Did ancient greeks pay for their tickets to the theatre? The Romans for their seats at the Circus? [more inside]
posted by kandinski on Oct 29, 2009 - 7 answers

Best setup for a Win 7 laptop as HTPC? [more inside]
posted by jcmilton on Oct 21, 2009 - 7 answers

Molière's Don Juan, Alan Ayckbourn's Norman Dewars, Shaw's Leonard Charteris. I am clearly missing some greats, but who are theatre's other great philandering characters, male or female? (Theatre only, please, no films or television.)
posted by mykescipark on Oct 19, 2009 - 9 answers

I'm looking for a cake pan/mold in the shape of the traditional theater comedy/drama masks. [more inside]
posted by He Is Only The Imposter on Oct 1, 2009 - 4 answers

Are there any examples of stories where a character is depicted as super-funny, and that actually comes through in practice? [more inside]
posted by Navelgazer on Sep 29, 2009 - 26 answers

I was just cast in an opera! Problem: I have never been in an opera before, and am not really a "musical" person. Please help me keep from falling flat on my face! [more inside]
posted by hermitosis on Sep 14, 2009 - 9 answers

We will be in Berlin from this Saturday until Wednesday. Please recommend a cabaret-type performance that will be comprehensible to non-German speakers, is not overly risque, and will make for a fun evening.
posted by Xalf on Sep 11, 2009 - 1 answer

Do security camera DVR's record all video channels simultaneously, or do they only record one channel at a time or the multiplex all on one screen? I ask because I'm looking to set up an ultra cheap multi-cam recording setup in a small theater. [more inside]
posted by tropikal on Aug 28, 2009 - 4 answers

How have issues of cultural appropriation, stereotypes, and diversity been tackled in art and popular culture? [more inside]
posted by divabat on Aug 17, 2009 - 16 answers

Stage Combat Question. Is it possible to take a bladed weapon and render it safe for use on-stage (without damaging the weapon itself)? I seem to recall from my days as a DragonCon volunteer that cosplayer's swords had to be taped* and/or bated (or else the sword had to be peace-tied so as to prevent its leaving a scabbard), but I can't find a description of the safety-making process. [more inside]
posted by grabbingsand on Aug 6, 2009 - 9 answers

Any good leads for corporate or foundational funders for a youth theatre project for Sri Lankan refugees and orphans? [more inside]
posted by By The Grace of God on Jul 15, 2009 - 1 answer

No one tells you how to be a musician in high school. What should I be doing? I feel like playing open mics and blindly sending out demos isn't the right way to do it. I can't even play at bars because I'm under 21. Any advice? [more inside]
posted by lhude sing cuccu on Jul 13, 2009 - 42 answers

Writing an Asperger character : how can I get to know enough about Asperger's syndrom ? Please bear in mind that I live in Belgium. [more inside]
posted by Baud on Jul 6, 2009 - 13 answers

I'm looking for plays about precocious children. [more inside]
posted by stray on Jun 26, 2009 - 16 answers

Can you think of any films that include a scene where the characters play Charades, or a similar party game? [more inside]
posted by Beardman on Jun 22, 2009 - 34 answers

Can anyone recommend strategy/tactics for snagging cheap day seats for 'Waiting for Godot' in London? Will there be a snarling crowd at 10AM Saturday morning outside the Theatre Royal Haymarket? How early ought I arrive to ensure I'm in the front of the queue?
posted by Devoidoid on Jun 18, 2009 - 3 answers

I need to find talented people who are into both theatre writing and web technologies. They should live in Britain or Ireland. I have two weeks. Where should I look?
posted by the latin mouse on Jun 17, 2009 - 6 answers

Propsfilter. Looking for a specific prop to use in a Fringe production. Difficulty level: free, sourced in Toronto, 1890's period accurate (repro is fine). [more inside]
posted by dirtynumbangelboy on Jun 9, 2009 - 1 answer

Good movies about theatre? [more inside]
posted by HeroZero on Jun 5, 2009 - 38 answers

What is the funniest scene in a Shakespeare play? [more inside]
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 on May 20, 2009 - 28 answers

Help me develop the skills needed to carry an (essentially) one-man stage show despite never having even vaguely considering acting. If I get the part, I assume we'll start rehearsals in late autumn. [more inside]
posted by 2or3whiskeysodas on May 18, 2009 - 1 answer

I'm going to be auditioning for a musical theater role in a month, and could use some advice on how to prepare. [more inside]
posted by ocherdraco on Apr 28, 2009 - 10 answers

What's the difference between directing a play and stage-directing an opera? [more inside]
posted by roll truck roll on Apr 21, 2009 - 3 answers

How to make a theatrical version of the Star Trek doors that can be operated by one person using only one rope. Must be able to both open and close. [more inside]
posted by cloeburner on Apr 17, 2009 - 16 answers

Sort of a two-part question, though answering the first part will help me answer the second. First, does anyone know of a (preferably online) way to search for plays by topic or subject matter? Searching for title keywords is sometimes useful but not ideal, and I haven't been able to make the search functions at the major playhouses' websites play nicely either. Second, in particular, I'm looking for plays about, referencing, or otherwise related to fire, smoke, etc. Any thoughts on either? [more inside]
posted by hatta on Apr 3, 2009 - 9 answers

I'm directing a farce with a bunch of high-schoolers, and would love to give them some movie suggestions to look at for characters. They are pretty classic comic archetypes, but my brain is reeling a bit trying to think of all of them, and though I'd put it out to the hive mind. The only catch is that I can't really suggest any R-Rated movies, because most of them aren't old enough to watch them... [more inside]
posted by rawredmeat on Mar 13, 2009 - 22 answers

