The theatrical collaboration of Clark Bowlen and Kathleen Keena, 1988-2012.
Follow this artistic team as they move through academic, community and independent theater productions.
Documenting an artistic journey, The Play's the Thing shares one couples' contributions to theater and shows how they facilitated innovative approaches to conventional theater.
Actors joined them as fellow artists on a journey that spanned the academic, community, and theatrical world. Their work included a hip-hop "Midsummer Night's Dream", a rock-and-roll "Taming of the Shrew", a postwar-themed show performed by Vietnam veterans, and several original musicals. Nontraditional theater productions that addressed contemporary social issues became thier signature work.
Excerpt
A successful production is a cathartic experience for audience and actors alike. It moves us through a compressed time in which events shift and lives permanently alter. The ending brings an newly ordered universe. In Shakespeare's day, the righteous kingdom was restored. In contemporary scripts, that new order may be a wasteland of disassociation.
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Reviews for "The Play's the Thing"
Reviewed by Laura H.
9/20/2019
A labor of love. The numerous hours and untold heartache it must have taken the author to finish this publication shows in every word.
This is a comprehensive work diary for any theater affection-ado. The myriad of comments by this professional is a treasure trove. The many facets of theater production are highlighted.
The layout of each play with background, synopsis, challenges, and actors' segments gives the reader an exceptional blueprint for the process of productions. Kathleen showcases the plays with tactful but truthful telling of the difficulties and the joys of working in college and community theater.
Shining through at every turn is the author's love of theater and love for her husband. The collaborations they achieved while working together--are nothing short of amazing. It was captivating to read of the professional and personal harmony this couple enjoyed. Clark and Kathleen certainly brought new concepts to their corner of the world in their productions and their interactions with the theater world.
This book would be a wonderful addition to any school's theater department for reference.
Because I enjoyed the easy format and interesting topic has convinced me I should look for this author's first book to read. Obviously, I might find a completely different type of book than The Play's the Thing but that is okay too--never time wasted when reading.
I received a free copy of this book by the author.
Reviewed by Bill Keena
11/20/2004
Thanks for sharing this, Kathy - you helped me to remember that we should all "live well" with whatever we have. Love you.
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Personal journals are full of potential, waiting for you to add the color! Pages for you to fill in the blanks with tidbits and trivia about North Dakota
