENGLAND ENTERTAINMENT DIGEST, and information about it appears at the beginning of our UP & RUNNING section.

But so far as I know, there isn't a source for audition information on-line as yet. John Chatterton checked in with this information, which is only partially correct:

Date: Wed, 04 Sep 96 18:59:11 -0400
Sender: cmprime!jchatter@wiser.cis.att.com
Original-From: John Chatterton
Subject: Casting News announcement

I was wondering whether you got my Email about Mr. Colucci's publication, CASTING NEWS.

He is offering free copies (by download) to individuals who dial up the Boston Computer Society's Zytel bulletin board. (He's not on the Web yet.)

Just dial: 1 617 965-7046 (obviously, neighbors of Newton need not dial the first bit). After connecting, enter CNEWS.

Thanks a bunch,
John Chatterton
PS the feature on the Pocket Mime was touching.

LARRY BACK AGAIN:

I tried it, and was confused. Don Colucci publishes CASTING NEWS, which is probably on sale at newsstands; and if you can navigate the Boston Computer Society's buletinboard, you can download One Issue for free. I'm not digitally-aware enough to have done this successfully; but give it a try!

But check below:

Love,
===Anon.

Date: Thu, 05 Sep 1996 18:24:19 -0400

From: Chris Noel

Subject: Auditions

The Lexington Players
announce
Open Auditions
for

Hay Fever by Noel Coward.
(Performances Nov. 21-23)

The auditions will take place
on Monday Tueday and Wednesday
September 9-11 at 7:00PM
at the Monroe Center for the Arts
1403 Massachusetts Ave. Lexington MA

For more informtion contact Chris Noel
at (617)863-2479