Full Scholarships available for Saturday performing arts classes offered by new professional theatre company in Asbury Park Asbury Park, NJ

P R E S S R E L E A S E
March 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Full Scholarships available for Saturday performing arts classes offered by new professional theatre company in Asbury Park Asbury Park, NJ -


Express your creativity, laugh, make friends and learn something new. The ReVision Theatre classes offer all that and more. Lou Liberatore, one of the ReVision Theatre instructors and Tony Award nominated Broadway actor adds “The ‘more’ includes increased communication skills, gained confidence in front of groups, aliveness, spontaneity and learning how to effectively work in a group.” “And did I mention how much fun it is!” “No matter what your performing experience or your age, there is a class for you.”

Classes begin in March and April and are taught by top theatre professionals, many with Broadway experience, like Lou. All classes culminate in a final fully staged performance for invited friends and family which brings the work full circle, from classroom learning through the rehearsal process right up to the opening of the show. Tuition ranges from $150 to $200 and meet weekly for 8 to 10 weeks. Full merit scholarships are available for elementary, middle school and high school age students. Our Work-study program to cover full and partial tuition is also available for the adult classes.

For scholarship applicants, teachers are encouraged to recommend students they feel would most benefit from our program, and to discuss our program with the student’s other teachers and guidance counselors and with the students themselves. “We are available, welcoming questions and meeting with teachers, parents and students at their request”, says David Leidholdt director of the ReVision Theatre educational programs and producing artistic director also an instructor in the program. David adds “It’s a very personalized approach.” “We want our classes to be the most beneficial for our students and offering scholarships such as these enables us to have well rounded classes that benefit everyone”. “If the students are excited and want to be there, then we can accomplish more and the rewards will be higher. Our active outreach raises the bar for everyone” he adds.

These are merit scholarships and are based on the following criteria:

• Eager & enthusiastic towards the arts and performance
• Dedicated and committed to learning
• Demonstrates or indicates potential performing arts talent
• Is committed to attending the classes and doing his/her best
• Financial need will be considered for those students who otherwise would not be able to attend, although financial need is not a requirement.

Classes are held at the VFW Hall, located at 701 Lake Ave. just off Cookman, east of Main St. in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Prospective students, parents & teachers

Announcing ScholarshipsFor Elementary, Middle School and High School Ages

We are offering a limited number of full scholarships to students throughout Monmouth County who would be exemplary participants in our new performing arts classes.

Saturdays in Asbury Park beginning March 29, 2008.Our work-study program is available for adult students.

For scholarship application and guidelines call 732-775-0635 or email info@ReVisionTheatre.org

Revision Theatre is a new non-profit professional regional theatre company dedicated to producing invigorating theatre with a fresh new perspective reaching the diverse community of Asbury Park and Monmouth County.

Broadway Bound: A Musical Play- For Kids and Teens CLASS STARTS SATURDAY MARCH 29th - Taught by David LeidholdtPutting together a musical is fun. Through these 10 sessions, young performers will learn the basics of acting, singing and dancing and how to put it all together into a cohesive and exciting show. Whether you are looking to a career in theatre or just want to have fun, theatre offers skills that last a lifetime. Broadway Bound promotes effective communication, teamwork, problem solving while at the same time learning how to let go and just have a good time. The 10 weekly culminate in a final Saturday performance for family and friends. 10 weekly sessions, Saturdays 1:00pm – 4:00pm for Grades 7th – 9th & Saturdays 1:00pm – 4:00pm for Grades 10th – 12th

Come to the Cabaret: Cabaret Performance - For Adults CLASS STARTS MONDAY MARCH 31st - Taught by Thomas MorrisseyNo matter what your or background, whether you’ve sung before an audience or not you can experience the freedom of singing and the joy of performing. Songs are chosen specifically for each participant based on their ability. Participants will learn; how to approach a song, proper vocal techniques and performance skills. At the end of the 8 sessions, participants perform their songs in a cabaret show at a local restaurant/club before invited friends and family. 8 weekly sessions, Mondays 6:30pm – 9:30pm

Adults Improv-A-Show- for Kids - CLASS STARTS APRIL 19th Through theatre games and improvisations children learn to combine fun with form in the creation of their very own show. This class is the perfect introduction into a lifelong love for the creative performing arts. Following the 8 weekly sessions a final Saturday performance will be scheduled for parents and friends to experience the final result. 8 weekly sessions, Saturdays 10:00am – 12:30pm - Grades 3rd-6th

Gotta Laugh! Improv & Comedy - For Adults - CLASS STARTS APRIL 21st – Taught by Lou LiberatoreExplore your creativity and laugh a lot in the process. If you’ve ever wanted to be a member of a comedy troupe or have admired the ability of a stand up comic but thought you could never do that…you’re wrong. Here’s your chance to shine and make people laugh, including yourself. Following the 8 sessions, participants perform in an improve/comedy show they created in class at a local restaurant/club for invited friends and family. 8 weekly sessions, Mondays 6:30pm – 9:30pm for Adults.

