Tag: directing drama
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The Show Ends
Last night, we capped off an amazing weekend of drama at the Penang Performing Arts Centre. Good responsive crowds watched as my amazing young actors perform everything from comedy, to dramatic storytelling, to hard hitting drama. It’s such an emotional thing for a writer and director to see the work they’ve toiled on for months…
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The Sasse Food Challenge: How to Motivate Actors
It’s become somewhat of a ritual for me over the past few years: The Sasse Food Challenge. It’s a way to, hopefully, motivate my actors to memorize their lines by the date I want them memorized. On the day of the challenge, if they ALL know their lines, approximately 95% or so, then I will…
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You have a good show. Now make it great.
I’ve been working real hard with my drama group, getting ready for our Christmas show coming up the first week of December. We’ve spent a lot of hours working the 10 different scripts we’ll be performing that night, and I’ve been really happy with how they are coming together. It’s going to be an enjoyable…
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Thank (or hug) a Drama Director
If you’ve ever enjoyed a theatrical production, take a minute and thank a drama director today. Now I’m not saying this so someone will thank me, but there is a tremendous amount of work that goes into a show, 99% of it is never seen. But the laughter you enjoy, the poignant moments that send…
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When realism made everything unrealistic.
When does trying to be real backfire and become realistic? I guess this is the journey I’ve been on in the theatre these past seven years. I started out as a director trying to make everything on stage seem as realistic as possible. I remember the first play I wrote, we figured out how to…
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What is acting?
Acting coach Howard Fine has said the following: “Actors wear costumes, people wear clothes.” Here are a few things I think it means: 1. If you are wearing a costume, you are a bad actor. (unless you’ve been cast in the role of “Tree” during the George Washington Cherry Tree play.) 2. Acting is about…
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Directing for Short & Sweet Theatre Penang
I’ve signed on to direct in Short & Sweet Theatre Penang coming up in September. What is Short & Sweet? It’s a festival of 10-minute plays, each performed nightly during one week of theatre competition. I entered as a playwright last year, and my play was fortunate enough to take home the “Audience Choice Award”…
Author Mark W Sasse 