Tips on theatrical haze machines. [more inside]
posted by Navelgazer on Feb 8, 2009 - 11 answers

Has there ever been video game characters in a theatre play ? [more inside]
posted by Baud on Feb 4, 2009 - 8 answers

HighSchoolDramaTeacherFilter: Any tips for doing documentary theater with students? [more inside]
posted by HeroZero on Jan 23, 2009 - 3 answers

Help me find free age appropriate plays/skits/acting exercises for my 6 year old. [more inside]
posted by dejah420 on Jan 19, 2009 - 8 answers

HighSchoolTwelfthNightProductionFilter: Help me set some Shakespearean songs to 1920's dixieland jazz melodies. [more inside]
posted by HeroZero on Jan 5, 2009 - 10 answers

Christmas gift ideas, please! For dad: sports or literature podcasts. For mum: tickets for a play in Leeds/London/Manchester in March/April. Suggestions for either very much appreciated! [more inside]
posted by Cantdosleepy on Dec 16, 2008 - 4 answers

TheatreFilter: help me find the text (or at least the author) of a play I acted in a long while ago. It was a bizarre avant-garde sort of thing, and the excerpt we performed centered on an interview. [more inside]
posted by hatta on Nov 16, 2008 - 2 answers

Lav Mics. What about 'em? We encourage our actors to cheat out, to be confident in their lines and to project. And yet, there are times when they need just a little more help being heard. So, here is a follow-up to a question I asked two years ago ... now that we've a little experience, if we decided to add lav mics to our audio arsenal, is there are make and model that you would recommend for theatre? For outdoor theatre? For outdoor theatre in a climate that can shift from nary a drop to downpour in under a minute?
posted by grabbingsand on Sep 29, 2008 - 3 answers

StageCraftFilter / EngineeringFilter. What is the best way to safely elevate a 4' x 8' rigid platform (theatrical) to about five feet from the stage? Currently, I have it situated atop four 4x4 posts, each five foot tall, each at a corner, bolts through the frame of the platform and the post. The posts are connected by 4' long 2x4s in front and back (about halfway down), and 8' long 2x4s on either side (halfway down). This works, but only just. It is not stable. I'm not putting an actor on a wobbly platform. So what else should be done to stabilize this contraption? [more inside]
posted by grabbingsand on Sep 5, 2008 - 14 answers

Eva and Hitler in an Argentinian safehouse... What is this play called? [more inside]
posted by jimmyhutch on Sep 4, 2008 - 4 answers

Which translation/adaptation/version of Carlo Goldoni's The Servant of Two Masters should my high school students perform? [more inside]
posted by HeroZero on Aug 27, 2008 - 1 answer

I'm directing a play based on this (rather old) script for television by Tom Stoppard. Help me find it on film. [more inside]
posted by eWesley on Aug 23, 2008 - 3 answers

followup to this question: how does one create and develop a persona? [more inside]
posted by divabat on Aug 4, 2008 - 7 answers

SetPaintingFilter. When I was in college theatre, our sets were never finished until our company technical director walked the set, paint brush in hand, adding texture to the platforms with what seemed to be a very ordered splatter pattern. He'd do this alone, the night before we opened. The textures didn't take away from the set, but added depth. So what was he doing? I've seen the phrase "splatter wash," but can see no details on the method, the mix for the paint, anything. [more inside]
posted by grabbingsand on Jun 16, 2008 - 7 answers

Looking for plays with courtroom/trial scenes. [more inside]
posted by jrb223 on Jun 10, 2008 - 24 answers

What's the Improv scene in Singapore like? Help me get a more optimistic picture than the one Google provides. [more inside]
posted by WalterMitty on Jun 5, 2008 - 3 answers

What can you tell me about working in theatrical costume in NYC? [more inside]
posted by doift on Apr 4, 2008 - 1 answer

I'm thinking of getting tickets to see Speed-the-Plow at London's Old Vic theatre: I loves me some Mamet, and Kevin Spacey and Jeff Goldblum are in the lead roles. Hot dog. How can I optimise my chances of seeing Spacey and Goldblum together rather than one of them plus an understudy? My concerns may be groundless... but do the stars tend to skip an occasional performance, and if so, do they usually skip mid-week shows, or matinees? Any insider knowledge would be much appreciated. (In general I have nothing against understudies, who are often amazing in their own right. I just really want to see these guys at it.)
posted by hot soup girl on Mar 23, 2008 - 5 answers

Teen MusicalTheaterFilter: Audition song for teen girl- make it a good one! [more inside]
posted by I_Love_Bananas on Mar 18, 2008 - 23 answers

Media Player / DJ / Theatre Sound Cueing software which allows looping a segment of the file indefinitely and then continuing playback? Details inside... [more inside]
posted by Alabaster on Mar 9, 2008 - 4 answers

On behalf of a friend: looking for a single scene from a play that would work well as a standalone piece, for a drama class showcase. [more inside]
posted by thoughtless on Feb 27, 2008 - 23 answers

What's the easiest way to create a fake ZX Spectrum/Amstrad/C64 loading screen? [more inside]
posted by RokkitNite on Feb 19, 2008 - 5 answers

I'm working on a job application to work at a theatre and events company in the UK. It asks me for three websites I admire and to give the reasons why. What sites should I put down? [more inside]
posted by tapeguy on Jan 27, 2008 - 12 answers

Looking for examples of diplomats who were/are also involved in the performing arts. [more inside]
posted by jrb223 on Jan 12, 2008 - 35 answers