The Viola Voice

Coincidentally, Amelia just brushed what I thought of to blog on this week: Finding your voice.  Shakespeare found his — made up words, a funny rhyming rhythm and plays that we can all relate to.  I think it’s important to find a voice; your voice.   I don’t mean this in the literal sense. Most of us have been blessed with working vocal cords and all the mechanisims to make them vibrate.  I mean a way to express your thoughts.  Your opinions.  Your own creativity.  Some people are attracted to the solitude and process of writing.  Some love the light of the stage.  Some enjoy the physical outlet of sport or sculpture.  Judging by the fact you’re reading this post, you’re at least somewhat attracted to theatre as your voice.  Use TVP and the theatre as an opportunity to learn and let your creative juices flow.  Be bold and let this be a way for you to create something. My own personal experience has shown me that this outlet can change and grow.  It used to be I couldn’t imagine a life without a play or rehearsal schedule.   Now I can’t imagine one where I don’t get to show that opportunity to others.  Or cook a delicious veggie dinner and practice yoga.   So now is the time to find what you have to say.  I’d certainly love to hear you – and so would TVP.   So that’s a few thoughts for you to think on.    Thoughtfully,           Alex  

It has been said that one out of every ten words Shakespeare used was his own. Here are some of the few that he is credited in creating:“arch-villain,” “bedazzle,” “cheap” (as in vulgar or flimsy), “dauntless,” “embrace” (as a noun), “fashionable,” “go-between,” “honey-tongued,” “inauspicious,” “lustrous,” “nimble-footed,” “outbreak,” “pander,” “sanctimonious,” “time-honored,” “unearthly,” “vulnerable,” and “well-bred.” He has also worded the following phrases, most still popular today:

“Eaten out of house and home”, ”Pomp and circumstance”, ”Foregone conclusion”, “Full circle”, “The makings of”, “Method in the madness”, “Neither rhyme nor reason”, “One fell swoop”, “Seen better days”, “It smells to heaven”, “A sorry sight”, “A spotless reputation”, “Strange bedfellows” and  ”The world’s (my) oyster”

 While Shakespeare is a genius, he is often given credit for words he did not create.  Here is a list he uses in his texts, but is often miscredited for inventing:

 ”All that glisters (glistens) is not gold”, “To knit one’s brow”, “Cold comfort”, “(To) give the devil his due”, “To play fast and loose”, “Till the last gasp”, “Laughing stock”, “Fool’s paradise”, “In a pickle”, Out of the question”, “The long and the short of it,” “It’s Greek to me”, “It’s high time”, “The naked truth”

My new favorite Shakespearian word is “friended.” Thought it was invented by Facebook? Not so!

Shakespeare coined and used it in three of his plays: Henry VIII, Cymbeline and Measure for Measure.

 So, if Shakespeare can create a word, why can’t you? Create a word for me, and give its meaning. Maybe I’ll use it in the next TVP workshop!

Amelia

I’m another new voice here at TVP.  I’m Alex, a girl, and a big believer in the power of theater.  I’m originally from NC, which suddenly sounds appealing with highs of 5 degrees fast approaching, but I’ve been in Chicago since June of 2005.  I have a degree in theater and another one in communication/journalism, just for good measure.  Theater brought me out of my shell when I was in middle school.  Theater, on stage and back stage, helped me build confidence and self reliance.  I learned skills I never thought I would – you should see me with a drill! Theater has given me everything from a passion to a job.  It even brought me all the way from North Carolina to Chicago.  I love seeing that confidence and creativity beginning in you gals. I think what I am most excited about for TVP this year is being apart of the summer intensive.  I’ve seen the amazing work done in only a few hours so I can only imagine what comes out of a week of Shakespeare.   I’m sure I’ll find more to say on all of this, but for now, you sort of know who I am and  I’m looking forward to getting to know all of you!   -Alex  

Welcome, new TVP readers! Now that you know that we are committed to updating the blog at least three times a week, here’s where you come in. We need your help! We’ve seen you perform Shakespeare: we know that y’all have creativity coming out of your ears and that you undoubtedly have ideas galore for posts that would make this blog the best ever. So send them our way! Here’s what we’re looking for:

*Interviews (your heroes? family members? favorite teachers? a local celebrity (if it’s someone you haven’t met, maybe we can help you out! let us know!))

*Essays (read an article lately that you loved or hated? want to comment on the state of theatre or the world? We want to know!)

*Creative Writing (poems? short stories?)

*Reviews (have something to say about a book you read/movie or play you saw/event you attended?)

Anything else you can think of? Email all submissions or questions related to the blog to info@violaproject.org.

Take a look at this article. Using as a jumping-off point Edward Bond’s seeming disgust at the way his piece, The Woman, is being played as theatre by the actors a week after opening, Alison Croggin goes on to explore the differences between drama and theatre. Drama, it seems, is generally thought of as Serious. Classic. Important. You know, like Shakespeare and Aristophanes. Whereas theatre is modern, edgy, performance based. The problem I see with this sort of categorizing (and Croggin notes this too, albeit in a slightly different way) is that the belief in Ancient, Serious, Classic Drama leads to productions in which the language and subject matter are treated too preciously. After all, Greek drama has bawdy humor all over the place. So do Shakespeare’s comedies. And tragedies. And history plays, romances and sonnets. Beautiful language? Yes. Tragic scenes? But exclusively Serious Drama? Not so much.

To answer the author’s question about drama vs. theatre: I would say that drama is written, for the purpose of being performed. Theatre is the performance itself.

What do you think?

-ellie

Hello!

My name is Amelia, and I am an intern at The Viola Project. I am from Chicago and have been a part of TVP since December. This is my first blog!

TVP recently went to Normal, Illinois to hold a workshop at Illinois High School Theatre Festival. It was an amazing experience! While in the cornfields Ellie, Alex and I were able to share in watching this YouTube video. Its theme is creativity in schools, and is very inspiring.

If you watch the video, I would like you to answer this question:

How do you feel that this video connects to what we do at The Viola Project?

If you decide to hold off and watch it later, riddle me this instead:

What would you like to see posted on The Viola Project blog?

I wait on baited breath. Until next time…

-Amelia

Great things are in store for The Viola Project; bookmark this site and check back often. We promise to update!