Tag: theatre
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Experimental Theatre “How to Build a Dictator” Just Published
I recently published “How to Build a Dictator,” which is a unique, immersive and experimental theatre piece originally performed in 2016 at the now-defunct Penang Performing Arts Centre. It was part of their Black Box Experiments theatre series, which included a bunch of unusual productions. I had decided that I wanted to act in this…
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In the Works: Cracks in the Universe – First Play in Three Years
Novel writing took a backseat in 2025. I’ll be back to it soon enough. These past few months – since September, I believe – I’ve been delving back into my writing roots and creating a play (or plays) for the first time in more than three years. I’ve missed play-writing, and once the ideas started…
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A Black Box Experience
I’ve been down the rabbit hole of theatre the past month, producing my new show. We had a successful three performance run which concluded Thursday night with a great, responsive crowd, and a group of young actors who had loosened up to show their grit on the stage. It was a great experience. For the…
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Ponderings on My First Show in 2 Years
Live theatre gets into the blood. When the curtain opens, and the nerves take over, and the hair stands on its end, and the bumps on your skin realize that it’s time, finally, after such a long hiatus, one begins to understand just how much the cult of theatre has seeped into the blood stream.…
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Frodo Is Becoming Obsolete
I started teaching drama and acting right about the time that Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings Trilogy was finishing up. Nearly everyone had seen it, and almost universally raved about it. The characterizations of the film provided the perfect example for me when I attempted to illustrate for my young actors what it means…
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Ten Months in the Making: A New Beginning
It was in December 2016 that I accepted an offer to teach drama in Saudi Arabia. Ten months later, in September of 2017, I am finally set to have my first class. Tomorrow. This is a huge shift in many ways. I had a terrific position in Malaysia, a position which had few limits on…
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Farewell, Penang Performing Arts Centre (penangpac)! I will miss you!
At the conclusion of my last show at penangpac yesterday, I was highly honored by my friends there with this amazing parting gift. This was completely unexpected. I was bowled over by their thoughtfulness. I have grown my theatre arts background and experience at their famous stage 1 and stage 2 venues. So I thought,…
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It’s not the words. It’s the emotion behind the words.
I was working with one of my actors on a pivotal scene in our upcoming play. She gives a short speech which spurs on some tremendous societal changes. Yes, it’s a few lines of dialogue which changes the story dramatically. It’s the crucial point in the play. The actor had not been getting it. The…
Author Mark W Sasse 