Tonight the eighth Rogue Performance Festival begins with a Kick-Off RogueHop/Party. If you live in and around da Big NO you really should turn up (click the link for details) and check out the previews and rub shoulders/meet this year’s slew of artists and performers. It’s always a good time… plus the beer is chewy yummy at Full Circle.
Because of the “Mum duties” that need to be performed my presence at the fest will be a little more sparse than in previous years. Still, I’m looking forward to catching as many shows as I can… especially the new and original stuff. Just the way I roll.
On that note, I will say I wish local theatre companies (or college students) were being more adventurous in that arena. There are local folk in other disciplines who are trying something different (and collaborations at that)… why not in theatre? (Hello, playwriting programs in the colleges… as an example.) Afterall, the Rogue is the supreme annual opportunity to try out the bold and new. Nothing wrong with the tried and true (already published works… which I have no doubt they will do a fine job with)… but there is the rest of the year to program that fare into the season.
My intent is not to slam what they are doing (or not) but to encourage the creation of local original works. I can say as a playwright that bouncing a piece up against an audience (at a Fringe Fest like the Rogue) provides invaluable insight on what works and what doesn’t and what to tweak. (It’s all about creating a better finished product, yo!) Besides, the Rogue provides a low cost opportunity (plus a willing and more adventurous audience) to attempt something really new (psst… that’s why most of them turn up). And I will go further and say… don’t stop there – take the show to other festivals too! Perhaps next year, huh?
At least where the Mainstage or BYO venues are concerned a couple of groups of theatre type folk are actually pulling up their daring pants and not capitulating to the safe “surethingitis”… kudos to them! Let’s hope there will be more next year. So, go see their shows… and as many as you can at this year’s fest. Rogue Ready passes are only “$35 and allows you in to 5 Rogue Mainstage shows or 10 Rogue Cafe shows or a combination thereof.”
Anyway… Happy Roguing… and if you should “get your rogue on” – be safe.
Karim
February 26, 2009 at 12:44 pm
Good to hear! Wish I could be there.
thereminman
February 26, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Thanks for counting our show among the new and adventurous. I really think people will dig the show—and mostly I credit Baba—the work and attention they’ve put into this show to make it both good & entertaining is impressive to this first-time-working-with-dancers guy.
Evie
February 26, 2009 at 4:01 pm
I love the picture! Definitely something I owuld have enjoyed..
Aileen Imperatrice
February 26, 2009 at 4:55 pm
Okay, I just had my first real 2009 Rogue moment!
Barry Smith and Kurt Fitzpatrick just stopped in at Ashtree to say hello. Barry said they just got in and were headed to Teazers or was it Revue? Well anyway, Rogue celebrity alert! Great guys, can’t wait to see their shows!