RE: New to RAT Communique`

["Sylvain, John" <jsylvain@station.sony.com>]

It is my observation that in terms of sparking discussion and debate on the
RAT list it is more productive to posit a position or offer information and
ask for responses rather than to solicit contributions cold.

What do you do, have done. What do you find works? More specifically what do
you mean by collage?

John
Sacred Fools


PS 
I think the conversation here tends to shift to the political and then
degenerate into name calling because the people on this list are independent
minded theater people who are so committed to their own visions that they
will go through the trouble of starting a small theater rather than follow
any easier path. I might seem like a reasonable person but I am at my core
so uninterested in doing things the way other people do things that I have
started two small theaters so I wouldn't have to listen to anyone else tell
me what to do.

The latest exchange about the Civil War and Private Ryan exemplifies a
typical RAT list discussion. An opinion is offered and then dissected by
some and shot down by others. Somebody gets ticked off and we all get to
watch. Pretty much everything that goes on here starts out about theater in
some form or another. A lot of people seem to spend a lot of energy being
bummed out about how it "should" be and how its not that way. I am a FIERCE
free speech advocate and I love everything about this list because I am
constantly challenge, enlightened and entertained by a lively community of
intelligent, passionate theater nutcakes.

Laurie Anderson said that "Writing about music is like dancing about
architecture". I find that talking about theater is like...sychronized
swimming about aquarium design. Well its certainly not that bad but one
problem with discussing theater on the RAT list is that we are so spread out
and theater is a very localized phenomena. If I told you about this great
show at Zoo District or at the Actors Gang would you really care since if
you don't live in Los Angeles you couldn't see it? More importantly how
could you comment on a production that you haven't seen? Also, everyone on
this list has a specific aesthetic that is distinct. I think we have more to
talk about politically.

Well thats enought out of me.





> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Jerilyn C. Gilstrap [SMTP:jerilyn@flash.net]
> Sent:	Sunday, December 19, 1999 9:33 AM
> To:	rat-list@ratconference.com
> Subject:	New to RAT Communique`
> 
> Hi, I'm a free-lance theatre director & acting teacher who's been reading
> the RAT on-line for several months now & was appreciative of the "Theatre.
> Anyone interested in talking abt. theatre?" posting. Yes!! I've enjoyed
> the comments abt. Wellman's work, although it's been a number of yrs.
> since I read his work, so it's difficult to remem. it in detail.
>     I'm interested in hearing abt. others' work - I understand it takes
> more time & energy to do that kind of writing.... I'm interested in
> 'process,' in the making - of collage-type work - .. . Having lived on the
> east coast for so many yrs., it is the "pool" of NYC theatre art -makers
> whose work I'm most familiar with.
>     I spent many yrs (until quite recently) in DC & think B. Mrozek may
> have auditioned for me once many yrs. ago. 
>     I wish it were possible to have some sort of network/system thru which
> those interested could receive (by paying s/h costs, maybe) scripts that
> are discussed - or maybe having access to excerpts - although I can
> imagine a legit. wariness of posting excerpts, perhaps. 
>     But discussions of process, etc. wd. be most welcome for me
> personally.
>     I'm also interested in responses of others to the subject of the
> upcoming conf. in Iowa.
>     Best, Jerilyn