Virtual theatre -- a possibility?

[Gibson Vendettuoli]

This shows that I have edited this. I realized why no one was responding; it read too much like a business proposal and no one came here to read that. I have removed such information, so it may be of more interest to teachers of drama.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my proud opportunity to make an announcement to let you know of a new innovation in theatre, musical theatre, and the Internet. I think it will be very interesting to some and the idea quite changes drama education.

This is an opportunity to tell you of a new experiment in theatre, an experiment known as world-class online cyber theatre. Cyber theatre is certainly not a new idea, but it has been attempted neither on a very wide scale nor to much response, but there is some interest out there. Theatre performed for free on the Internet, through sound files and/or so-called webcams, at no cost to anyone. (NOTE: Any musicals already copyrighted from other times could be obtained for use legally, rather than the potential producer being sued by other people.)

It's being developed on such a large scale mainly in response to the opinion that theatre, in the real mainstream world, is dead. And they don't think it should be. I am not the only one in a group of theatre devotees who agree that theatre has not seen any really good new musicals for some time (with some possible exceptions, such as "The Producers," "Spamalot," "Rent," etc.). Cyber theatre would give us an opportunity to try new musicals without having to worry too much about critics. That way, the world is our critic. We get various ideas and solutions.

We're mainly focusing on musical theatre. Musical theatre is a huge part of the theatrical art form. And it also appeals to helpless artistes of that sort. There are new musicals out there waiting to be produced, but no one has the time. With the benefit of the Internet, workshops, rehearsals, and productions can be more easily obtained, without the need for investors (just one producer, a website, and a helluva lot of file-saving and file-sharing webspace). Recording text and/or songs for Internet hearing is not hard. Acting it out on a webcam is even easier.

What I want to know is, how would this affect drama teaching? I'd like some opinions as to whether or not it's good for drama and how it would change or not change the course of drama teaching.

G

P.S.: Sorry, I know I'm not a teacher of drama or dance, but I want to know what their opinion is.

Edited April 18, 2005 by Gibson Vendettuoli

[Gibson Vendettuoli]

Nobody has responded to this topic. Why is there such a hands-off attitude?

[David S. Brownlee]

Nobody has responded to this topic. Why is there such a hands-off attitude?

Possibly because you discuss "musicals"...very hard to produce. Drama/comedys are much easier. Musicals are big-time extravaganzas. To do them right they need a lot of real participation by real talented people.

++++++++++++++

a drama - or comedy - can be carried by a single quality actor.

Edited November 12, 2006 by David S. Brownlee

[David S. Brownlee]

actually...a musical could be carried off the same way...if the star was good enough...and the script was tightly written to minimize big show-time songs...keeping it small.

It would require a real singer...someboby who could really belt it out...like a young Striesand - who could impress. Somebody really good.

Edited November 12, 2006 by David S. Brownlee

[David Richardson]

Now that we've got environments like Second Life, I wonder if there's any mileage in putting on cyber theatre there for educational purposes. (I'm dead certain someone's already tried it, by the way).

If anyone gets interested, I could put you in touch with our Drama department, who could probably be encouraged to take part. We've got an application for funding in with the Norwegian government's 'Future Fund' (where they put their oil revenues for the benefit of future generations, rather than going on a spending spree now) to set up an educational environment in Second Life for the use of three partner universities, in Norway, Sweden and Missouri. This first time round, we've got a particular post-graduate course in mind, but once the environment's there, it could be used for other things too.

We'll get a decision in December …