ReVision Theatre is a professional regional theatre company dedicated to producing invigorating theatre with a fresh new perspective reaching the diverse community of Asbury Park and Monmouth County. ReVision Theatre produces reinventions of previously produced classics, overlooked or forgotten work in a new way, and new work with a fresh voice. The company serves as a home for local artists and writers. ReVision Theatre also believes in the importance of theatre education and teaches children and adult theatre classes. ReVision Theatre produces readings, workshops, cabarets, concerts, and mainstage productions. For more information or to register for a class call 732-775-0635 or visit www.ReVisionTheatre.org.Credit Card Accepted.


PRESS CONTACT:
Tom Morrissey
Tom@RevisionTheatre.org
917-770-0582

ReVision Education Teaching Staff

Thomas Morrissey is one of the Producing Artistic Directors of the ReVision Theatre. RVT grew out of The Genesius Theatre Guild, which he founded in NYC in 1995 and served as its Artistic Director for 10 years. There he developed a critically acclaimed cabaret program, a nationally distributed CD, Our Heart Sings, featuring Kristen Chenoweth, Alice Ripley, and Emily Skinner. Tom has taught acting, musical theatre classes and workshops at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy, Wagner College, New York University and The Creative Acting Company in NYC. A member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers and Actors’ Equity Association. Tom has directed regionally and in New York. Tom directed The Genesius Theatre Guild’s productions of The Glass Mendacity, Just Us Boys, Dalliance In Vienna. He has also worked as a director at Circle Repertory Company, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Naked Angels and is a founding member of the Professional Directors Company at New York University. Tom produced the Genesius premiere production of Jonathan Tolin’s The Last Sunday In June prior to its commercial New York run at the Century Center Theatre. His website can be found at www.ThomasMorrissey.com

Stephen Bishop Seely attended both University of Texas in Austin and Michigan State University for his MFA in Acting He has served as an actor, singer, dancer and director in numerous local and regional productions throughout the United States. Some of his favorites include The Last Sunday in June written and directed by Jonathan Tolins, The Playboy Stories, Superfudge (National Tour w/John Tartaglia), KatsaroSongs, Peter Pan with Johnathan Freeman, King Lear with Robert Murray, Das Barbecü, Bent, He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother, Lonely Planet, The Mikado, and working for Circus World Museum as the Singing Ringmaster Big Top circus performances. At the Genesius Theatre Guild, he served as Literary Liaison and Director of Play Development. He started the Revolutionary Writers Workshop, RAW Reading Series. Stephen has continued to be innovative in theatre by developing the first ever GTG Script Development Group (The Dramaturgical Coalition). Stephen is a proud member of Actors' Equity Association, Screen Actors Guild, and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. www.StephenBishopSeely.com

David E. Leidholdt has been teaching theatre for over 20 years. He is a founding Producer for ReVIsion Theatre and has taught acting at The Professional Performing Arts School, the Actors Institute in New York City. He most recently Directed Intervention for the Center Stage theatre in Westport, CT, which received New England’s Moss Hart Award and was presented at the New York Musical Theatre Festival. He has also taught acting at Stagedoor Manor, Cranbrook Theatre School, Random Farms Kids Theatre, and Ohio Northern University. He is a member of Society of Stage Directors and Choreographer, Lincoln Center Directors Lab.

Lou Liberatore has been a professional American actor for over 25 years. A graduate of Fordham University at Lincoln Center in Theatre, Lou continued his studies with the renowned acting teacher William Esper after interning at the groundbreaking Circle Repertory Company in New York City. Lou made his New York City stage debut in the 1982 Circle Repertory Company production of Richard II. As a permanent member of the company he appeared in The Great Grandson of Jedediah Kohler, Black Angel, and As Is and Lanford Wilson’s, Burn This, both of which transferred to Broadway. Appearing alongside Joan Allen and John Malkovich, his performance in Burn This earned him Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Circle Award nominations for Best Featured Actor in a Play. Lou recreated the role on the London stage. Lou has created roles for Manhattan Theatre Club, Lark Theatre Company, Vineyard Theatre and Mark Taper Forum. Lou is the Founder / Artistic Director of the Jersey Shore Writer’s Studio based in Asbury Park. He is currently a member of the Black Box of Asbury Park, the Arts Coalition of Asbury Park and The Lark Theatre Company. Lou is a member of Actors’ Equity Association, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and Screen Actor’s Guild. He is the Literary Director of the ReVision Theatre as well as a member of the Advisory Board and is proud to share his experience as a member of the teaching staff.

