Stage done right in Syracuse.
Sometimes I get so caught up in my world of movie and music writing and love of live sports that I forget all about how thrilling a trip to see live drama is.
Big mistake, that.
And in Syracuse we have much. In October, I reviewed ‘Book of Mormon’ when Famous Artists brought that traveling production to the Landmark Theatre.
A week ago, my dear wife Karen and I visited Syracuse Stage for an opening weekend production of the Pulitzer-nominated drama “Other Desert Cities.” I wrote about the evening for this week’s Mark It Up community column for Syracuse Public Media site waer.org. You can read the piece by clicking the link below.
http://waer.org/post/syracuse-stages-embrace-dramatically-warms-life-other-desert-cities
Syracuse also has many fine community theater groups that put on around the community.
Attending live drama makes my life richer. It sharpens my focus and enhances my lateral association in ways that movies do not. I shouldn’t wait this long between shows.
Do you attend live theater, and if so, what do you think you get out of it? Does your community have local groups that open theater doors for productions? What’s the last play you saw, and what did you think of it?
Mark Bialczak 
Caught Momma Mia this weekend here in Houston, Chum. It was fantastic. The kids in the area went to see Disney’s Frozen on Ice…huge hit!
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Mama Mia was way fun when MDW Karen and I saw it at Syrause Stage a few years ago. I love Abba songs woven into the story. Frozen on Ice sounds like a kids winner for sure, too. Good pick in Houston.
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I bet Barb is wanting to come and see Keb Mo, since i mentioned him on a post from an AARP magazine interview, we have always said he would be an amazing concert, Mark. (Silver in the Barn.)
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Barb mentioned to me in a comment that she learned of Keb’ Mo’ from you, Robin. Yes, she did!
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The last live play I was was Brer Rabbit when I was six, Mark. 🙂
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I think you are a little overdue for live drama, Rachel. 😮
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Oh Mark, With three thespians in the family, you know its a must for me to see as many as I can.Drama or musicals.I am especially interested in all the young people in the area coming up. So fun to
see them grow, especially my Sweetie-pie Althea.
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Your son David and daughter-in-law Theresa have drawn myself and my dear wife Karen out to several plays, Jackie, and they are both fine actors. Yes, it’s great that your sweetie Althea is following in their footsteps!
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There’s a vibrant theater community in Richmond which I don’t take near enough advantage of. By the way, our friend Robin introduced me to Keb Mo. I really like him.
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Hooray for the real-life discoveries that our friendship circle here in BloggyVille can foster, Barbara! Keb’ Mo’ is a great entertainer, I agree. 🙂
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I agree about live drama making our lives richer- and I do have to say that this local Richmond area has some nice art options – including some good live drama – and it was nice raising the kids with access to free, low cots, and some pricey shows – and so I am grateful for that because theatre and acting really is just good for the psyche. 🙂
🙂
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Great to hear that you utilized the whole scope of the Richmond arts scene to enrichen the kids’ Wonder Bread years, Y. Smart!
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🙂
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I haven’t really attended anything lately Mark – I’m pinching my pennies. Have you ever attended one of those dinner theatre type events? We have a place called Jubilations. It’s fun to have a full course dinner and watch a live spoof of Cheers going on all around you! ❤
Diana xo
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I have gone to a local dinner mystery theater, a local company at a family place called The Spaghetti Warehouse, Diana. The prices are reasonable. The play is in a big back room, and all the diners are seated at a few big round tables together. Before they start, the actors mill about with the diners and hand out lines to people they think will make good additions to the play and tell you when your time will come. I always got a line given to me. Go figure. It was a blast!
I understand about the pinching of pennies. Michaela is getting married this summer! For my part here, I was glad MDW Karen won the tickets. 🙂
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That sounds like fun – I would deliver a line, for sure! Actually, Michaela and Josh called the wedding off Mark. It’s too weird to write a post about it though, so … I just don’t know what proper blogging etiquette dictates… anyway I should write to your advice column!
