#institute for american theatre

[derekklenadaily]

iamtnyc: Week 10! Full of spooky fun and IAMT's fabulous talent!!

📷 @nycdancecam

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#musicaltheatre #conservatory #theatreschool #broadway #theatrekid #theatretraining #danceschool #danceclass #actortraining #actingclass #iamt #instituteforamericanmusicaltheatre

[world-of-celebs]

Nicole Kidman attending the 49th AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute To Nicole Kidman at the Dolby Theatre on April 27, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

[courseyoulovemeyoudontknowme]

The Sound of Music (1965, Robert Wise)

12/09/2024

[erainbowd]

Writers Aren't Magic

People got very upset about a proposal for rethinking the American #theatre. It's like they thought it was going to happen, like it was #magic. I wish we could make change with our words but it usually takes more than that.

A writer of my acquaintance recently had an op-ed published in the Washington Post about theatre and what should be done about the death spiral it seems to be in. In the piece, she proposed some ways to fix some of the problems the field has found itself in. She named the difficulties, the history and offered a solution. In watching the response to the article roll in, I was struck by how those…

[haute-lifestyle-com]

Today, the American Film Institute (AFI) celebrated the commencement of the AFI Conservatory Class of 2023 at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. The event was a culmination of two years of intense study at AFI's MFA program.

[alltrekvarnews]

La gala del Premio AFI Life Achievement de Nicole Kidman se pospone debido a la huelga de escritores.

[spacelazarwolf]

109 years ago today, leo frank, an innocent american jewish man, was lynched.

in 1913, leo frank was arrested for the murder of mary phagan. despite evidence that he was at home at the time of the murder, the jury decided in just four hours that he was guilty and the judge sentenced him to death. all of frank's appeals were rejected. protests erupted outside the governor's mansion when the governor decided to commute frank's sentence from death to life imprisonment, and on august 17th, 1915, a group of 25 men kidnapped frank from the prison hospital where he was recovering from an attempt on his life, drove him 100 miles to mary phagan's hometown, and lynched him. there are several photos of the lynching.

though frank is the only known jewish victim of lynching in america, antisemitism was baked into the nation's history in numerous other ways. during the trial, the prosecuting attorney framed him as a sexual pervert who was both a homosexual and preyed on young girls. this is not the first time a jewish man has been framed as a sexual predatory because of his jewishness. it was simply the culmination of centuries of antisemitism that still persists to this day. (content warning for antisemitic caricatures and one graphic photo of the lynching of leo frank)

leo frank was proven innocent after his death, though many people still insist he was guilty, particularly white supremacists.

a musical called parade about the trial and tragic death of leo frank was written by jewish composer jason robert brown and jewish playwright alfred uhry. it premiered in 1988 and was revived in 2023 on broadway, starring jewish actors ben platt and micaela diamond, where neo nazis protested outside the theatre, claiming the show was "glorifying a pedophile."

as of writing this, tomorrow is the first day of elul, the last month in the jewish calendar culminating in the high holy days, the holiest days of the jewish year. every year, synagogues see an increase in negative attention and antisemitism from their wider communities. we start to receive more hostile phone calls and emails, threats of violence, and this year there was a swatting campaign targeting at least 26 jewish institutions. we are supposed to be using this time to reflect and make amends with the people we've hurt, and instead so much of our time and energy had to go toward ensuring we can even safely walk into our communal spaces.

i don't have the answer for how to fix this or what you as a gentile should do. antisemitism is thousands of years old, and it's not going to stop because some well meaning people on tumblr read all the articles linked in this post. all i know is that jews all over the world are terrified and so, so tired.

[opencommunion]

The producer, artistic director, and an educator at The Freedom Theatre in Jenin were kidnapped alongside over 100 other Palestinians today (13 Dec 23). The Freedom Theatre is a hub of cultural resistance and artistic community in the occupied West Bank.

