On the Spot

Posted by DCA Theater on April 26, 2012 in January - July 2012 Season, Incubator Series: Almost ATLANTA

Submitted by Annie Calhoun, who performed in Almost ATLANTA‘s Incubator Showcase at the DCA Studio Theater on Monday night.

Annie Calhoun welcomes everyone and introduces the company and explains the form of the performance.

Here’s Annie’s reflection on their showcase:

Putting our new form up [Monday] night was a blast. It was process driven work and we now have tried and tested a new form called “Strawberry Rhubarb” where we do part one in an ‘undressed’ sort of way, and part two in a ‘dressed’ look!

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Character-based vs. Event-based Improv

Posted by DCA Theater on April 20, 2012 in January - July 2012 Season, Incubator Series: Almost ATLANTA

Submitted by Annie Calhoun, currently working with Almost ATLANTA on Strawberry Rhubarb in the DCA Theater Incubator Series

We’re trying to figure out Part Two…will it be more linear/plot-based? Or will it be more character-based? We’re improvising. No script. We think since the first part is more character-based, maybe the Part Two will be more event-based. This way we can continue to follow the seven different characters created by our ensemble instead of following one protagonist and the others playing second fiddle. An event-driven improv is where we set the story in a hospital for example, and then have a bunch of characters milling about so that the audience sees a number of perspectives and points of view.

Plotting a Performance

Posted by DCA Theater on April 19, 2012 in January - July 2012 Season, Incubator Series: Almost ATLANTA

Submitted by Annie Calhoun, currently working with Almost ATLANTA on Strawberry Rhubarb in the DCA Theater Incubator Series

Today we played with form. We will do a La Rond in the first half. We will pull what the audience has suggested from a bowl to assign each person a jumping off place for their character. Then we will do an improv form that explores not plot, but characters, as we take turns doing scenes with each other. After 20-25 minutes, we will lay out a bin of props and costumes before the audience. They will choose 1-2 items for each character based on the personality just shown in the improv! We will then take a short intermission and set the stage for Part Two, turn on the lights, dress the set a bit with a location given to us by an audience member, dress ourselves in the chosen props/costumes, and re-set the chairs to face the stage. Our musician will then announce our show title more formally as we call the audience back for Part Two!

Crumple or Fold?

Posted by DCA Theater on April 18, 2012 in January - July 2012 Season, Incubator Series: Almost ATLANTA

Submitted by Annie Calhoun, currently working with Almost ATLANTA on Strawberry Rhubarb in the DCA Theater Incubator Series

This rehearsal began with a fun exploration of the “props closet” behind the Studio stage! We found a really funny looking screen with an 80’s floral print on one side and the other solid green. It got us thinking about the possibility of using set dressings for the second half again. We’ve now decided that Part One of our show will be in the round with the audience seated in a circle while we play on the floor of the room. We will ask the audience for written suggestions as they enter pre-show, that have to do with provocative questions that can be jumping off places for the characters we will create for the first time before their eyes. For instance, one of the questions we may ask, “would you like character #3 to be the kind of person who crumples or folds his movie stub when disposing of it?”

Sweet & Sour

Posted by DCA Theater on April 17, 2012 in January - July 2012 Season, Incubator Series: Almost ATLANTA

Submitted by Annie Calhoun, currently working with Almost ATLANTA on Strawberry Rhubarb in the DCA Theater Incubator Series

Tonight we sat in the space for the first time tonight and started brainstorming! We are not looking to do scripted material, but create an interesting form with which to improvise within. We came up with a riff on the term “Strawberry Rhubarb” which is our official title on the website. What if we showed some kind of improv form that was “unfinished” or the sour side to the yin/yang of strawberry rhubarb, and then a more dressed or sweeter “strawberry” ending to the show…

What if the first half simply used the raw space?  No lights, or sound or attempt at looking theatrical until the second half? … more to come…