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I’m sorry, Diana! That’s an emotional issue, my friend. Love to Michaela to feel better about life. And you, too. (Write to me if you wish of course.)
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Thanks Mark. Better now than after the wedding, right? 😀
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Much better now than after the wedding, Diana. 🙂
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It is so neat that you see so much theater and entertainment Mark – although I am sure watching knowing you have to do a report is not quite as enjoyable.
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When I had to write the concert review right at the end of the show for the big daily, that was very stressful and took away some of the concert enjoyment, yes, Paul. Writing my blog reports for movies and plays such as this days later, it’s not nearly as stressful at the point of purchase, so to speak. Thus … more enjoyable. Good point, though. Sharp.
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i enjoy community theater and performance art of most types. last play was ‘flashdance.’ twice. and that was a touring ‘broadway’ production. ouch!
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As I recall, you did not like that production much, either, Beth, from what you wrote. Double ouch. I know you go out to many plays, though. More potential for yay, yay, yay. 🙂
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The last play I saw was a musical, Suessical The Musical, by 7th and 8th graders MBM. But let me tell you, it was the most amazing performance I have ever seen by children. You would have thought these kids were pros. They were amazing. I was so blown away. I was hoping they would all be going to high school together, for the potential would be amazing. Sadly, it isn’t going to happen.
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Somebody just had to break up this talented gang, huh, MBC? That’s too bad. At least they had the experience of giving people the special performance of ‘Suessical the Musical.’ I hope it sticks with them all forever. It sounds as if it will stay with you for a good, long time. 🙂
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It will MBM. It was so amazing. I can’t even think past it to the last ‘theater’ performance I’ve been to….. These kids, at least some of them I would venture to guess/bet will be on many more stages.
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I hope they continue their passion and talent, MBC. 🙂
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Me too!
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Great post again…Mr. Mark. Never a dull post ever!!
I have been to many plays at a local high school.
I have been to many plays at Cleveland Playhouse Square. A fabulous place to see plays. Some say it is second to Broadway.
Gosh, too many to type to you but one that stands out is Joseph and the Technicolor DreamCoat. Donnie Osmond was Joseph. Enjoy the cultural aspect of your town… some places don’t have that. 🙂
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Donnie Osmond as Joseph must have been a great night out, Nancy. I think Cleveland has it going on arts wise, very much. Syracuse is trying very hard.
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Cleveland is also ranked #7 for Best Food via Restaurants. I go back often and I make sure to sample the deliciousness!
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I can tell you like it still, Nancy. I have a lot of BloggyWorld friends from the Cleveland area, and they all like it. No wonder. 🙂
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Very cool that you won tickets! I enjoyed the full piece on the other site, including your description of what sounds like such an endearing story.
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It’s a story full of ups and downs, Christy. Very emotional. Thanks for reading my piece on the WAER site. 🙂
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I love plays. Our local high school (our old high school) produces great plays. Those are the ones we most attend.
We used to see a local theatre group pretty regularly. The last show we saw was when #3 was about to be born — I told her the other day that her first play was a vampire comedy, surely she heard it from the womb. She’s interested in drama 🙂 After she was born, #4 came so soon! Then there were so many kids — LOL @ getting a babysitter for four! Haha! Just recently we talked about starting to take them to see a play. Maybe we’ll find something appealing to us all soon. Something affordable, and when there’s no school the next day!
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You can get them all psyched on drama, Joey. That would be a cool sibling interest to share for 1 to 4! And community theater is pretty reasonably priced, around here, anyway. I hope you and hubby can find the right play.
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We took 1 & 2 to The Nutcracker and two plays. Neither of them liked any of it, and #2 fell asleep every single time. *sigh*
I think #3 shows true interest though! 😀
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You go #3! 🙂
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Hey, one I actually have seen! I saw Keb Mo with Lyle Lovett and Junior Brown back in the 90s. Finally, I don’t feel so out of touch.
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Yay! I am glad that this bluesman speaks to you, Kerbey. 😉
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