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7/11/1974 - The Who and the Where by Kenneth Cavander

INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS KC The Who Where General Delivery Nantucket Island Mass 02554 Mr Richard Nolte Institute Current World Affairs July Fifth Avenue New York NY fOOl7 Dear Mr Nolte At newsletter I describing general problem faces every young actor making hopefully New York To better means practice affects project something about people their energies spring survived There Andie thirty though looks younger graduate Berkeley where mathematician switched stmry highly intelligent He traveled Europe North Africa decided usual devices which actor tries career spring New York auditioning commercials looking parts TV operas following regional theatre season Instead Andie pared necessities minimum create separate patch ground which srand independent theatre profession hiring skills acquired remodeled redecor apartment So paints studios lofts apartments restaurants freelance contractor During period working together simultaneously rehearsing performance Brookl cademy Music group specialised intensely disciplined almost balletic movement Andie would palnt during midnight would rehearse other group clock would appear reheamsal wearing paint stained clothes looking paleo At afternoon would ravenously hungry although would never admit I guessed eating irregular hours Kenneth Cavander Institute Fellow exploring theatrical present mythologies capacities transformation Michael several years leading actor active Off Broadway group called CSC Repertory which presented classical plays repertory In spite developed armory acting skills never joined Equity regional theatre Eventually feeling constricted position CSC decided accept summer contract Williamstown Theatre Second Company where I Since summer though actor He talented He sings powerful bright baritone draws writes He prickly personality rehearsal inspired funny improviser He mocking adversary group being quick witted skeptical nature Three evenings every Michael worked collection agency calling people phone urging payment overdue bills implying legal action Meanwhile little money unable bills course became progressively depressed about future actor He exercise talents He could being unknown Equity however gifted He doubl frustrated because Public Theatre would summon auditions where directors would enthuse about would learn later another actor entirely different style Holly rangy blonde Arizona guitar player member original company forme6 Paul Sills present Story Theatre Broadway She understood transformation which pplied cheerful lavishness scattering dozen original creative ideas about every As couldn afford telephone answering service I would usually telephone conversations accompaniment Avenue traffic which would frantically thinking I quiet study couldn During workedarestaurant evenings Andie would often called rehearsals being developed La Mama longer established Off Broadway theatres Mike distinguish Michael withdrawn shrouded person anyone actors I worked before He seemed apartment moved another vacated friends taking extended trips The occupied spring street Central Park West quite mfortable always seemed short money Quiet reflective modest manner convent mnally structured leading thirties drawing comedy intense person spite funds managed himself crash seminar those training programs offer heightened awareness increased powers concentration after pricey lessons He exper ience stock company repertory theatre notably honest painstaking correcting himself along agonised admissions whahe doing nothing contribute moments later coming something quite startling original He infectious hepatitis hospitalised April When I spoke hospital planning Los Angeles could movie Judy Margot relatively ineperieno compared first I because dance training I thought bright enough compensate vocal performing technique The other graduate Off Broadway group Richard Foreman Ontological Hysterical Theatre I hoped would approach teaching course New School Social Research doing lance writing Margot looking acting studying Uta Hagen readingscripts independent TV movie producer Though intelligent enthusiastic weren bring others Like gravitation invisible planet vision fuller success New York special terms drained energy mental focus Paul Jesuit nearing training charge drama program Fordham University He worked Williamstown Theatre summers I always thought expressive person funny sensitive Irish talent words especially inter esting actor stage He always small parts ventional plays where rather austere exterior dignity presence ordinary supporting The normal acting exercises improvisation physicalisation which course through training seemed On impulse I asked mainly because I liked thought would express things others couldn turned I quite wrong about gifts Through series episodes dramatic actions I presenting group material seemd freedom imagination results delightful He produced style playful somewhat grotesque humane clowning often brilliant And because complicated thoughtful person always strain sadness Paul supported source funds Jesuit training This calmer stronger others These seven people I worked But I started eight The I Faith actress I through Backstage worked about month She talented fiercely dedicated actress considerable experience She herself immersed demanded although I uncertain about other actors really trust agreed because understanding about conditions under which could About weeks after started before entered intense period meetings Faith offered accepted running Off Broadway THE HOT L BALTIMORE Since meant regular salary considerable prtige wanted energies So dropped group What happened Faith highlights problems faces Workshops showcases precarious grace times Actors rehearse three weeks three before offered money conflicts performance schedule When leave under circumstances directors their hearts contract enforce Actors whole leave frivolous reasons loyal fellow actors unhappy working conditions usually showcase through however bitter But denial rather abandon pleted production The comes actors feeling committed production nothing while asked freely talents energies which consider market value brings