Join me in calling on theatre institutions to demand the immediate release of these kidnapped artists. Here's the email I'm sending; feel free to copy but please adjust the phrasing to avoid spam filters: "Today in Jenin refugee camp, The Freedom Theatre's artistic director Ahmed Tobasi, producer Mustafa Sheta, and acting teacher Jamal Abu Joas were taken hostage by the Israeli army alongside over one hundred other Palestinian civilians. This follows the murder of three Freedom Theatre artists in the last few weeks: Yamen Jarrar (17), Jehad Naghniyeh (26), and Mohammed Matahen (30). The global theatre community must stand up in support of artists persecuted by the occupation regime. There is extensive documentation of torture in Israeli occupation detention centers. I urge [name of organization] to issue a public statement demanding the immediate release of these hostages. Here's a recent article about The Freedom Theatre's work with traumatized children: [AJ link above]" I'm also adding a brief statement from my perspective as a theatre artist, expressing my disappointment in my local and national theatre scene for its silence. If you're a theatre artist or theatre-goer I encourage you to do the same! The international and US institutions I'm emailing: International Society for the Performing Arts - dbaile@ispa.org, mdriscoll@ispa.org, rjohnson@ispa.org, zcheng@ispa.org International Theatre Institute - info@iti-worldwide.org, hessa@cpo.fujairah.ae International Amateur Theatre Association - secretariat@aitaiata.net Theatre Without Borders - info@theatrewithoutborders.com ASSITEJ - president@assitej-international.org, sg@assitej-international.org, chris@assitej-international.org International Federation for Theatre Research - marcus.tan@nie.edu.sg IDEA- info@idea-austria.org International Schools Theatre Association - office@ista.co.uk, tom@ista.co.uk, helen@ista.co.uk, keriann@ista.co.uk Theatre for Young Audiences USA - info@tyausa.org, sbfala@gmail.com, saramorgulis@gmail.com American Association of Community Theatre - quiana@aact.org, david@aact.org, dvancleave@aact.org American Theatre Wing - mailbox@americantheatrewing.org, rachel@americantheatrewing.org American Theatre Magazine - rwkendt@tcg.org, ksmith@tcg.org, apierson@tcg.org, jpierce@tcg.org American Alliance for Theatre and Education - heidischo@gmail.com American Society for Theatre Research - president@astr.org, info@astr.org Theater of War - marjolaine@theaterofwar.com, bryan@theaterofwar.com Actors' Equity - jrice@actorsequity.org, kshindle@actorsequity.org, wcarter@actorsequity.org, abundonis@actorsequity.org The Broadway League - league@broadway.org PEN America - info@pen.org, education@pen.org Please also email organizations where you live, and any personal contacts in the performing arts. You can also tag organizations in the comments of The Freedom Theatre's posts on ig @.thefreedomtheatre

[trashmuseum]

LETS HELP A FELLOW GAZAN ARTIST!

"Hello, my friends, this is Amr Al-Najjar, a 27-year-old from Gaza.

I am an interior designer and singer, I have my own band, and I am a theatrical and dramatic actor.

I find passion in spreading culture, arts, and music through musical artistic works in a private studio or through the theater.

I spent 12 years forming and building myself artistically and socially until I became a shining name among artists and engineers. I participated in the production of many musical and theatrical artistic works with local community institutions and international institutions.

I even established my own engineering office for decoration and design, and I used to design beautiful places and homes for every person who loves life.

But all of this was gone in the blink of an eye, in a few minutes, and in a moment of silence, it was October 7, there was nothing left, only rubble and ashes.

My dream, my passion, and my aspirations for the future were all gone.

I took refuge in Rafah, the safe area, and was surprised by the number of children who needed psychological support through music and theatre. I want to continue to provide support for them with my talents.

I hope that you will help me rebuild my home and my life, and achieve my dream- to put a smile on the faces of children and to restore artistic and musical works in Gaza.

All the musical instruments were destroyed and I lost some of my wonderful colleagues.

I need support from you in order to rebuild everything and achieve my dream.

My dream:

I need to buy new instruments and equipment. The cost of rebuilding is prohibitive, and I can't do it alone. Your support means the world to me and the kids. Your donation, no matter how small, would make a huge difference in my life. This will help me continue to pursue my passion for music and provide for my family. It would give me hope for a brighter future. Thank you for taking the time to read my story. Thank you for your generosity and kindness. Together, we can rebuild everything - music, theater, and my office - and keep the creative flame alive in Gaza."

