To be totally open and above waterboarding, this is an open plug for the new theater Lotta just built on the Paramount Parcel in our sim. :-)
I read with great interest Kat Feldragonne's entries late last week which mentioned "Performance Art." It is definitely a term we use to describe one of the things we are aiming for in the new "Night Players" Theater.
Interpretive Dance is also an excellent term. :-) One term we won't use is "Burlesque". In the very recent past I've come to learn that for some people the term "Burlesque" is almost sacred - probably the best (? that's a questionable term but i hate to use "worst") example was when Lotta was dancing at a venue recently - she was doing a very good act which I love and going from audience and co-dancer feedback I believe many other people love it - or like a lot - as well.
One very rude patron made a very rude comment in the open chat, that she wasn't seeing "Burlesque" she was seeing "stripping" and she appeared to not want to (see stripping). Blinks. I can't imagine who not, but sl is like most things - if you don't want to see it - then by all means don't. Rudeness is not required to depart a venue presenting something one would rather not see.
At movie theaters don't buy a ticket. On Cable or Satellite TV - change the channel. Don't read the book, and do not go to adult venues in sl and expect to see . . . what? a nursery rhyme?
Our shows at the Paramount, while tending to be risque, have, until very recently, never crossed over the boundary of an R rating in a USA movie theater. We've done plays which included "sex" - but even in sl - it's been simulated. And while we have portrayed some violence, we never have, nor will, present violence as something wonderful to see, violence for it's own sake. You see, to me - "Gratuitous Violence" is the worst kind of pornography.
A couple of months ago we added a series of acts to our Paramount Line-up which was intended to be open for experimentation by all our dancers. I wanted a performance platform for dancers to do their most out-there ideas. Not just "raunchy" (although raunchy acts are certainly welcome), but - "Art for Art's Sake." Dance as Art. Performance as Art.
On the 24th of April we presented the third in our Night Players series and, as I mentioned in a previous blog post, I presented the second in what I hope to be a series of acts that are definitely best described as Performance Art. And there was some controversy.
While I actually welcome . . . well "controversy" in the form of discussion, I am also very protective of the Paramount. Some people will definitely not like some of the things we do under the banner of Night Players; therefore Lotta built a brand new theater, which we named "Night Players."
The Paramount will continue to present the same sort of entertainment that we have all along. Fun, entertaining acts which feature dance, great sets, amazing choreography and - usually - a lot of skin.
The Night Players Theater will present some of the same material we do at the Paramount, but also other acts that we - - - I - - - don't feel comfortable having on the Paramount Stage. I think these acts - and their creators - need a venue to present them. Uncensored. Sorta.
I don't want or intend to ever have hard-core porn on any of our stages. I understand that there are venues where such is available in sl - and I'm not putting anyone down. I believe I am one of the most open-minded persons on the planet. I just know what I want - and don't want - in a theater venue operated by Lotta and myself.
I think the best way to describe the difference between the Paramount and Night Players is - notwithstanding the fact that all of us who perform for audiences like to please our audience, Paramount's purpose is to entertain the audience. As I often say at the end of Paramount shows, "You the audience are as important as we are. More important actually because without you - we don't have a show."
I believe with all my heart that to be true. About Paramount.
Night Players is for the performers. Think of it as an Art Gallery. In an Art Gallery you find things that are, to different people, dull, boring, wonderful, stimulating, beautiful, sometimes disgusting - again depending upon the perception of the viewer.
Sure we want an audience. Just like Art Galleries want viewers/customers. Night Players is for performers to present their works for the sake of the presentation. Again, "Art for Arts' Sake."
Art is Art.
The Night Players Theater is located near the Paramount, accessible via the same master Landmark, and the opening performance will be on Tuesday May 10, 2015 at 6:00 pm, sl time. We will present a repeat performance of the show we did at Paramount on April 24.
Night Players will present a brand new program on Friday May 29, at 8 pm. Hope we see you then!!!
Path
Sunday, May 10, 2015
Lightning Tornadoes and Wind! Oh My!
Oklahoma! Where the wind comes sweeping down the plain. Oscar Hammerstein II
If you don't like the weather in Oklahoma, wait a minute. It will Change. Will Rogers.
)_(&*(&$&%^$#W^)(&*_&)^{|}{|?|&%^&%$!!! Path.
