Gaian Theatre Company: We're Turning Five Years Old?!

Which of these recent Tony-winning plays and musicals would you love to see Gaia-style?

Book of Mormon	32.1%	[ 26 ]
Memphis	2.5%	[ 2 ]
Billy Elliot	9.9%	[ 8 ]
In the Heights	6.2%	[ 5 ]
Spring Awakening	29.6%	[ 24 ]
War Horse	9.9%	[ 8 ]
Red	3.7%	[ 3 ]
God of Carnage	4.9%	[ 4 ]
August: Osage County	1.2%	[ 1 ]
The Coast of Utopia	0.0%	[ 0 ]
Total Votes:			[ 81 ]

[Yuuki May Sakura]

I agree with the fact that if no one auditions, and no one cares anymore, that you should do what you need to. Of course we would miss it, but we won't be crying ourselves to sleep over it. Who knows, maybe if you did an annual show, it would be more popular, and more people would audition and watch the shows but now, i find that there isn't much of a point anymore. I would be up at each audition if i could, but right now my computers busted so i have very limited access. G'luck

[K` the warrior]

I plan to participate in future plays, but I can't right now. I'll be out of town for a whole week, which is why I didn't audition this time (I know how annoying it gets when a cast member misses rehersals/ performances/ etc.).

However, I think that GTC still has potential. Maybe it's because I'm fairly new to all of this, but there ARE people out there who'd be willing to participate. Should you try to go find them? That's up to you. Perhaps you need better publicity. It's been ages since the GTC appeared in the Community Spotlight and it's only natural if people have forgotten about that already. Gaia keeps moving forward everyday, and maybe GTC is still stuck behind. Perhaps it also needs to move forward?

So consider this; if your current methods aren't working, why not try something new? If you think GTC is going downhill, then you have nothing to lose and a lot to gain in return. Try doing one performance every two months or so, for example. That way, it gives you time to advertize a play to a number of people who might be interested in showing up AND you'd have a lot of spare time for rehersals and such. Heck, with so much spare time, you can even have those understudies back. Try doing those plays that you've never done before, even if YOU think they're not worth the try (To be honest, I've never heard of LSOH before. Then again, I don't know a lot of plays). Asking for ideas is certainly a good way to go. So just listen to what everyone has to say even if the ideas sound stupid or make no sense. And above all, think back to GTC's glory days. What did you consider fun? What was the one thing that attracted everyone in the first place? How can you attract people AND make them feel like they just NEED to be there for a play?

It would take a lot of hard work and time to bring the place back around. But at the end, it all comes back to whether YOU wanna continue doing this or not.

[Phantom Pimpernel]

Basically: What they said.
If the HEAD of GTC isn't particularly enjoying herself then cripes...it's a bit counter productive. If GTC were to go, I'd be dissapointed despite my relative inactivity. Now I'm going to go off on a self-indulgent monologue.

GTC represented something to me-but that's probably because I'm a nerd. I saw it, when I was involved, as an accepting community where everyone was willing to be friends. There was a togetherness that I could sense. Something that happens in true theater.
Not whatever it is you do in high school to sate your creative urges while keeping mind of the different drama cliques ("Originals", "Newbs", "Artier than thou", "STAGE CREW!", etc etc), but the real feeling of a theatrical company. Mind you that was probably because there were less ways to class ourselves off, but I liked that. For Example: Arq is both the Techies and an Actor, combining the two not to get Thespian points, but to put on a show via a creative medium. Those are my observations of GTC in action. /monologue of self indulgence

Anyway-What exactly happened between getting spotlighted and now? I thought this place would FLOURISH.

[Sergeant Fluffykins]

As K` said, I've been busy these past months, as I always get. Real life catches up with me in the summer, therefore I don't want to disappoint or anger anyone by not showing up for rehearsals or performances, hence why I hesitate to audition.

If you choose to continue, Arq, I will gladly help out in anyway I can, Audition, etc. Granted I have time. I don't want to make promises I can't keep. If not, then well, I hope I can still be friends with all the brilliant cast members that have assembled. You're all really nice and colorful people.

However if it's not working, it's not working. I think recently there has been a lack of interest in towns, which could also be our problem. :/

[Jon quitted]

crying

This seems interesting.... Why did no one bothered to record this?

[K` the warrior]

Superior Jon

crying

This seems interesting.... Why did no one bothered to record this?

