Email, May 12 2010
Hi Klaus.
Me and Bill has come up with a really interesting idea of how to incorporate all the stages of the Playhouse - an idea inspired by visualizing the Playhouse as a tanker moving people from one destination (Copenhagen) to another (New York). The journey might look like this:
TRIBUTES - LIVE
1) PASSAGE 1 - "Emabarkation" (TRIBUTE 1 "Shifting")
Portscenen - Little Theater. Audience enters from Pier as if boarding a ship for voyage. Curtains separate band set-up from incoming audience. Audience is seated in house. Band with soprano saxophone, violin, harp (small salon harp) and a small electronic set-up. Performance duration 15 - 20min.
2) PASSAGE 2 - "The Journey" (TRIBUTE 2 "Multiple")
Store Scene - Stage of Mainstage. Audience is ushered out of Portscenen and into the Stage Area of Mainstage. (Stage is separated from House by curtain.) Audience and band both occupy stage area for performance. Band with tenor saxophone, violin, drums and large electronic set-up. Performance duration 15 - 20min.
3) PASSAGE 3 - "The Storm" (TRIBUTE 3 "Across")
Lille Scene - Studio Stage. Audience is brought from Stage Area of Store Scene into Studio Stage, entering from balcony level of Studio Stage. Audience is seated in balconies and floor. Installation with projections. Band with alto saxophone, recorded sound and two performers standing opposite to each other playing choreographed Wii controllers. Performance duration 15 - 20min.
4) PASSAGE 4 - "Arrival" (TRIBUTE 4 "Beat")
Store Scene - House of Mainstage. Audience exits stage floor of Studio Stage and is ushered into House of Main Stage. Balconies are closed off, and audience is seated only in Parket area. Band is on Main Stage. Band with baritone saxophone, violin, drums and large electronic set-up.
The maximum of audience is restricted to 100 seats, since this is capability of the studio stage. This means fewer sold tickets, but the live event could take place twice everyday - maybe at 19:00 and 22:00. The audience should never move into the foyer after a "Tribute" has ended, but should be guided trough the hallways into the next "Tribute" or "Passage". Walking through the hallways should give the audience a feeling of still being abroad a ship.....In order to make the transitions between the "Passages" as smooth as possible, sponsorships might help. We need 16 guitar amplifiers from Skrydstrup R&D and two or three Apple laptops. Also some projectors and more....
TRIBUTES - GALLERY
This live idea does not incorporate the foyer, but the gallery version of TRIBUTES could still be viewed in the foyer.
Simon
Email, May 15 2010
Re: TRIBUTES - idea
Hey Simon
It was great meeting you last weekend in Copenhagen. I am very excited by our project and the possibility of realizing it at the Playhouse in the way we described. One thing: I would like to keep any mention of New York out of the narrative description at this time. I think it limits the scope and meaning of the work to make New York (or any earthly location) a destination for the audience's journey. Let's just think of the journey in musical, visual, and spiritual terms at this time.
Looking forward to working on this with you!
Bill
Email, May 20 2010
Re: TRIBUTES - idea
Hey Bill.
I agree, no city names. I hope that the Playhouse will find our idea intriguing, I haven't heard from them yet, but I suspect that their rather sceptical about the limitation of spectators.....But we'll see. I will try to get a printed copy of the Playhouse's house plan, so we can - the next time we meet - find the right track through the building. Since we met, I have been working on the music for the Tribute 1 "Shifting" and I have all ready made some huge progress - thanks to the green frog and meeting you.
I'm looking forward too! I'll be sending you some music in August, hopefully the full "Shifting".
Simon