How his house is now and how it was before being bombed (1ts picture). And where they're living now (2nd picture):

Please take a moment to appreciate his beautiful and talented voice.

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A post shared by susan abulhawa (@susanabulhawa)

Thank you very much, everyone!

[mallgothyamaguchi]

what haikyuu characters would major in at My College™ -karasuno edition!-

it is summer i am not at my institution of learning but i thought this would be fun ! we have some quirky majors and everyone is a double major or has a major and a minor… very rare for someone to just major in one thing lol

daichi - oh he’s definitely political science and political economy and public policy, perhaps on the pre-law track. also would consider public health (haha that’s my major!) major or minor with a focus in public safety or workplace health

sugawara - suga is so psychology major on the education track (we don’t have an education major, but we do have the track and a graduate program)

asahi - unfortunately my school doesn’t have fashion design, however, we do have a large theatre program with a subcategory in stage management, design & technical theatre and i think he’d like the costume design aspect. another area i could see him in is studio art or art history. definitely intertwined with the art department :)

nishinoya - hot take maybe but anthropology and definitely international studies! i think he’d also fight the school to go abroad multiple times

tanaka - might be a different take but i think he’d start out as business administration or finance because he didn’t really know what he wanted to do, but then he took a random sociology course for a credit and fell in love with it, leading to a double major

ennoshita - this man is so obviously biology on the pre-med track, mr. physical therapist

kinoshita - business administration i can feel it in my bones,,, with a sustainability studies minor

narita - another business administration guy, but i would consider adding in finance major or the innovation and entrepreneurship minor

kageyama - ooo i get to have fun with this one! i could totally see him as a media & communications major or a sociology major for the analysis purposes (i think after his volleyball career he’d become a sports journalist or analyst) and for where he ends up in present day, i grant him an italian studies minor

hinata - i get to have fun with hinata too! he’s sooo definitely on the education track (he’s a great teacher), but with particular majors i can see him in international studies or media & communication (more the latter, kind of for the same reasons as kageyama) and a minor in latin american and caribbean studies!

tsukishima - oh this is so easy. double history and accounting major (he wanted something practical mixed in with his passion), and an analytics minor

yamaguchi - my boy! i think he’d take an interdisciplinary approach to mathematics with a focus in business and technology (perhaps a computer science minor?), but there’s also sustainability studies and information systems management incorporated in his degree somehow :)

kiyoko - i’m heading way off from canon, but i totally think she’s on the pre-med track with a biochemistry major looking to pursue a medical leadership certificate or graduate degree. it just feels right to me.

yachi - babygirl is so vibing in the studio arts major, but for practical application she’s also majoring/minoring in media & communications. can’t convince me otherwise that she’s a women and gender studies minor.

this was so much fun!!! i’m definitely going to be expanding upon this universe, since i already have a bunch of ideas lingering in my head. next, i’ll be doing other secondary characters’ majors and minors !

[film-classics]

Carmen Miranda - The Brazilian Bombshell

Carmen Miranda (born Maria do Carmo Miranda da Cunha in Marco de Canaveses, Porto on February 9, 1909) was a Portuguese-born Brazilian singer. Nicknamed "The Brazilian Bombshell", she was known for her sass and signature fruit hat outfit that she wore in her American films.

Miranda was introduced to a composer while working at her family's inn, and she soon recorded her first single ("Não vá Simbora") in 1929.  She then signed a two-year contract with Rádio Mayrink Veiga, the most popular Brazilian station of the 1930s. Her rise to stardom in Brazil was linked to the growth of a native style of music: the samba.

At the invitation of US show business impresario, Lee Shubert, who saw her perform in Rio's Cassino da Urca, she came to Broadway and starred in hit musicals: The Streets of Paris and Sons o' Fun.

Her fame grew quickly, and she was formally presented to President Franklin D. Roosevelt at a White House banquet shortly after her arrival in the US.

When news of Broadway's latest star (known as the Brazilian Bombshell) reached Hollywood, Twentieth Century-Fox offered her a contract in 1941. Her most memorable film performances are in the musical numbers of films such as Week-End in Havana (1941) and The Gang's All Here (1943).