But they did...>/>

Assuming you're reffering to the plays. Just check out the Youtube link on Page 1.

[Ceribri]

I agree with everyone else, and I fully agree with Phantom Pimpernel's entire post. If you're the leader, and you're not enjoying it, it's your decision as to what changes need to be made -- such as changing the format, going on hiatus, changing sites, or even permanently closing.

Ironically, I think I'm more tied up with RL and schoolwork in the summer than I am during the school year. I would gladly have been there were it not for the fact that I'll be several states away during the times for performances, making my attendance rather pointless.

I think there's a decline in the interests of Towns, now that there's so much more to be doing. I still believe that Gaia is the best place to be for GTC, if only for the fact that you've amassed a good following as well as the formats for Towns and avatars and costumes, etc. It seems a shame to leave it all and completely start over.

I've said this in the past but it bears repeating. If you're not happy with it, then perhaps taking a break and stepping back is for the best. However long that break is depends on you.


One more thought: Everyone who has posted here clearly cares about you and the future success of the GTC. If you decide to continue, why not make it for September, and the rest of us can spend time in August asking/recruiting/etc for good, quality actors?

I know there's interest within the GTC, but we've always had people come to us -- apart from Community Spotlight and our signatures, I don't recall (as long as I've been here) where we went out and did anything similar to recruiting or to gather general interest (other than event balls).
It would be on our own time during August, so I'm sure we'd have ample free time, individually.

[Cascara]

I’m not sure what it is this discussion is actually saying. Arq came here to ask YOU guys what YOU want, whether you want to see this project continue, whether YOU’RE willing to put the work in to do it. This isn’t about Arq. This isn’t the Arq Theater House. This is the Gaian Theatre COMPANY. It’s about all the people – it’s never been about one person, one “head,” one “boss.” Arq can’t do this alone – that’s what her entire post was about. She needs more people throwing off this idea that only one person is important and remembering that an acting company is nothing without actors.

This was fun when it started because it was about all of us, all of the actors. Are YOU having fun doing it? Are you willing to come out and audition and act and keep this company alive? That’s what she’s asking.

I guess the fact that the consensus so far has been to shut it down answers that question.

[Arqueete]

Phantom Pimpernel

Anyway-What exactly happened between getting spotlighted and now? I thought this place would FLOURISH.

I don't know. I think that people who were a part of GTC when we were spotlighted got worn down -- look at all of the shows we did in that month on top of problems, as always, with people not showing up which lead us to beg people to sub across other casts. The problem was there was so much audience interest that we had to keep adding shows and do three different casts and there just was not enough interest in auditions to get that many actors together and the ones we got were stretched thin.

The sad thing is GTC, in terms of the number of actors we're bringing in, is in MUCH worse shape than the FIRST show we ever did. Part of the problem, like I said, is we always do shows for 8 -- and I used to be able to count on at least 5-6 people being friends of mine. Now that most of those people are busy etc etc there's just no one to replace them. I can no longer count on us being able to scrape up enough people to do shows -- we need to actually CAST the ENTIRE SHOW which just isn't happening. People in this thread are saying that they, too, have lives now -- there must be a generation of Gaians that are like us when we started GTC, but maybe they just aren't interested in this sort of thing.

Quote:

GTC represented something to me-but that's probably because I'm a nerd. I saw it, when I was involved, as an accepting community where everyone was willing to be friends.

Back in like 2006/early 2007 I totally agree with you. That is part of what I loved about GTC. That and, you know, performances. I know I've said in the past that GTC always felt worthwhile because even when rehearsals were shitty there was just something great about opening night, seeing it come together in front of an audience. These days, whether people realize it or not, there are cliques within GTC and we don't get the feeling of the work being worth it because half the time we don't even make it to opening night anymore, and when we do, sometimes we don't have an audience.

For me personally I haven't felt that kind of connection to GTC and the people in it in a long time. There is, and you can see it in this thread, this definite feeling that developed after the spotlight that I am the head of GTC and everyone else is under me. Maybe that's how it is now. Maybe that's how it's always been. But before the spotlight no one talked that way and I never felt like I was. It was just this thing that we ALL had and I personally contributed a lot to it because I really enjoyed being a part of it. I guess that's another component of the clique thing. I have been made separate from the GTC as a whole by people who no longer see me as their equal.

