my-thoughts

DROLL ACADEMY featuring Dan Collins and Adam Sharf

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 07:54:08 +0100

This past fall I have been busy working with area improv groups as a consultant and coach for their troupes. I am proud to announce that my 1st collaboration troupe will be making their debut performance December 9th (Wednesday) at Drunken Monkey Cafe in Orlando, FL. The troupe is DROLL ACADEMY which features Orlando performers Dan Collins and Adam Sharf in a two-man improvised show. My role is that of director/coach/consultant to DROLL ACADEMY.

These two performers have been a blast to work with. They are very eccentric personalities that truly bond well together as they explore suggestions from audience members and create scenes based on those ideas. Working with Dan and Adam, we hope to live up to our motto: "Two guys doing real life in a made up way." They desire to explore life and the myriad stories audience members share in a way that's fun, relatable, energizing, and organic. My job as a director/coach is helping their vision to reality by sharing theatrical techniques to aid their shared sense for character/relationship based stories. As I culture the technical aspects of the show, I am mindful to not spoil the natural charm, empathy, playfulness, and humor Dan and Adam naturally posess. They are very charming! And extremely smart!

Please join us on Facebook or Twitter just look for DROLL ACADEMY.

Hope to see you at the Drunken Monkey in Orlando, FL on Wednesday night very soon. And as always, please support live theater!

Garden Theatre Improv Workshops a Success!

Sun, 19 Jul 2009 08:50:14 +0100

I just completed a week-long workshop series for children grades 5th-8th at The Garden Theatre in Winter Garden, Florida. The Garden Theatre is a lavishly restored historic movie house now converted into a live theater/cinema venue in the heart of the vibrant, beautiful, and historic downtown Winter Garden, FL. This theater house is a truly wonderful facility that shares adjoining conference rooms with neighboring buildings, perfect for conventions and meetings. Garden Theater is run by General Manager Alauna McMillen who has been a delight to work with over the years. Shelli Kinsley is Garden's Educational Director with whom I worked with on this project. Both Alauna and Shelli truly desire to enrich the lives of Winter Garden's residents with a theater that gives back to the community. Having done this project, I submit my pure pleasure being affiliated with Garden Theatre.

The workshop itself was thoroughly enjoyable. The children that played theater games and improvised scenes were good-natured, giving, supportive, and fun to work with. It is revealing to witness how intuitive children are when play acting. The sense of wonder and their willingness to explore the unknown allows discovery that is fun and rewarding. Children naturally have some inhibitions and focus on a different experience than that of adults taking an acting class. In a sense, a child's objective taking this workshop only appears immature as compared to an adult actor's personal motivations to participate in the same kind of workshop. Whereas most adults take acting workshops to benefit from a workshop’s training, most children desire the experience of simulated play. Give them some hula hoops and a pool noodle and they can make the most elaborate game to play for hours on end. Ask adults to do this and you find that adults have forgotten they too can create games spontaneously through group collaboration. Children instinctively know (although not conscious of) that 'playing games' is a universal form of social communication. Observing this first hand, a comfort level had already been established before I even uttered a word to welcome them to the workshop. Periodically, I would give 5 minute breaks throughout workshop sessions and immediately every child wanted to interact with game play. Authentic experiences can be facilitated through 'game theory' to produce an inclusive and stimulating environment.

I realize I am blathering on, so I will conclude by stating that is it important for everyone to play. Tapping into the spirit of play allows for our intuitive nature to reveal itself. This intuitive self manifests a communication that crosses the most marginal of boundaries. At heart is our natural ability to communicate and share a common bond through a vivid experience rooted in the present moment. To play puts you in the same space as me. Playing in the same space is natural, communal, fun, and enriching. I am happy to be in that same space with Garden Theatre. What a wonderful week with wonderful people. Thank you Garden Theatre, Alauna, Shelli, and the children for making it possible to play and be authentic!

