In the big semi-happy, semi-functional family that is LA’s entertainment industry, feature films are the prodigal son, television is the dutiful daughter, and theater is the crazy old aunt in the attic (or guest house) no one talks about but who sure is damn fun to knock back a couple of scotches with. Another thing about crazy old aunt theater: she can teach you how to act like nobody’s business. Today we showcase Minerva pieces about treading the boards in LA & beyond.
Taking Your Show on the Road by Joe Hernandez-Kolski
Andrew Carlberg on Why Theater Matters, Even in LA
Spotlight on The Hollywood Fringe
“What Exactly Does a Dramaturg Do?” Dylan Southard Tells Us
Stagetribes.com: A New Social Network for Actors by Justin Waggle
Queer as Folk’s Scott Lowell: A Theatre Snob Finds His People…in TV
Emily Weisberg on Being a Theatre Nerd in a Film Town and her Return
A Dance and Theater Company Survives and Grows Through Touring by Mara McEwin
* Yes, that’s right. T-h-e-a-t-E-R. That’s how you spell it, people. Yeah, I’ve heard the “ER is the building, RE is the art form” argument, but that’s dumb. You don’t live in France, or England (unless you live in France or England). Isn’t it bad enough that the English take all our roles? Must we give them our spelling too?
“Ah, but, Claire, since you feel so strongly about this, why do let your contributors spell it wrong? Shouldn’t you and Sarah, as their editors, keep them from hanging themselves?” you ask. Good question. Well, faithful reader, the truth is they write for free. They put their time and effort into entertaining and educating you for the sheer thrill of the experience. And, apparently, according to Sarah, I can’t get all Anna Wintour on their asses if we can’t pay them. Thus, if you want to exercise your patriotic duty and contribute to the help-us-pay-our-writers-so-we-can-spell-theater-right-on-Minerva-and-further-peace-and-solidarity-in-the-American-acting-community fund, please make a donation here. No amount is too small, but big amounts are better. Really. We need the money.
Photo: Broadway’s Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. Photo by Joan Marcus, courtesy of The Public TheatER.
Great! Keep up the good work. Very much appreciated.
ER all the way! RE means you don’t get it, man.
I prefer “theatre.” I think the point is to not get too bogged down with little things like this. Attention to detail and correct spelling are important, but no one is going to keep you from booking the role you are meant for just because you had 3 staples attaching your headshot to your resume, not 4. “Theatre” is a perfectly acceptable spelling for a resume or in general.
Actors care so much about their craft and careers that it is very easy to get hyper-obsessed about even the tiniest, most irrelevant things.
We just need to calm down and keep our heads together. P.S., I think Tim Gunn once told that to Anna Wintour.
Alyson, thank you very much. We appreciate it. Kevin, thanks – the check is in the mail. Miki – yes, I see your point. However, I would rather be Anna Wintour than Tim Gunn. I think Tim Gunn would rather be Anna Wintour. Besides, if I’m Anna Wintour, that makes you (Miki is author of the wonderful Minerva article ‘Industry Expectation of Bilingual Actors’) Zac Posen! Or the Rodarte sisters!! And as much as I love Santino and Christian and Mondo, wouldn’t you rather be draping Claire Danes than making a parka for Heidi Klum’s dog?
Cheeky..!
Thanks for the links!
Truth be told I like “re” because I’ve never seen a Movie “Theatre” in American English. So when I read, “I’m going to the theatre.” I know it’s of the kind that does live theatre, whereas “I’m going to the theater,” leaves me wondering which. If I must move to France to reduce ambiguity then c’est la vie!
Rehash, I like that. I am not switching sides. But I daresay, you have a lovely point. Next time we’re both in France, we should have coffee. Or go to the theatre…
If you believe in the founding ideals of the United States you will spell it ‘er’. Noah Webster, the man who changed the rules of spelling, felt that the British aristocracy had corrupted the language by insisting on the archaic rules of pronunciation and spelling that only the classically educated could follow. In a new country freed from the prejudices, superstitions and unfair political systems of Europe he felt that everyone should learn to read and that learning to read should be made as easy as possible. One step was to simplify spelling.
Incidentally I learned to read in England in 1950 by reading about Dick, Jane and their dog Spot. Our teacher pointed out the spelling mistakes but as a five year old plow made much more sense than plough.