Chaos

We are a bit behind this season as it seems performance venues are in shortage. We can't announce the season until we know our dates which all depends on the venues. Get the drift? With more and more companies popping up and less and less space availability, people are looking for new found spaces. I am hoping that we discover this great warehouse smack in the middle of Dupont Circle, that charges $100 by the week. Any offers? And then there are those fantastic spaces which have been saved by the dc government (yay), but in turn will charge up the ass to rent (boo)!


We should have dates and locations by the end of the month though. Stay tuned.
~Dana

Interview Número Dos

The moment has finally come, Kristen Cornwall is gracing our blog with her presence! Bellow is a brief encounter with Didactic's founder and Artistic Director. "Step Outside Yourself" and into the mind of Kristen Cornwall..



Name: Kristen Cornwall
Hometown: Bristol, Rhode Island
Alma Mater: American University - BA in Theatre 2004
Position(s): Artistic Director/Executive Producer

First Encounter Watching a Theatrical Performance: "A Christmas Carol" at Trinity Rep. Theatre in Providence, RI.

First Time on Stage: In 4th grade I played the role of Terri TV in "Charlie & the Chocolate Factory". The role was supposed to be Mike TV, but I refused to play a male role on stage, and so they made it a female part....What a brat i was....

First Time Directing: During my junior year of high school, I directed a series of shorts plays for a Peace Festival.

How I met Kristen/Chris (not how you met yourself, God you guys): Gosh, I don't really remember. I met Chris at AU during my freshmen year, probably through the crazy after show party...

How I met Dana: Apparently, playing piano for her! Ah, ha! -- the mystery is solved! I'm glad Dana remembers!

How I got involved with Didactic: In 2004 I directed and produced Michael Weller's Moonchildren at Warehouse Theater. After the show ended I was asked when our next production would be, and I decided at that point that there would indeed be future shows...and a future theatre company.

Few Words To describe Myself: work-a-holic, crazy organized, perfectionist, comical (hey, at least I crack myself up!), emotional, determined.

Interview #1

Sorry I have been a bit MIA but between the holiday and numerous projects, I got distracted.

Today I am going to talk a bit about how I ended up here. There will be similar postings on Kristen Cornwall and Chris Carroll to come.


Name: Dana Edwards

Hometown: New York, NY

Alma Mater: American University ; BA Theatre 2002

Position(s): Associate Artistic Director/PR Director/Company Actor

First Encounter Watching A Theatrical Performance: I was 3. My parents took me to watch my cousin in the Opera version of Hansel and Gretel (she was a dancing mushroom in the haunted forest).

First Time On Stage: Between the ages of 3-6 my Grandmother would lie out this blanket on the floor of her apartment and ask me to perform for her neighbors on the "stage" she created. I would mainly do these weird interpretive dances and impersonate animals and eccentric classmates of mine. Her neighbors always loved the bit, but they were really old and probably high on pain killers. I was a very odd child.

First Time Directing: Rumor has it, I MIGHT be co-directing something this coming season. Yes I know what the something is but can't talk about that before we announce the season.

How I met Kristen: The first time I met Kristen I was a Junior and she was a Freshman at AU. I was taking this audition technique class with Gail Humphries Mardirosian and the assignment for the week was Musical Auditions. I needed someone to play the piano for me while I sang this ridiculous song from Bells Are Ringing (fyi the only musical Chris Carroll ever starred in) and was popping my head into all of the offices at Kreeger asking who would play the piano and she agreed.

How I met Chris: This is a bit foggy because I don't remember which instance came first so I will share both. Either

1. Auditioning for One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest. I got cast as Candy Starr (the prostitute) and my audition pretty much consisted of getting picked up and flung around by all of the men reading for McMurphy including Mr. Carroll.

or

2. At a party at the good old J Street House (the house that half of AU lived in) including myself until 3 months ago. Went down to the basement to use the restroom and found Chris in his room on the way there. The room consisted of a red lightbulb hanging from the ceiling, a mattress on the floor, and a bunch of syringes strung about (he's diabetic, but I didn't know that at the time).

How I got involved with Didactic: Kristen came to me and said "I want to do a show and I want you to be in it". I said, "ok". I played the acid head, stoner chick, who blew bubbles from under the table, and ate peatnut butter from the jar in Moonchildren (above photo). Things just took off from there. Kristen would continue to say things like "I need help with PR" and I would continue to say "Ok". When we formed the board she asked who we should bring on and I said Chris Carroll. He had been involved in most productions and well lets face it, he's a sexy beast, so Kristen agreed. Didactic was formed. We each continue to do the jobs of 20 people at once while holding regular day jobs. Yes we are masochists.