Quote:

I know there's interest within the GTC, but we've always had people come to us

Nope. We've gone out and done everything from posting at musical theater guilds to affiliations to commenting on theater discussion posts to making random advertising posts in Chatterbox etc etc With our comeback show of Wicked we did this in particular.

[Sergeant Fluffykins]

Arqueete

These days, whether people realize it or not, there are cliques within GTC...

I realized it. I just thought that was the way the GTC was. I remember being in an MSN chat with the GTC for the first time, and thinking "I hope I'm here long enough to be as accepted as the original GTCers!" That a bad thing? I don't know. Again, I just thought that was the way the GTC was.
As for feeling Arq was the 'boss', as Sakura said, we don't do scripts, costumes, ANYTHING, we just act. And however important that may be, that doesn't feel like much.

[Yuuki May Sakura]

I think we should just advertise more. I know there are A LOT of people who would be interested in this, but they never heard of it. I know there was the big community spotlight thing (which is where i heard of This) but a lot of people only go on gaia for a few months then stop going on. Its a new year with new faces to gaia, so if we could get the word to the new people, we could get more people. That is what i think, i don't know if the idea is as good as it could be, but just a thought.

[Aleksandra Molokov]

My two cents is that the biggest issue is, for lack of a better word, passion. I see lots of people showing interest and posting how they want to see the show or they want to audition but the follow-through doesn't happen.

I get the sense that people are interested, but the majority aren't able/willing to put in the time and effort to go to rehearsals and work. I'm not an original GTCer by any stretch of the imagination, but I can say that it's really discouraging when half the cast is constantly missing or shows up late or would rather talk then get down to business.

I enjoy doing this, but I don't think it's fair to me or any of the other "regulars" to be expected to carry the load, you know? That's how you get burned out and I think that's what's happened here for some people.

[Callieco Kat]

Here a kitty. There a kitty...

Okay so here's my other two cents. I have been a loyal fan since you guys got featured. I've been to almost every show since I caught onto you guys. And I love every minute of it. But, during the summers I am very busy with vacations and last minute RL things. During the school year I have much more time to be organized and the like. I agree with Ceri's argument in taking a break and advertising. I know it would give me time to settle and get all my school things worked out so that I could be more active period. Heck I'd finally probably audition even. The only reason I didn't this month was because my family vacation takes out a huge chunk of the rehearsal's and even a few shows and I didn't think it fair to make a commitment and steal that chance from somebody else only to not keep up with my end of it. I would also be more then willing to help make banner and such to help us advertise and get the pep back in the GTC's step. And Arq, to me you've always kinda been the leader simply because of just how much you handle.

...Watch a kitty go.

[Lord_Angelus_Flameheart]

Since you want my opinion, here it is:

I would honestly hate to see this close. I mean, I just found this when it was spotlighted and I DEFINITELY had fun when we did Chess. I want to continue doing this and will be more than willing to try out for plays. The only reason I didn't this time, is because my freaking Internet was down for two days, or you would have seen me at the LSoH audition.

If this were to close because no one was participating, it would be a damn shame. I just hope it doesn't come to that.

[Scaura]

Aleksandra Molokov

My two cents is that the biggest issue is, for lack of a better word, passion. I see lots of people showing interest and posting how they want to see the show or they want to audition but the follow-through doesn't happen.

I get the sense that people are interested, but the majority aren't able/willing to put in the time and effort to go to rehearsals and work. I'm not an original GTCer by any stretch of the imagination, but I can say that it's really discouraging when half the cast is constantly missing or shows up late or would rather talk then get down to business.

I agree.

Honestly, I WANT to do more GTC shows. I do. Really. I know when all of the rehearsals/performances are, but it just doesn't happen.

I speak for a lot of other people when I say that I have a busy life. I have school and lots of other things on my plate. If I have a test the day after a rehearsal/performance, then I should study instead of going to a rehearsal/performance. I didn't ASK for my test. It just happened to be the day after. I know some of us are supposed to make time for the GTC. I understand this, but that's pretty hard for me, at least.

Situations vary, and since it's summer vacation now, most people are on vacation. Well, the same situation could happen in this case, but most people usually decide to sit out.

So, in the past few months, I have concluded that the GTC takes up too much of my time. I auditioned this month because I have the time, but for most of the year, I can't. I don't normally have the time, and I sometimes feel that the GTC is asking too much.