Comments on: An International Renaissance http://nikku.net/blog/an-international-renaissance/ The Art in the Business of Theater - Collaboration Tools and Technology and the Storefront Theater Movement Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:27:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: One Year, One Day & One Hundred Posts | Theater For The Future http://nikku.net/blog/an-international-renaissance/#comment-633 One Year, One Day & One Hundred Posts | Theater For The Future Thu, 06 Nov 2008 17:26:10 +0000 http://nikku.net/blog/an-international-renaissance/#comment-633 [...] An International Renaissance - Theater artist exchanges and festivals breed a delightful cross-pollination that makes everyone’s work better. [...] [...] An International Renaissance - Theater artist exchanges and festivals breed a delightful cross-pollination that makes everyone’s work better. [...]

]]> By: Marta’s Back | Theater For The Future http://nikku.net/blog/an-international-renaissance/#comment-481 Marta’s Back | Theater For The Future Wed, 20 Aug 2008 22:20:43 +0000 http://nikku.net/blog/an-international-renaissance/#comment-481 [...] is why I am making an exception again for the Goodman’s ongoing Latino Theatre Festival, the grab bag of dramatic goodies curated [...] [...] is why I am making an exception again for the Goodman’s ongoing Latino Theatre Festival, the grab bag of dramatic goodies curated [...]

]]> By: Well Shucks | Theater For The Future http://nikku.net/blog/an-international-renaissance/#comment-236 Well Shucks | Theater For The Future Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:58:13 +0000 http://nikku.net/blog/an-international-renaissance/#comment-236 [...] Hub at Edinburgh last week - half impotent and half relieved that I wasn’t able to sample any local theatrical delights this time around. Just the food and whisky, Dank u [...] [...] Hub at Edinburgh last week - half impotent and half relieved that I wasn’t able to sample any local theatrical delights this time around. Just the food and whisky, Dank u [...]

]]> By: Jessia http://nikku.net/blog/an-international-renaissance/#comment-18 Jessia Tue, 08 Jan 2008 17:06:01 +0000 http://nikku.net/blog/an-international-renaissance/#comment-18 I think that with things coming up like th O'Neill festival and the push for the Olympics in 2016, Chicago is about to be poised to become an international destination for theatre. Wouldn't that be delightful? What can we do to find the tipping point and make that a reality? Does it start with simple individual connections? Or would that be something that's too good to be true? I think that with things coming up like th O’Neill festival and the push for the Olympics in 2016, Chicago is about to be poised to become an international destination for theatre. Wouldn’t that be delightful? What can we do to find the tipping point and make that a reality? Does it start with simple individual connections? Or would that be something that’s too good to be true?

]]> By: Nick Keenan http://nikku.net/blog/an-international-renaissance/#comment-17 Nick Keenan Tue, 08 Jan 2008 07:27:32 +0000 http://nikku.net/blog/an-international-renaissance/#comment-17 Found a little bit more info thanks to the excellent <a href="http://www.chicagotheatrehistoryproject.org" rel="nofollow">Chicago Theater History Database</a>, which I've been meaning to mention for several weeks now. The International Theatre Festival of Chicago ran from 1986 - 1994, and was led by Jane Nicholls Sahlins (wife of Bernie Sahlins who founded Second City) and who may still be around town, and helped among other things present Michael Fosberg's <a href="http://www.incognitotheplay.com/documents/where.html" rel="nofollow">Incognito</a> at the Mercury in 2001. So he knows her for sure! Company Archives are located at the Harold Washington Library: <blockquote>Chicago Theater Collection, Special Collections & Preservation Division, Harold Washington Library Center. Biannual festival held in Chicago 6 times from 1986-1996. Founded by Jane Nicholls Sahlins to introduce Chicago artists and audiences to the work of some of the greatest theater companies from around the world. Collection consists primarily of programs and promotional material.</blockquote> When they were around, <a href="http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20060206/ai_n16049147" rel="nofollow">they had a few of the same artists</a> now featured in the Latino Theater Festival at the Goodman. Looking at the board members of the festival, the biggest hurdle to such a festival became crystal clear - Immigration law and work visas for international artists. I know this is a huge challenge even for a theater with clout like the Goodman to pull off these days, and the previous festival was not a small operation. Probably the best extant picture that I could find on the web of how the festival worked is in an example of a favorite New Leaf book, <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=9Q_9NWurNmoC&pg=PA43&lpg=PA43&dq=%22international+theatre+festival+of+chicago%22&source=web&ots=ewbm5djqxY&sig=nOrsFWsi4OBYo90fnWIYtXiNC1w" rel="nofollow">Standing Room Only: Strategies for Marketing the Performing Arts</a>. Found a little bit more info thanks to the excellent Chicago Theater History Database, which I’ve been meaning to mention for several weeks now.

The International Theatre Festival of Chicago ran from 1986 - 1994, and was led by Jane Nicholls Sahlins (wife of Bernie Sahlins who founded Second City) and who may still be around town, and helped among other things present Michael Fosberg’s Incognito at the Mercury in 2001. So he knows her for sure!