Few Words To Describe Myself: Actually I just took that Myers-Briggs, Carl Jung Typology test recently. It's good for knowing what types of personalities you get along with. So check it out to see if you never want to work for us. Personality type INFP . (yes this is my way of getting out of having to describe myself).

Naming The Season

Something about taking a group of plays with different subject matters and trying to link them all together to put a name on your season always ends up feeling forced. Last season we were fortunate enough to have 4 plays that were DC area premieres, hence the title of the season "A Season of Premieres". While it is likely that we will continue to produce work that is new to the area, I don't think that we can have sequel seasons like "A Season of Premieres Part 9".. It might become a bit trite. No?

I was joking at the board meeting last evening that since several of the plays under consideration have subject matters all beginning with the letter A, that we should name our season the "triple A Season" and give out discounts to AAA for those who subscribe. What do you all think?


Does it really have to be all that original?
A list of some local Season Taglines
"15th Anniversary" - Signature
"A Season of Discovery and Rediscovery" - Shakespeare Theatre
"Music, Poetry, Laughter and Memories" American Century Theater
"The Fresh Season" Arena Stage - (don't go there)

And surprisingly the more I look, less theatres have the names of their season posted on their webpages. Is this something we should only include in trying to solicit subscribers via mailings? Does anyone care one way or another about this sort of thing? Our marketing Director who works for Signature seems to think it is essential. Thoughts?

Also FYI our new webpage is up. Check it out.
More thoughts in a bit..

Great art is transcendent by nature. While this often times causes the artist to be subject to a love/hate relationship with the public, it also promotes a progressive nature of thinking (for those that embrace it).

Some of our shows this past season (the stronger ones in my opinion) were prey to erratic reviews. Our most recent production of "The Glory of Living" received glowing reviews from The Post and Washington City Paper followed by the worst review I have ever read from the Washington Times. Though it is these types of gritty, edgy, challenging, type productions that get me off as an actor and/or audience member, is it lucrative for the company to continue on such a path?

Of course the argument to be had is that this is what separates some of the great smaller theatre companies in town from the more conservative larger theatre companies. The problem however is that a good deal of these larger theatre companies started out small, and produced just the sort of work I am describing. In order to achieve monetary success, many of these companies have had to tone down their productions. I suppose it is like the ongoing battle between the independent film industry and Hollywood. You need money to produce the work, but you have to make compromises when it is not your money that you are spending (ie. government grants and donors).

We received our non profit status recently and will be joining the grant/donor bandwagon. The cost of putting on live theatre is astronomical, but how many concessions should be made to appease the older philanthropic crowd?

Have to review some LOI's (letter of Intent) for some big grant opportunities which brought about the above thoughts. Board Meeting Tomorrow night.

Later all, Dana
Casie Platt and Clay Steakley in The Glory of Living

Welcome to Didactic's first blog! As DC's youngest, small, professional theatre company, (yes this claim to fame will change over time) we hope to explain to the public why 3 seemingly normal (screw you) individuals in their early to mid twenties decided to invest their time , previously good credit , and energy into the oh so rewarding endeavor of establishing a reputable theatre company.

Over the coming months we hope to use this blog as a medium for small theatre companies and/or theatre lovers to discuss topics covering the gamut of running a professional theatre company. Advice will be received and given. Plus we always love some free PR, so spread the word.

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First conversation starter:
We are still reading over scripts for next season. A final decision should be made in the next 2 weeks or so. Our mission statement can be found on our homepage at www.didactictheatre.com .. If anyone has a recommendation for a script that has NOT been done in the area , fits our mission statement, and well doesn't suck, let us know!

Second conversation starter:
Oh the joys of not having a permanent space. We have used all the fine rental theatre facilities DC has to offer. The spaces we will be using for 2006-2007 have not been finalized, although we are leaning currently toward one theatre in particular. What is your opinion on places to rent? Here is a partial list..
DCAC
Warehouse Theatre
Atlas Performing Arts Center
The Writer's Center
Flashpoint
Church Street
Found Church, Sidewalk, Community Hall Space (suggestions?)


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FYI we will have a brand spanking new website up and running by the beginning of July. The new page will allow us to post more than 2 pictures at a time. WOOHOO.

Also stay tuned for information about 2 exciting fundraisers we have coming up.

July 24th LOCATION TBA
Cabaret - featuring local talent from Signature Theatre and American University.

August 21 LOCATION TBA
Comedy Night - Featuring top comedic talent from the Improv.