The After-LAUGH!: Aknowledgements

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:39:47 +0100

Thank you to everyone who supported my talk show, LAUGH! that played @ SAK Comedy Lab in Orlando, FL this past Monday. The event was wildly popular and successful as we packed the 200+ seat theater for two hours of stimulating talk and hilarity. The show was far more entertaining than I imagined it would be. As its producer, director, and host, my initial thoughts were "...hope this baby has wings." Instead of Icarus falling from the sky, the show was more like the Wright Bros., and had a successful flight! Each panelist held their own and added to the overall enjoyment to the show. You can also read a story penned by SAK Comedy Lab about this wonderful event.

I would like to thank the following people and businesses for helping the project to its ultimate success:

SAK Comedy Lab and its Ensemble performers for their venue, time, energy, and humor. Obviously, we could not do it without you. A special recognition for John Hunter acting as a co-producer on this project.

All of the media outlets that publicized this event. Special recognition to TheDailyCity.com, The Orlando Weekly, The Orlando Sentinel, and Radio Rickshaw on-line podcast as local businesses that really stepped up to promote this event. This list of local companies champion local theater, and work tirelessly to promote theater appreciation worldwide. I urge you to read, listen, and watch their programs. Your patronage of those companies is vital to the theater-world's success.

Thanks and appreciation for the audience of LAUGH! who were made up of improvisational practioners, improv students, regular & 1st time time audience members and media. We live in a country where we have the right to a peaceful assembly to share ideas and by showing up, we keep our rights alive. We do theater for you our audience, and it was pleasure to do this for you.

Thanks to my girlfriend who dealt with my momentary fits of anxiety by providing simple, clear proactive solutions. Thank you very much sweetie!

The social networking sites YesAnd.com, FABactor.com, Linkedin, and Facebook. These sites made it possible for direct contact to publicize this event. Word of mouth is the most effective advertising so pleaase keep talking about those companies that support the overall enrichment of our community.

Last but not least, I am most passionate about thanking Denna Eramo, Cody Bush, and the rest of the SAK volunteers that help to run the on-site event. Cody provided a professionalism that is rare to find in a 17 year old. He operated the tech for the show and made the actors look so good! Denna, you truly get my utmost thanks. At one point, I did not believe this event would be possible due to staffing issues. I asked Denna if she had any ideas. She simply said "I'll take care of it." Just like that, Denna assembled a staff and provided the perfect service to our audience, our panelist, and propelled the show into a class of its own. Denna also played best cheerleader that a producer could hope for. Her support and dedication only inspired me to work more.

Many people have asked when the next show would be. I will take some time off to regroup, analyze, and determine the next event. A respected professional friend of mine observed this event was a good prototype for a future event with stronger production and more to offer the audience. I agree with this observation, and so I shall revisit this potential project in good time.

Everyone should look to share their passions to the world at large. When you speak up, inevitably like-minded people listen and gather to partake in what you say or do. More joyous, they want to share with you thus creating a synergistic moment. That special moment where people can have differences and still enjoy themselves and each other because they feel united by a shared passion. It was my passion to share this idea to the world at large...and world showed up.

Thanks, thanks, thanks.

Richard Regan Paul

Producer/ Director/Host of LAUGH!: The Live Talkshow on Improvisation, Comedy, and Theater

Tomorrow we can LAUGH!

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:57:52 +0100

Its show time, a little less than 24 hours away SAK Comedy Lab will host LAUGH!: A Talk Show on Improvisation, Comedy and Theater. Show time is 7:30PM and I do suggest you get there as early as possible because we are expecting a full house. Be sure to call (407) 648-0001 or go to www.sak.com for further deatils. Or just read my earlier posts to get the 411. I am very greatful for the community support this event has received and I will give specific aknowledgements later.

See you tomorrow and we will get our LAUGH! on!

Richard

LAUGH! featured on Radio Rickshaw!

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 03:51:53 +0100

Radio Rickshaw is an awarding-winning arts podacst that shares the 411 on theater, film, art, music, and all manner of cultural interest. John Valines and Dan Ginader, producers and hosts of this stellar program invited me to sit down with the to discuss LAUGH! at length with them. It was fun to share and I am truly greatful for their assistance for getting the word out!