If you don't like the weather in Oklahoma, wait a minute. It will Change. Will Rogers.
)_(&*(&$&%^$#W^)(&*_&)^{|}{|?|&%^&%$!!! Path.
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
The Return of Silly Muse
One of my (very few) blog posts was titled "Silly Muse" in which I talked about how my "artsy thoughts" had turned from humor, comedy and silliness, to some very serious stuff. I felt like my "Silly Muse" had abandoned me, leaving me at the mercy of the "Dark Muse" who was heavily influencing my projects for Second Life.
Well I'm happy to announce that Silly Muse has returned, and the results of which will be on display at the Paramount on the three performances of "Fantazmagoric" on 9, 16 and 23 May at 7 PM Second Life Time. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Paramount-Grand-Theatre/480138692073462?sk=events&event_action_context[ref]=105 I pretty much let Silly Muse run rampant and - - well what we've done involves a pirate ship and Peter Pan and Captain Hook and . . . so on. :-)
The Dark Muse is still with me and anyone who would like to see an early result of that collaboration please attend the repeat showing of "Night Players" at the new Night Players Theater on Tuesday, May 12 at 6 pm slt.
It took 3 months to get my Dark Performance Artwork "Primal Instinct" on stage. No I'm not satisfied with it. It debuted at the Paramount "Night Players" show on April 24th. It did cause some controversy. I'm not sure how much - I definitely received both negative and positive feedback - but I have no way of knowing what people are saying to each other about it (if indeed they are saying anything) . . . only what is said to me.
I SO welcome discussion. About anything. :-) I know that the Paramount has never pleased everyone. It was never intended to. I've been told many times that "not every act (dance) requires (needs, fits-with) nudity. To me that is kinda missing the point. The Paramount was created first and foremost out of a desire to have a performance venue where my sl family and I could choose what we wanted to create and not be crammed into someone else's "vision." In dancing "for other folks" I enjoyed most of the acts I was in, kinda didn't care for being cast in the role of "bad guy" (although some wonderful, kind and moral people (Gert Frobe, Dan Duryea for example) had very successful careers playing bad guys). There was also an act that I was given no choice but to do - one in which I not only was a bad guy but I also hated the song. That turned out to be my last performance at that venue - and the only act I have performed in sl that I totally sincerely regret doing.
The Paramount is a Labor of Love. Quite literally. In the 29 months Paramount has been in operation it has "paid the rent" exactly one month. That's a lot better than I ever expected. The important thing about the Paramount, to me, is that the dancers - ALL of us dancers - please ourselves. If we please ourselves there will most likely be people who come because what pleases each of us pleases them. Certainly people who enjoy the sight of nude avatars performing, enjoy the Paramount.
I happen to very strongly believe that God's most beautiful creation is the human body. ALL human bodies. Second Life gives us the chance to create avatars which might or might not resemble our real life human forms; we can regress to a time when we were younger - advance to a time when we are older - become anything we want, which often is idealized, lovely humans.
Nudity is highly encouraged at Paramount - in acts. I don't care whether nudity "enhances" an act; I don't care that the "official" definition of Burlesque does not include full nudity; If someone wants to perform Dr. Zhivago totally naked, I'm all for it, snow, goosebumps and all. To me "Burlesque" as a general term within the sl dance community covers stripping and/or nudity. "Old School Burlesque" means something very different, and certainly is never used to describe the entertainment at Paramount.
The main limitation on creativity at the Paramount is that we have always wanted the Paramount to be "Classy." Our acts to be classy. Whether we succeed or fail in that endeavor rests in the perceptions of our customers.
It seems to me to be an unwritten unspoken rule within the "Burlesque/Cabaret Community" that no act goes beyond the limits of an "R rated" movie. That's pretty much how the Paramount has been, and will continue to be.
Which leads to why a new Theater called the "Night Players" has come into being. It's located just around the corner from the Paramount, and has the appearance of a smaller, younger sibling of the Paramount.
Night Players is for performers who want to Stretch Our Wings. To me there is a large area of Art that falls between the bounds of an American R rated movie, and Pornography. My intention is that performers who want a venue where they have the same creative freedom as, say European Filmmakers, will have that opportunity at Night Players.