After World War II, Miranda's films at Fox were produced in black-and-white, indicative of Hollywood's diminishing interest in her. As a result, Miranda decided to produce her own films to limited success. Although her film career was faltering, her musical career remained solid and she was still a popular nightclub attraction. She continued to tour the US, Europe, and Latin America.

After filming a segment for the NBC variety series The Jimmy Durante Show, where complained of feeling unwell, she died at home in Beverly Hills, California from a heart attack. She was 46 years old.

Legacy:

Was the first contract singer in Brazilian radio history; subsequently, the highest-paid radio singer in Brazil in the 1930s

Chosen by former Brazilian president Getúlio Vargas as a goodwill ambassador in the United States in 1939

Was the first Latin American star to have a block in the forecourt of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in 1941

Was Hollywood's highest-paid entertainer and the top female taxpayer in the US in 1945, earning more than $200,000 that year

Has a museum in Rio de Janeiro, Museu Carmen Miranda, established in her honor in 1976

Received the Ordem do Infante Dom Henrique Grande Oficial, a Portuguese order of knighthood, in 1995

Has a square in Hollywood named Carmen Miranda Square with a ceremony headed by honorary mayor of Hollywood Johnny Grant and attended by Brazilian consul general Jorió Gama in 1998

Was one of 500 stars nominated for the American Film Institute's 50 greatest screen legends in 1999

Honored by the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro in 2005 and the Latin America Memorial in São Paulo in 2006 with a Carmen Miranda Forever exhibit to commemorate the 50th anniversary of her death

Bestowed the Ordem do Mérito Cultural by the Ministry of Culture of Brazil in 2009

Was a part of a set of commemorative US Postal Service Latin Music Legends stamps, painted by Rafael Lopez, in 2011

Commemorated in the 2016 Summer Olympics closing ceremony with a tribute

Honored with a Google Doodle on her 108th birthday in 2017

Was the first South American honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6262 Hollywood Boulevard for motion picture

[derekklenadaily]

iamtnyc: ONE MONTH DOWN! 🗓 This first month of the school year has been fast and furious, and we wouldn't have it any other way! 🎉

Let's go Month 2! 🌟

——

#conservatory #theatreschool #actingclass #actortraining #danceschool #danceclass #triplethreat #musicaltheatre #theatrekid

[historicity-was-already-taken]

Hello! I'm currently a graduate student working on my thesis. I'm hoping to make it a study in the overlap (both geographic and cultural) of the Yiddish Theatre and Queer communities of turn of the century New York City. I know that is not your forte specifically, but I wondered if you had any contemporaries with specializations in either of those areas? Thank you so much for your time, and Shabbat Shalom!

I have colleagues who come close to those areas, but no one who does exactly what you're hoping to look for.

I did, however, do a lot of brainstorming regarding resources and archives. My former place of work, the American Jewish Historical Society (AJHS), has a great Yiddish Theater Poster collection, while the YIVO Institute, which collects materials relating to Yiddish-speaking Jewry is likely to have quite a bit in the way of relevant collections.

As for queer communities (and this is just what I'd do if I was hoping to work in the spaces you described), I suggest grabbing a copy of Gay New York by George Chauncey and checking out which archives he used while writing it; you could email him if you're looking for more specific information.

These are just places to start and I know you didn't ask for my take on these, but it's the reference archivist in me.

@tinderbooks any thoughts?

ETA: @thecaptainsarcasm @tinderbooks replied: National Yiddish Theatre Folksbeine has been around for over 100 years. https://nytf.org/. I’m not sure what kind of archives they have or are able to keep but they are certainly an organization whose history (and contemporary work) is worth exploring. Oh and of course you should look at the modern play INDECENT by Paula Vogel. Which tells the history of the Yiddish play GOD OF VENGEANCE. The cast was tried for public indecency when they presented the English translation in New York. The story is about a Jewish girl who falls in love with one of the prostitutes in the brothel owned by her father.

[voguefashion]

Nicole Kidman wearing custom Balenciaga, at the American Film Institute's 'AFI Life Achievement Award Dolby' which was bestowed on her at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on April 27, 2024.