Email, call or visit our website www.RevisionTheatre.org for more information

PRESS CONTACT:
Tom Morrissey
Tom@RevisionTheatre.org
917-770-0582

New City Theater Company Hosting Open House Feb. 23

By TOM CARDINALE
The Coaster
Thursday, February 14, 2008 at 11:55 am

A new theater company in Asbury Park is offering performers of all age and skill levels the chance to learn from respected, experienced, award winning actors and instructors. The ReVision Theatre Company is the newest brainchild of Tom Morrissey, the founder of the Genesius Theatre Guild in New York City and a former professor at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, Wagner College, and New York University.

Morrissey, who now splits his time living in New York City and Asbury Park, said the creation of the ReVision Theatre Company is the culmination of years of effort.

“We are in the process of starting the new theatre company in Asbury Park,” he said. “We wanted to find a place outside of New York where we could spread out. We spent two years looking for a place.”

Morrissey, along with fellow instructors David Leidholdt, Stephen Bishop Seely, and Lou Liberatore, will offer classes for children and adults of all skill levels at the VFW Hall on Lake Avenue in Asbury Park starting in March and Morrissey said every aspiring actor is sure to find something they can enjoy.

“Beginners are definitely welcome, it’s one of the things that’s great about the classes. It would be useful to people with experience or without,” he said.

Morrissey said the classes for middle and high school students will work on a musical and culminate with the performance of the play entirely by the students. The younger students will work on improvising fairy tales and other things they’re familiar with, Morrissey said, and then finish by creating their own show.

Morrissey said some highlights of the adult classes include a cabaret class which focuses on cabaret style songs as well as a comedy class that will include stand-up and improv.

The classes will run for eight to 10 weeks and tuition ranges from $150 to $200, Morrissey said. All the courses will be taught by Morrissey and his fellow instructors, who have extensive theatre experience.

Leidholdt has been a director and producer in New York City for over 14 years while Seely holds an MFA in acting from Michigan State University and has appeared in stage productions, television shows, and films. Liberatore has been an actor for over 25 years and was nominated for a Tony Award for his performance in “Burn This” alongside Joan Allen and John Malkovich.
He is also the founder of Asbury Park’s Jersey Shore Writer’s Studio and the Arts Coalition of Asbury Park.

A free open house will be held on Sat., Feb. 23 at 4 p.m. for anyone interested in classes or other upcoming events. The open house will be held at the VFW hall.

ReVision Theatre Company is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. For more information or to register for classes visit their Web site at http://www.revisiontheatre.org/ or call 732-775-0635.

Free Open House, Saturday, February 23, 2008

Please Join Us… FREE Get Acquainted OPEN HOUSE Saturday, February 23 at 4PM

Meet us & Hear all about our upcoming shows, productions and classes.VFW Hall in located at 701 Lake Ave., Asbury Park, NJAt the corner of Bond St., one block East of Main St. WWW.ReVisionTheatre.org

PLEASE JOIN US & Bring Your Friends...

SATURDAY February 23rd at 4:00 PM
VFW Hall, 701 Lake Avenue
Between Bond & Main Streets, Asbury Park, NJ
Enter on Lake Avenue and follow the signs to the downstairs meeting room.

At this meeting we'll be able to tell you more about our theatre and our plans. You’ll have a chance to meet us and hear about our upcoming productions and our theatre classes that we’ll be offering. We'd also like to find out more about you. What your interests are, and if you'd like to get involved and participate with us we can talk about that too. There are lots of ways to get involved - on stage, back stage, taking a class, working on a committee, planning events and many other things as well. All of it will be a lot of fun and a great way to socialize with friends and to meet and make new ones too. ReVision Theatre is a professional regional theatre company dedicated to producing invigorating theatre with a fresh new perspective reaching the diverse community of Asbury Park and Monmouth County. ReVision Theatre produces reinventions of previously produced classics, overlooked or forgotten work in a new way, and new work with a fresh voice. The company serves as a home for local artists and writers. ReVision Theatre also believes in the importance of theatre education and teaches children and adult theatre classes. ReVision Theatre produces readings, workshops, cabarets, concerts, and mainstage productions. Email, call or visit our website (www.RevisionTheatre.org) for more information Tom MorrisseyTom@RevisionTheatre.org732-775-0635