I'm going to save more about this Philosophy of Performance for another day. The latest show in the Night Players Series contains a couple of examples of going beyond the "R Rating" of most Dance Venues (not including the sex/porn clubs). Night Players is not nor ever will be a sex/porn club. At least, not by my definition of pornography.
Anyone interested, please come check out Night Players, 6 pm, Tuesday May 12, 2015.
Path
Well I'm happy to announce that Silly Muse has returned, and the results of which will be on display at the Paramount on the three performances of "Fantazmagoric" on 9, 16 and 23 May at 7 PM Second Life Time. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Paramount-Grand-Theatre/480138692073462?sk=events&event_action_context[ref]=105 I pretty much let Silly Muse run rampant and - - well what we've done involves a pirate ship and Peter Pan and Captain Hook and . . . so on. :-)
The Dark Muse is still with me and anyone who would like to see an early result of that collaboration please attend the repeat showing of "Night Players" at the new Night Players Theater on Tuesday, May 12 at 6 pm slt.
It took 3 months to get my Dark Performance Artwork "Primal Instinct" on stage. No I'm not satisfied with it. It debuted at the Paramount "Night Players" show on April 24th. It did cause some controversy. I'm not sure how much - I definitely received both negative and positive feedback - but I have no way of knowing what people are saying to each other about it (if indeed they are saying anything) . . . only what is said to me.
I SO welcome discussion. About anything. :-) I know that the Paramount has never pleased everyone. It was never intended to. I've been told many times that "not every act (dance) requires (needs, fits-with) nudity. To me that is kinda missing the point. The Paramount was created first and foremost out of a desire to have a performance venue where my sl family and I could choose what we wanted to create and not be crammed into someone else's "vision." In dancing "for other folks" I enjoyed most of the acts I was in, kinda didn't care for being cast in the role of "bad guy" (although some wonderful, kind and moral people (Gert Frobe, Dan Duryea for example) had very successful careers playing bad guys). There was also an act that I was given no choice but to do - one in which I not only was a bad guy but I also hated the song. That turned out to be my last performance at that venue - and the only act I have performed in sl that I totally sincerely regret doing.
The Paramount is a Labor of Love. Quite literally. In the 29 months Paramount has been in operation it has "paid the rent" exactly one month. That's a lot better than I ever expected. The important thing about the Paramount, to me, is that the dancers - ALL of us dancers - please ourselves. If we please ourselves there will most likely be people who come because what pleases each of us pleases them. Certainly people who enjoy the sight of nude avatars performing, enjoy the Paramount.
I happen to very strongly believe that God's most beautiful creation is the human body. ALL human bodies. Second Life gives us the chance to create avatars which might or might not resemble our real life human forms; we can regress to a time when we were younger - advance to a time when we are older - become anything we want, which often is idealized, lovely humans.
Nudity is highly encouraged at Paramount - in acts. I don't care whether nudity "enhances" an act; I don't care that the "official" definition of Burlesque does not include full nudity; If someone wants to perform Dr. Zhivago totally naked, I'm all for it, snow, goosebumps and all. To me "Burlesque" as a general term within the sl dance community covers stripping and/or nudity. "Old School Burlesque" means something very different, and certainly is never used to describe the entertainment at Paramount.
The main limitation on creativity at the Paramount is that we have always wanted the Paramount to be "Classy." Our acts to be classy. Whether we succeed or fail in that endeavor rests in the perceptions of our customers.
It seems to me to be an unwritten unspoken rule within the "Burlesque/Cabaret Community" that no act goes beyond the limits of an "R rated" movie. That's pretty much how the Paramount has been, and will continue to be.
Which leads to why a new Theater called the "Night Players" has come into being. It's located just around the corner from the Paramount, and has the appearance of a smaller, younger sibling of the Paramount.
Night Players is for performers who want to Stretch Our Wings. To me there is a large area of Art that falls between the bounds of an American R rated movie, and Pornography. My intention is that performers who want a venue where they have the same creative freedom as, say European Filmmakers, will have that opportunity at Night Players.
I'm going to save more about this Philosophy of Performance for another day. The latest show in the Night Players Series contains a couple of examples of going beyond the "R Rating" of most Dance Venues (not including the sex/porn clubs). Night Players is not nor ever will be a sex/porn club. At least, not by my definition of pornography.
Anyone interested, please come check out Night Players, 6 pm, Tuesday May 12, 2015.
Path
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