Friday, July 02, 2010

Beowulf Alley Theatre - New Works

Theatre-Tucson: Beowulf Alley Theatre - New Works:

TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 2010

Beowulf Alley Theatre - New Works

Beowulf Alley is by far the most prolific theatre in town in terms of sheer activity. And I suppose Live Theatre Workshop is a close second. I can't keep up with everything Beowulf has going on sometimes, but I do know that this summer they are producing three brand new plays. I won't say they will be full productions...I don't think they are designed to be that...but they will be step or two or maybe three beyond a staged reading for example. The emphasis or concern will still be limited to the structure and content of the written script I imagine, and its potential for eventually becoming the basis of an actual real deal spectacle. Whatever and however they manifest, to me they are another welcome and much needed project in Tucson. Let's count again how many new plays were produced in Tucson this past year as part of someone's season of shows or added to a repetory. ? And no, we cannot count that thing Arizona Theatre Company did with Second City. I can only take so much buffoonery from the "State Theatre of Arizona." Anyway...one, two...or none, depending on how you add it up.

No theatre company has come to full maturity unless they grow and produce their own playwrights and plays, or develop distinguishing features of production for their time, place and reason. In that regard, our theatres are lagging - although many are new and so still learning their ways. As a community as a whole we are lacking this new play element just as we are lacking solidified and well prepared acting ensembles. So Beowulf's summer new play projects are an alert, a signal. Check the Tucson Stage Website, or Beowulf Alley's Website for details, and then go check out the shows!