********************************************************************
The ReScript Group will meet prior to the OPEN HOUSE at 3 PM(Script Reading Group) This meeting is for those who would be interested in reading submitted scripts to help in the selection of plays and musicals to be under consideration for production. Members of this group will also produce a reading series of potential scripts and will engage in active outreach to playwrights, composers and lyricists to seek new submissions.For more information about ReScript, contact: Lou Liberatore, Lou@ReVisionTheatre.org
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GOTTA SING! GOTTA ACT! GOTTA DANCE!

February/March 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


GOTTA SING! GOTTA ACT! GOTTA DANCE!
New Theatre Company in Asbury Park
Offers Classes for kids and Adults

Asbury Park, NJ - Express your creativity, laugh, have fun, make friends and learn something new. The ReVision Theatre classes offer all that and more. No matter what your performing experience or your age, there is a class for you. Classes begin in March and April and are taught by top theatre professionals. All classes culminate in a final performance for invited friends and family. Tuition ranges from $150 to $200 and meet weekly for 8 to 10 weeks. Classes are held at the VFW Hall, located at 701 Lake Ave. just off Cookman, east of Main St. in Asbury Park, New Jersey.

FREE Get Acquainted OPEN HOUSE
Saturday, February 23 at 4PM
Meet us & Hear all about our upcoming shows, productions and classes.
VFW Hall in located at 701 Lake Ave., Asbury Park, NJ

Revision Theatre is a new non-profit professional regional theatre company dedicated to producing invigorating theatre with a fresh new perspective reaching the diverse community of Asbury Park and Monmouth County.

ReVision Theatre produces reinventions of classics, overlooked or forgotten work in a new way, and new work with a fresh voice. The company serves as a home for local artists and writers. ReVision Theatre teaches children and adult theatre classes and produces readings, workshops and mainstage productions.

Register on-line, by phone or by mail. Tuitions start at $150 per student, full and partial scholarships are available. For more information call 732-775-0635 or visit www.ReVisionTheatre.org.

Broadway Bound: A Musical Play- For Kids and Teens
CLASS STARTS SATURDAY MARCH 29th - Taught by David Leidholdt
Putting together a musical is fun. Through these 10 sessions, young performers will learn the basics of acting, singing and dancing and how to put it all together into a cohesive and exciting show. Whether you are looking to a career in theatre or just want to have fun, theatre offers skills that last a lifetime. Broadway Bound promotes effective communication, teamwork, problem solving while at the same time learning how to let go and just have a good time. The 10 weekly culminate in a final Saturday performance for family and friends. 10 weekly sessions, Saturdays 1:00pm – 4:00pm for Grades 7th – 9th & Saturdays 1:00pm – 4:00pm for Grades 10th – 12th

Come to the Cabaret: Cabaret Performance - For Adults
CLASS STARTS MONDAY MARCH 31st - Taught by Thomas Morrissey
No matter what your or background, whether you’ve sung before an audience or not you can experience the freedom of singing and the joy of performing. Songs are chosen specifically for each participant based on their ability. Participants will learn; how to approach a song, proper vocal techniques and performance skills. At the end of the 8 sessions, participants perform their songs in a cabaret show at a local restaurant/club before invited friends and family. 8 weekly sessions, Mondays 6:30pm – 9:30pm for Adults

Improv-A-Show- for Kids - CLASS STARTS APRIL 19th
Through theatre games and improvisations children learn to combine fun with form in the creation of their very own show. This class is the perfect introduction into a lifelong love for the creative performing arts. Following the 8 weekly sessions a final Saturday performance will be scheduled for parents and friends to experience the final result. 8 weekly sessions, Saturdays 10:00am – 12:30pm - Grades 3rd-6th

Gotta Laugh! Improv & Comedy - For Adults - CLASS STARTS APRIL 21st – Taught by Lou Liberatore
Explore your creativity and laugh a lot in the process. If you’ve ever wanted to be a member of a comedy troupe or have admired the ability of a stand up comic but thought you could never do that…you’re wrong. Here’s your chance to shine and make people laugh, including yourself. Following the 8 sessions, participants perform in an improve/comedy show they created in class at a local restaurant/club for invited friends and family. 8 weekly sessions, Mondays 6:30pm – 9:30pm for Adults

For more information or to register for a class call 732-775-0635 or visit www.ReVisionTheatre.org.
Credit Card Accepted.