Please listen and tell me what you think!

http://rickshawboy.com/radiorickshaw/?p=202

Take Care and don't forget go to www.sak.com for directions and show time for LAUGH!

Richard

More press on LAUGH!

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:18:19 +0100

Hi all!

Be on the look out for the Orlando Weekly because LAUGH!(see previous blogs) will be in featured in this week's issue. Also, Orlando Sentinel theater critic, Elizabeth Maupin has blogged about the talk show on her OS theater blog, "Attention Must Be Paid"! Here is the link to that blog post:

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_stage_theat/2009/06/come-to-sak-and-leave-with-tootsie-rolls.html#more

Friends, again thank you so much for your support and encoruagement in this fun project!

Take Care!

Richard Paul

Cipher-how to decipher free-style rap...

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 05:51:51 +0100

As soon as LAUGH! (the comedy talk show I am producing) comes to a close, my next project is to immerse myself in the study of free-style rap. A friend of mine has been a long time MC and has rapped for a very long time. With his help I hope to cultivate my skills. Additionally, I would like to land some movies produced at Full Sail to nab some much needed reel. Anyways, I have been feeling creative as of late and feel very aggressive about making those things happen. I have also pondered on developing a group to perform Playback Theatre. Yikes! One thing at a time, Richard.

Take Care

Richard

Laugh!: A Live Comedy Talk Show on Improvisation, Comedy, and Theater

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 05:42:14 +0100

Well it is official, SAK Comedy Lab will host LAUGH! on July 6, 2009 at SAK's downtown theater. LAUGH! is a live talk show covering the topics of improv, comedy, and theater featuring a panel discussion and audience Q & A with SAK Comedy Lab's main stage performers. I am very proud to announce the panelists in this talk show:

Robyn Pedretti (SAK Ensemble, cast member of Four Play:The Improvised Musical, role on NBC's The West Wing, SAK U instructor)

Mike Carr (SAK Ensemble, originator of SAK's Early Show, I.O. Theater alumnus, SAK U instructor)

Stephen Kadwell (SAK Ensemble, SAK's Early Show, cast member of The Lost Comedies of William Shakespeare, SAK U instructor)

Mark Baratelli (SAK Ensemble, creator of Improv Cabaret, cast member of Four Play: The Improvised Musical, founder of The Daily City Arts Blog)

Jay Hopkins (SAK Ensemble, writer of numerous SAK original shows, producer of FOOLFEST, founder of Jester Theater Co., former SAK U director, published playwright)

Dr.David Charles (SAK Ensemble, Orginator of Four Play: The Improvised Musical & The Lost Comedies of William Shakespeare, Rollins College professor, SAK U instructor)

Dave Russell (Managing/Artistic Director of SAK Comedy Lab and SAK Entertainment)

I will be hosting the talk show and I invite you to join us.

It is FREE ADMISSION to the public! So please spread the word on this project!

The details: Laugh!: A Live Comedy Talk Show on Improvisation, Comedy, and Theater

When: Monday July 6, 2009 @ 7:30PM

Where: SAK Comedy Lab
            380 W. Amelia Street
            Orlando, FL 34786

Contact: SAK Comedy Lab (407) 648-0001     www.sak.com

Projects...

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:33:35 +0100

I am currently working on a live talk show on improv comedy that's to be hosted in Orlando. Although I am still in the planning stages, I am excited at the prospects of this kind of event. I have a panel nearly assembled, all who are fantasic comedic performers who are just as fun and enjoyable off stage. Planning seems to be the most critical when setting up projects like this. That is what I am up against today. So I am taking avery small break before I get back into the swing of things.

And know I must go back. Please contact me by phone or e-mail if you like more details or have services you can offer to this project. Either way, thanks for reading!

Take Care,

Richard

Hello!

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 04:06:12 +0100

I am excited to launch my 1st personal website. I used Yola, which has treated me very well so far! Well, pull out your champagne bottles and smash them against the ship, as we set sail for our maiden voyage into the world wide web. Please check out the rest of the website and message me have your inspired to.

Thanks!

Richard