[blueberryforestelf]

Russian Influence in Moral Orel:

Okay so a while ago I just finished watching Moral Orel and I noticed that there were some connections between it and Russian culture. I also noticed that the show had just become popular in Russia and there are dubbed episodes available on VK. Even though Moral Orel is an American TV show and the creator of the show is of Greek descent, here are some connections on the show that linked to Russian culture and social cues:

The heavy alcoholism on the show: Clay and most of the people in Moralton are straight-up alcoholics, and even Bloberta was an alcoholic before she met Clay. Of course, alcohol is a significant part of Russian culture and the country has the highest consumption of alcohol in the world. Not only are alcoholic beverages are consumed in high amounts, but is also very much socially accepted and encouraged. Even underaged children are encouraged to drink. In the episode Maturity, Orel thought drinking would make him “wise and mature” like his father and in Help young Bloberta stated that drinking alcohol “makes us better people”.

There’s a city in Russia called Orel.

Orel means “Eagle” in Russian (and other Slavic languages). So in the Russian dub Orel’s name is Eagle.

Ms. Censordoll loves pickled eggs and keeps a jar full of them in her library. Russian cuisine consists of a lot of pickled foods, including pickled eggs, cabbage, potatoes, fish, watermelon, etc.

If you notice in the Puppington household, you’ll see an oriental carpet on the living room floor. Oriented carpets are very common in Russian households and are often on floors or hung on walls.

Clay’s reckless driving and Russia is famous for its many reckless drivers and very frequent traffic accidents (I just had to add this to the list lol)

Clay’s car looks like a Lada (a Russian brand of cars).

The “depressing”, conservative, perfectionistic, and collective culture of Moralton is quite similar to that of Russian culture. The entire town is centered around a church which literally controls everything in the town and how it operates. The people are fed Christian propaganda and are not allowed to think differently or do things differently than what is socially acceptable, otherwise they would be outcasted and have to face harsh consequences. This pretty much relates to Russia’s Soviet/Communist Era of when housing, stores, businesses, etc. were all controlled by the government and not the people. People were not allowed to solely own their own property or businesses, and if they were to speak up about problems and issues facing their economy or speak out against propaganda or the government, they would would face the harsh and legal consequences (i.e. prison camp or deportation). Moralton is quite similar to that, except it’s in the United States where people have more freedom to do want they want and express themselves.

Many people in Moralton tend to be “cold”, reserved, strict, and cynical, which is a common stereotype among Russians.

The townspeople’s love for classical arts, music, and theatre, like in the School Pageant episode. Also Bloberta comes from a family of choir singers/musicians and her singing voice is similar to that of an opera singer. Russians are known for their love for classical and opera music as it is a very significant part of their culture. I’ve met many Russians who come from a family of musicians, are talented musicians outside of their occupation, or happen to own a musical instrument in their homes.

Moral Orel is a satire that explores the hypocrisy of religious and social institutions with a touch of dark humor and irony, which is similar to the works of Russian authors like Fyodor Dostoevsky, who used similar techniques to critique religious and social mores.

Moral Orel is a stop-motion animated series and Russians are very fond of stop-motion animation as it has a rich history in Russian media and cinema. Famous Russian animators such as Roman Kachanov, Ladislas Starevich and Ivan Ivanov-Vano were pioneers of stop-motion media during the Soviet Era. Many beloved animated films and shows made during the Soviet Era were stop-motion animated. Also a lot of stop-motion animated media known today (such as Coraline, Corpse Bride, Isle of Dogs, etc.) are becoming very popular in Russia. Also, Orel loves making little stop-motion movies!

Thanks for reading! 😁

[onewordshy]

The thing that's so sad about losing Chita Rivera is that no one will ever have a career like hers again, she is embedded in the fabric of our entertainment institutions. Looking through her archives is like a history lesson in the genesis of showbiz- grainy black and white footage from the early days of television, zany acts from the variety show era that promoted nothing in particular, performances in sacred texts of the American theatre because she was there when they were written... it feels like a lot of these institutions don't even exist anymore (at least not in the same way) and without her that's a link to a golden past that's gone. There will never be another legend built like hers.