Across-the-Aisle Theater

2:00 pm - Sat, Oct 20, 2012: 2 notes

Across-the-Aisle Theater

Wonkistani citizen Charlotte brings something very interesting to our attention: the Republican Theater Festival in Philadelphia, PA.

The Festival “featur[es] the work of conservative playwrights in a liberal medium,” and while we are not sure we agree that theater is a liberal medium, this sounds like a fascinating project.

From the festival’s website:

With a mandate to be unflinchingly open minded, the (mostly liberal) actors, directors and designers will give this work a voice—and in doing so examine their own prejudices and closely held beliefs.

Our writers also agree to come face to face with the people their work satirizes, questions and condemns.

The Republican Theater Festival will appear November 12th through 18th in Philadelphia as part of Plays & Players Theater’s series The American Presidency: A Theatrical Response.

Calling this a “Republican” rather than a “conservative” theater festival makes us think that politics will figure heavily in the plays. What does reminding actors, designers, and writers of their political orientation do to the art they produce together? Does this quasi-sensational premise enforce the party binary in American politics even as it works to bridge that gap? Will chickens and goats figure prominently in the proceedings?

And what do we make of their assertion that theater is a liberal medium? The political orientation of theatermakers and audiences probably varies widely by region; it is fair to call New York theater a broadly liberal medium, but what of other places?

Thanks, Charlotte, for bringing this to our attention. We look forward to hearing what you have to say, Wonkistan!