Company Archives are located at the Harold Washington Library:

Chicago Theater Collection, Special Collections & Preservation Division, Harold Washington Library Center. Biannual festival held in Chicago 6 times from 1986-1996. Founded by Jane Nicholls Sahlins to introduce Chicago artists and audiences to the work of some of the greatest theater companies from around the world. Collection consists primarily of programs and promotional material.

When they were around, they had a few of the same artists now featured in the Latino Theater Festival at the Goodman.

Looking at the board members of the festival, the biggest hurdle to such a festival became crystal clear - Immigration law and work visas for international artists. I know this is a huge challenge even for a theater with clout like the Goodman to pull off these days, and the previous festival was not a small operation.

Probably the best extant picture that I could find on the web of how the festival worked is in an example of a favorite New Leaf book, Standing Room Only: Strategies for Marketing the Performing Arts.

]]> By: Nick Keenan http://nikku.net/blog/an-international-renaissance/#comment-16 Nick Keenan Mon, 07 Jan 2008 17:55:07 +0000 http://nikku.net/blog/an-international-renaissance/#comment-16 I was told by Tim Lynch (I think) that there used to be a Chicago International Theater Festival about 10 - 15 years ago. I've been trying to find remnants of it on the internet, but it's been tricky. I want to say that Chicago Shakespeare has had some more international connections, though no formal arrangements like a sister theater. They brought "Amajuba: Like Doves We Rise " in from South Africa this year (with my old Stage Management Prof Catherine Bloch on the tour, which was fun). With Jesse and Faela Weaver moving back to Ireland, The Side Project now has a sister project over on the Emerald Isle. This years' "<a href="http://thesideproject.net/detail.php?show=62" rel="nofollow">On My Parents' Hundredth Wedding Anniversary</a>" will be part of that collaboration, and "<a href="http://thesideproject.net/detail.php?show=48" rel="nofollow">Slipping</a>" will be in performance over in Dublin Gay Theater Festival. That's what I know about. I'd love to know if anyone else knows more! I was told by Tim Lynch (I think) that there used to be a Chicago International Theater Festival about 10 - 15 years ago. I’ve been trying to find remnants of it on the internet, but it’s been tricky.

I want to say that Chicago Shakespeare has had some more international connections, though no formal arrangements like a sister theater. They brought “Amajuba: Like Doves We Rise ” in from South Africa this year (with my old Stage Management Prof Catherine Bloch on the tour, which was fun).

With Jesse and Faela Weaver moving back to Ireland, The Side Project now has a sister project over on the Emerald Isle. This years’ “On My Parents’ Hundredth Wedding Anniversary” will be part of that collaboration, and “Slipping” will be in performance over in Dublin Gay Theater Festival.

That’s what I know about. I’d love to know if anyone else knows more!

]]> By: Marni http://nikku.net/blog/an-international-renaissance/#comment-14 Marni Mon, 07 Jan 2008 16:37:44 +0000 http://nikku.net/blog/an-international-renaissance/#comment-14 Beautifully put, and I absolutely agree! The Goodman's connections and the Edinburgh Fringe aside, are there any theaters in Chicago, especially storefronts, that have any kind of national or international "sister theater"? Beautifully put, and I absolutely agree!
The Goodman’s connections and the Edinburgh Fringe aside, are there any theaters in Chicago, especially storefronts, that have any kind of national or international “sister theater”?

]]> By: Jess http://nikku.net/blog/an-international-renaissance/#comment-11 Jess Mon, 07 Jan 2008 03:34:27 +0000 http://nikku.net/blog/an-international-renaissance/#comment-11 Ditto, ditto, ditto. It's such a gift to be inspired by artists like Marta. That performance that inspired Permanent Way was remarkable and I feel really priviledged that I got to see it. Remember before copyright laws when everything was cross-pollinated and free game as inspiration? Yeah, there was a lot of out-right "stealing" too, but still. Ditto, ditto, ditto. It’s such a gift to be inspired by artists like Marta. That performance that inspired Permanent Way was remarkable and I feel really priviledged that I got to see it. Remember before copyright laws when everything was cross-pollinated and free game as inspiration? Yeah, there was a lot of out-right “stealing” too, but still.

]]> By: Anna W http://nikku.net/blog/an-international-renaissance/#comment-9 Anna W Sat, 05 Jan 2008 19:28:13 +0000 http://nikku.net/blog/an-international-renaissance/#comment-9 well said, nick. I am so interested in the process of idea sharing and/or collaboration in the development of new or little seen works. I have a class next quarter about music and evolutionary thought....<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memetics" rel="nofollow">memetics</a> and whatnot. facinating stuff. well said, nick. I am so interested in the process of idea sharing and/or collaboration in the development of new or little seen works. I have a class next quarter about music and evolutionary thought….memetics and whatnot. facinating stuff.

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