Theater Forward

The Art of Making Money in Theater

We sit down with Forward Theater Director of Development Sarah Milestone to talk about every theater's favorite word: REVENUE. 

Making money in theater is a delicate dance. We dive into the world of donors, events, and the (lack of) government support for an artform that relies on more than just ticket sales to thrive.

Correction at 18:56:
Economic impact of the arts in the state of Wisconsin is $930 million and in Dane County it is $350 million according to the most recent research from Americans for the Arts. It was mistakenly reported at $400 million for the state. 

What We’re Looking Forward to in 2023-24

Theater season is here, and we're all just kids in a candy store. We share the productions we can't wait to see in the 2023-24 season - nationally, regionally, and in our own backyard. 

Accessibility & ASL Interpretation

Making theater accessible for Deaf and Hard of Hearing patrons is in high demand. We sit down with Amy Free and Tim Mumm, professional sign language interpreters and educators, to put a spotlight on this overdue priority for theaters. Amy and Tim share a behind the scenes look at what they do, and how theaters can make ASL-interpreted performances an integrated part of their productions.

A transcript of this episode can be found HERE.  

Hot Take: We Are Surviving (and Thriving).

It's been a summer. After a deluge of national press about a crisis in American theater amid closings and layoffs, we take some time to cool things down with a tall, refreshing glass of "theater is not dead, folks."

While it's important to note the massive change that is happening in the theater world right now (and it can be shocking), it's vital to recognize that some organizations are not only surviving - they're rebuilding a path to thriving again after a dangerous twist in the road. 

Where is the Next Generation of Technical Artists?

There's a growing concern regarding the lack of new technical artists and designers in American theater, causing many companies to reconsider (and change) how they build a season of productions.

We sit down with Sarah Ross, Assistant Professor of Scenic Design at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point, and Brian Gill, Associate Professor of Theatre Arts at University of Wisconsin - Parkside to talk about how they're cultivating a next generation of technical artists in an effort to support a new era of theatermaking.

Producing in a Post-Dobbs Decision Era

**Clarification** - This is our original Episode 97! Found in the vault and now live. We will re-release our interview on the new generation of technical artists as Episode 99, coming soon. 

The team discusses the ways in which current events can impact a production, specifically plays that touch on issues of women's bodily autonomy. We explore how these works are resonating differently with artists and audiences in a post-Dobbs decision era in America.

The Plays That Stay 2023, Vol. 1

Our favorite summer stories are back! We sit down with some amazing Wisconsin arts leaders and ask them to share a story about a play or musical that "stayed" with them, inspired them, or just generally rocked their world. This episode features:

Jacob Janssen - Artistic Director of Third Avenue PlayWorks 

Laura Braza - Associate Artistic Director of Milwaukee Rep

Sheri Williams Pannell - Playwright, Director, & Asst. Professor at UW-Milwaukee/Peck School of the Arts

Deanie Vallone - Literary & New Play Development Consultant at Milwaukee Rep

 

We’ve Got a Beef With ”World Premieres”

In theater, a "world premiere" seems easy to define, right? But some licensing agents are gatekeeping this title for promotional purposes, rather than granting it to the companies that invest time and money into producing a brand new play. We share our experience (and frustration) with an east coast "world premiere production" that left our theater company in the cold. 

Choosing Our 2023-24 Season

It's that time of the year! Theaters are announcing their upcoming seasons and wrangling their subscribers to renew. We discuss the four plays on tap for Forward Theater's 2023-24 season, and share the process of curating a season that brings joy to ourselves and our audiences. 

Our 23-24 season:
The Garbologists by Lindsay Joelle
Clyde's by Lynn Nottage
The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk by Daniel Jamieson
What the Constitution Means to Me by Heidi Schreck

More info: https://forwardtheater.com/show/the-2023-24-season

Interview w/ Playwright Lauren Gunderson

We were thrilled to sit down with Lauren Gunderson, one of America's most produced playwrights and author of our upcoming world premiere of ARTEMISIA at Forward Theater Company. Get a deep dive into the process of this prolific writer, as well as insight into the creation of this exciting new production. This is a MUST LISTEN for artists and audiences.