Playing with Community
At Grand Rapids Players, we like to ‘play’ beyond the stage. Generating buzz and excitement for an upcoming production is a key marketing goal in striving for box office success.
A Short History of Oscar Wilde’s Theater Career
People often think that whatever Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) wrote was instant gold for the playwright. This isn’t the case.
Fred Zinnemann and “Oklahoma!”
by Steven LaVigne As anyone who’s read about or taken a class in the history of musical theater knows, Oklahoma! was an innovative musical whose original production changed the genre forever. Prior to 1943, musicals usually opened with a chorus of pretty girls singing and dancing in order to draw in the audience, especially the…
Harold Prince and “A Little Night Music”
by Seven LaVigne Theater directors generally stay in the theater, but some have branched out with films – not always successfully. For every Mike Nichols, Bob Fosse or Joshua Logan, there’s someone who should have known better. Harold Prince (1928-2019) is one of them! Fortunately, he only made two movies. Winner of an unprecedented 21…
Colin Higgins and “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas”
By Steven LaVigne If writer and director Colin Higgins (1941-1988) is remembered at all, it’ll be for both the novel and screenplay of the 1971 cult film, Harold and Maude, which began as his Master’s thesis at UCLA. Due to the films’ popularity (including a 3-year engagement at Edina’s Westgate Theater, which has since been…
Arthur Hiller and Man of La Mancha
One of the most popular Broadway hits of the 1960s was Man of La Mancha. United Artists brought Man of La Mancha to the screen, directed by Arthur Miller.
William Wyler and Funny Girl
Steve LaVigne wrote a series of essays on film directors who made one musical during their careers. This month’s subject is William Wyler and “Funny Girl”.
Gene Saks and Mame
Steve LaVigne wrote a series of essays on film directors who made one musical during their careers. This month’s subject is Gene Saks and “Mame”.
Ken Russell and The Boy Friend
Steve LaVigne wrote a series of essays on film directors who made one musical during their careers. This month’s subject is Ken Russell and “The Boy Friend”
Joseph L. Manciewicz and Guys & Dolls
I have, for several years, been planning to write a series of essays on film directors who made one musical during their careers. This month, it’s Joseph L. Manciewicz and Guys & Dolls