about greater sense strain hearsals showcase experience regular commercial production However actors project director their fellow actors nothing forget doing gratis should doing living Frequently success picked commercial producer starts every salary protection against being dropped The Showcas Code provides actor initiated showcase dropped commercial production receive equivalent weeks salary small consolation having investment energy someone rewards Natur actors leery appearing showcases think there ulterior commercial motive involved worked favor As sketches people involved spring fairly typical stence young actor New York wearing satis factions exiguous creates certain pattern behavior syndrome might worth sociological study As I hinted newsletter becomes relative The split segments reflect demands entirely conflicting worlds schedule which people bread schedule which theatre professional profit operates These schedules simply compatible actors forced Consequently large patches spent waiting waiting audition waiting which doesn start trying three hours during which nothing useful actor accomplished lines learn because afford movie shopping expedition doesn trade which practised moments Given state affairs I specially careful I asked group The initial project tenuous enough juxtaposed volatile existence I described individual needs seven different people mixture could dissipated overnight In after discussion desperate guessing arrived following arrangement We agreed together through danuary February schedule would arranged according everyone availability For stage would aspect material another tring different techniques approaches fragments scenes stories which worked which seemed which offered prospects further explor ation So session might scene classic whose theme interested experiment trance induction techniqes improvisation based dream logic attempt mthical persona behind simple habitual action During initial exploratory period agreed discussion mimimum towards February someone apartment review ground covered order decide whether should direction That meeting February every exception Faith about HOT L wantedto continue committed selves further months It course commitment Several I indicated roles other projects All money I myself simultaneously doing other things writing running shorter projects doing research digesting results project So would three times understanding occasion arose could agree intensify activities prepare production least something could shown The problem place which In question where antecedes others artistic practical alike Everyone wants which New York From seasoned Broadway produder rawest inchoate improvisator group estate Astronauts theatre people share magic catchword space Without space there theatre nowhere actors audience The public takes space granted creatorof theatre constant agonising struggle Comparitivel little theatre theatres spaces designed specific performer audience relationship Usually theatre space New York means garage shell building punched block create narrow auditorium abandoned movie house store basement someone living vestr church Even space there still financial problem Few rehearsal spaces which seems almost reasonable youadd A normal rehearsal T hours three weeks production Total rehearsal alone about T50 showcases whose total budget including lights costumes publicity other expenses I lucky I started arrangement In return various literary advisory services reading occasional scripts making suggestions programming I space available Manhattan Theatre Club This interesting institution several Off Broadway equivalents Public Theatre The Clark Center Performing Arts Care La Mama others profit organisations house encourage support theatre stages readings blown productions The Manhattan Theatre Club housed usedto Bohemian Benevolent Societ East Street rambling structure honeycomb rehearsal rooms studios miniature theatres musty stairwells It I auditions conducted original regularly scheduled workshops But Manhattan Theatre Club began expand activities I found difficult schedule dovetail withtheirs I search After letters phone calls I One Fi Avenue rarity miniature theatre lunch times which I could other times during other Ohurch Central Park West available ternoons nominal Both spaces evenings other ativities encounter groups concerts other theatre productions singles evenings For reasons acossibility actors I chose space Central Park West there months March April until I newsletter combination circumstances brought phase In retrospect I think arrangement arrived people involved I wanted But would wrong continue longer particular rhythm imposed schedule chose great drawbacks For thing deadline however artificial which would completed necessarily thing The actors enjoyedthe pressure freed enabled explore sides their craft their personalities never touched before I believthem I still think future definite terms performance before audience wouldbe healthy Secondly accommodating I their other commitments after other employment I think I reduced pressure consequence something which might desperate Also meetings spaced apart As stride began frequent meetings their respective schedules wouldn permit It always difficult balance people times available against needs impersonal demands creati process which relentless There general either situation So asking people nothing except intrinsic satisfaction group objectives their personal needs idiosyncrasies govern whole project organised But moves beyond stage something shown attract attention different influences taken account The people become important space timing itself As I through period I described I working other projects different stages development One those script Boccaccio DECAMERON which I begun whichl trying final I doing research legends middle associated Grail tales surrounding King Arthur There seemedto something pertinent today erial I spring workshops I doing I asked production Williamstown Theatre Second Company experimental illiamst Theatre Festival I decided these Arthurian legends techniques experimenting March April would audience In May I pared scenario And June I there direct In newsletter I recreate experience Sincerely Kenneth Cavander Received New York July