ReVision Theatre is a professional regional theatre company dedicated to producing invigorating theatre with a fresh new perspective reaching the diverse community of Asbury Park and Monmouth County. ReVision Theatre produces reinventions of previously produced classics, overlooked or forgotten work in a new way, and new work with a fresh voice. The company serves as a home for local artists and writers. ReVision Theatre also believes in the importance of theatre education and teaches children and adult theatre classes. ReVision Theatre produces readings, workshops, cabarets, concerts, and mainstage productions.

Email, call or visit our website (www.RevisionTheatre.org) for more information

CONTACT: Tom Morrissey
Tom@RevisionTheatre.org
917-770-0582

FREE Get Acquainted OPEN HOUSE

FREE Get Acquainted OPEN HOUSE
Saturday, February 23 at 4PM
Meet us & Hear all about our upcoming shows, productions and classes.
VFW Hall in located at 701 Lake Ave., Asbury Park, NJ

PLEASE JOIN US...

SATURDAY February 23rd at 4:00 PM at the VFW Hall, 701 Lake Avenue
Between Bond & Main Streets, Asbury Park, NJ -
Enter on Lake Avenue and follow the signs to the downstairs meeting room.

At this meeting we'll be able to tell you more about our theatre and our plans. You’ll have a chance to meet us and hear about our upcoming productions and our theatre classes that we’ll be offering.

We'd also like to find out more about you. What your interests are, and if you'd like to get involved and participate with us we can talk about that too. There are lots of ways to get involved - on stage, back stage, taking a class, working on a committee, planning events and many other things as well. All of it will be a lot of fun and a great way to socialize with friends and to meet and make new ones too.

ReVision Theatre is a professional regional theatre company dedicated to producing invigorating theatre with a fresh new perspective reaching the diverse community of Asbury Park and Monmouth County. ReVision Theatre produces reinventions of previously produced classics, overlooked or forgotten work in a new way, and new work with a fresh voice. The company serves as a home for local artists and writers. ReVision Theatre also believes in the importance of theatre education and teaches children and adult theatre classes. ReVision Theatre produces readings, workshops, cabarets, concerts, and mainstage productions.

Email, call or visit our website (www.RevisionTheatre.org) for more information

Tom Morrissey
Tom@RevisionTheatre.org
732-775-0635

The B Plot: The story behind the store names

The B Plot: The story behind the store names
By RICHARD VIRGILIO
The Coaster

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 9, 2008 at 4:22 pm and is filed under Arts & Entertainment, Features

Did you receive a ‘message gift’ this holiday - a present that says more about how the giver feels about you than could ever be put into words?

The message can be positive (a vacation says, “I care for you and want to spend more time with you”) or negative (a hair buzzer or toaster says, well, you got it). I know people in town who got both those gifts. Hmmm.

Naturally, negative message gifts never come from the great stores in our town, however cool, innovative business names do. I was curious about the genesis of some of the names and reached out to Asbury Park’s store owners.

Pereaux
“We opened our first store in Mendham, New Jersey in 1977,” stated Dennis Fishbach, founder. “The preparation for the opening had been going on for months and months. After another long day of arranging the store, my partner and I sat down for cocktails with our graphic designer, his sister. I asked her what the prettiest letters in the alphabet were. After that, it became a drunken Scrabble game to come up with something that made sense for the name of our store. The name and its font have withstood the test of time. Pereaux worked out so well, we named our real estate arm Pereaux Deux.”

Not that you asked, but Dennis gets my vote as absolutely the most warm, engaging man in this town. He has the gift to be able to talk with anyone and make the person feel comfortable.

Trillium Antiques
“The name Trillium represents the flower and my life,” explained Kathleen Banks, owner. “It has nothing to do with Battlestar Galactica, as some people think. We lived in Vermont in the 1980’s and our yard had Trillium all over. It’s my favorite flower and represents the luckiest and most perfect number – the number three. The flower itself has three leaves and three petals. When we moved back here I had to name my business Trillium Antiques.”

