The Parchment

by Maria Mastroyannis

Upon my suggestion, three of us Mutineers went to see La Didone at the Red Cat last week.  My husband and I had seen Wooster Group’s ‘Hamlet’ there last year, and loved it.  That production had simply employed a fast-forwarded Richard Burton film recording of Hamlet from 1964 as a sort of choreographic skeleton upon which to hang this full length production of the play.  The result was a surprisingly brisk, expressive and witty work.  I came away thinking, ‘Well, of course, how else to do Hamlet’, the idea and its execution were so elegant, simple and somehow complete. Read the rest of this entry »

by James Richter

About half of the company gathered at my house last weekend for a table read of Act One of “Prom Night!” It wasn’t going to be practical to present any music in this format, since the folks reading the various characters weren’t necessarily singers, and I hadn’t necessarily written most of the songs. I volunteered to read the part of Nathan, whose big solo I had already composed, so that I could at least sing the few things I had somewhat determined musically up to that point. Mainly, people just recited the song lyrics.

But the real purpose of the afternoon was to help Kenneth find out what was working and what still needed to be tweaked. The read-through took about 55 minutes, so we figure that when all of the music is added Act One will run a little over an hour – basically, an ideal length. Those who were new to the material generally laughed in the right places, and at the end most were excited to find out what happens next. In that respect, the draft was in good shape. Read the rest of this entry »

by Amber Hamilton

Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.  (Find out more about Matt)

I really just want to see the world.  Read the rest of this entry »

by Taylor Coffman

So, I am just sitting here with my notes, reflecting on yesterday’s “Ditch” workshop, eager to keep writing. I feel like I’m almost there, but every time I share this piece, it always seems to spurn more discussion, more ideas… which is AWESOME. But then I have to ask myself, “How the HELL do I know when I am finished???”

This piece is kinda surreal, so there are so many potential avenues to explore and potential places to invest. It’s fun that way. But, how and when does a writer say, “This is it. Take it or leave it.”? AND should a writer ever say that? Especially, of a piece of theatre, which in comparison to many art forms, is very much “alive”. It’s constantly being reinterpreted and explored. It’s physically being LIVED by the people performing it.
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by James Richter

written June 4th, 2009

This Monday I played the recording of my teacher’s ghost story for a few Company members.  In its original form, it has three parts: one taking place around 1900, one in 1963, and the other in 1964.  These amount to a story within a story within a story.  I intend to add a fourth part, set in the present.  I have only the loosest idea of what will happen there.  Through discussing the piece, it has become clear that the story works because of the first person perspective in which it is told.  Rather than have all the parts told by one master narrator, I will give each of the four parts to an eyewitness of those events, putting all of them in the first person. Read the rest of this entry »

by Myron Davis

(Not really a review as much as a shout-out)

The Creative Fête is an opportunity for actors, musicians and other performers to take the stage one night each month to perform things they’re working on. The fête is the creation of a group called The Nursery (Ellie Araiza, Benjamin Maixner, Sean Riblett and Bill Voorhees). I was greeted by Bill Voorhees a long-time friend from Sacramento who invited me. He told me I could perform, spectate or both according to my desire. I chose to spectate as I didn’t have anything I really wanted to showcase. Read the rest of this entry »

by Luke Goldstein

I’ve always been a fan of storytelling. Nothing beats the feeling of being in a room with a bunch of people who are intently locked into the tale you are pouring out. You get to take them on a journey, hopefully to somewhere they’ve never been before. It wasn’t until my junior year in college that I had the epiphany that I was no different from the people out here in California who actually make a living doing that very thing. My route was a touch roundabout, but eventually I set foot in the “land of make believe” and began my quest to become one of the many talented and working storytellers in this town. Read the rest of this entry »

by Amber Hamilton

A few days ago I celebrated my 29th birthday.  For the last nine years, I’ve been counting down to 30, and here I am with one year left to go.  Why I’ve made my 30th year such a landmark in my timeline, I’m not sure.  Perhaps it’s because society seems to hint that by your 30s you need to be successful…you need to be somebody…you need to have money in your bank account.  Maybe it’s because all my friends back home are married with kids, and I feel that if I’m not settled down by the time I’m 30, I never will be.  Or, perhaps it’s because I can hear my father in my ear telling me throughout my twenties not to stress, and that by the time I’m 30 I’ll have everything figured out.  Well, with one year left in my twenties I don’t know a damn thing.  Read the rest of this entry »

by James Richter

This year I made three creative resolutions:

1. Write, arrange and produce a Christmas album
2. Write and produce an audio play
3. Write a musical

I don’t know where I’d get the money to actually produce an album, but the other projects are underway, thanks to the good folks at Mutineer Theater company.

After “Lie with Me” wrapped up, I got the ball rolling on the musical, which we have given the working title of “Prom Night!”  My good friend, Kenneth, has had the idea for this show for some time, and only needed some teamwork and structure to begin fleshing things out.  We met for an afternoon this spring to outline a two-page treatment, which we presented to a group of MTC members.  They were very enthusiastic about the concept.  Read the rest of this entry »

by Taylor Coffman

I’ve been writing a play for ALMOST ten years… it’s funny to read the “wisdom” of my early 20’s. I probably shoulda followed more of my own advice.

Currently, I’m on the East Coast taking the closest thing I’ve had to a vacation in a while. Been writing and pumping new life into this play… exploring new avenues… painfully cutting scenes that have clung to the page through the years. But, I am excited to see the changes. I also found this quote which hits on themes that I explore in the play… and is true for us all: Read the rest of this entry »