Restaurant Plan B
“When Luis and I were thinking about starting a new business, we knew we wanted to be in Asbury Park,” stated Jeffrey, owner. “I first wanted to open a bed and breakfast. We decided to open a restaurant, we were at a bar-b-que and everyone kept telling us what we should name the restaurant, but all the names were so basic or boring. Friends said ‘call it Jeffrey,’ or ‘call it my daughter’s name.’ Finally, I thought that since the restaurant was my second plan for Asbury Park, I would call it Restaurant Plan B.”

Moonstruck
“I love Cher and when we saw the movie “Moonstruck” for the first time I thought it would be a great name for a restaurant some day,” stated Luke Magliaro, owner with Howard Raczkiewicz.
“Moonstruck was great for three reasons - it represented a combination of Italian American, just like our restaurant; the name had a city feel and, most importantly, it was romantic. When we moved to Asbury Park, the name was even more appropriate because you can sit on the balcony and see the moon sometimes.”

FYI, Moonstruck reopens on February 13 – just in time for a fabulous Valentine’s Day. Take your love of the moment early because Luke does not take reservations.
Esphera“Loosely translated, Esphera means ‘what goes around comes around’ in Spanish,” stated Ryan Sabatos, founder. “That philosophy is one which I live my life by and founded my business on.”

ReVision Theatre Company
“Tom, David and I brainstormed names for our theatre company for about one month,” stated Stephen Bishop Seely. “We came up with about 375 possible names, which included: Bad Neighbors Theatre Company, The Theatre Factory, The Good Fortune Company, Angels in Hell, Three’s Company and Above the Water Theatre. Because we were transforming our theatre company in New York City to a new theatre company in Asbury Park, we all agreed on ReVision. And the rest, as they say, is history.”

Cry Baby Art Gallery
“I am the type of girl that cries at anything,” stated Jennifer Graef, owner. “Good, bad, happy, sad – I cry. My tears come alive by artwork, too. If I like the artwork, I cry. Mid-2006, we were driving from an art opening in New York City. We were so excited that we were going to be opening our own gallery soon and began brainstorming gallery names. After tossing out a ton of names, we decided on Cry Baby because each piece in our gallery has such emotion.”

It’s cold out, but our businesses are hot stuff.

New e-mail for you, for me: Richard@TheBPlot.com.

Enter a Greener Limelight

Enter a Greener Limelight
The Australian
Fiona Gruber November 29, 2007

EVERY theatre has a green room, but few are green in the modern sense. With their banks of dazzling stage lights and foyers ablaze nightly, theatres are energy-hungry beasts. Add to that the costs and waste associated with sets and props and the mountains of paper generated with every production and the world of make-believe begins to look grim.

On a scale of environmental evil, a theatre company is small fry. Its glamorous cousin, film, is much more greedy (the Californian film industry is, after the oil industry, the state's second largest polluter). Nevertheless, even a stripped-back performance of Waiting for Godot leaves a carbon footprint.

At a public forum at Melbourne's Malthouse Theatre earlier this month, artistic director Michael Kantor outlined concerns and plans for improvements at his venue, including solar power, water harvesting and recycling everything from paper to the steel used in stage sets. Joining him on the platform were Cate Blanchett and Andrew Upton, who will jointly take up the artistic director role at Sydney Theatre Company in January. Although unwilling to be drawn on specific measures before they take the helm, Blanchett and Upton outlined their green philosophy.
"Theatre's role in any society is to be in engaged dialogue with the fundamental questions of the day," says Upton. "A person cannot simply talk about climate change, write plays about climate change and have forums about climate change; it's an issue that demands active engagement."
The forum, entitled Five Minutes to Midnight, was moderated by science broadcaster and writer Robin Williams and featured climate change heavyweights Don Henry, executive director of the Australian Conservation Foundation, and Grant Blashki, from Doctors for the Environment and Al Gore's nominated local presenter on climate change.

Faced with prophesies of doom if we continue on our wasteful path, will the theatre of the future return, as in Shakespeare's day, to daylight diversions under an open sky? With two theatres and backstage facilities at the Wharf in Walsh Bay, the Sydney Theatre over the road, and the Sydney Opera House's Drama Theatre, the STC's properties are a bit more lavish than an Elizabethan roundhouse.

This year, 22 productions played to an estimated 330,000 audience, administered by 102 full-time staff. Working with their landlords, the NSW Government, the new STC artistic directors aim to reduce energy consumption by 20 per cent almost immediately and to generate 60 per cent to 70 per cent of power requirements from photo-voltaic panels on the roof, design and authorities being willing.

The company's carbon footprint is in the process of being audited.

Although smaller, with three performance spaces in one building and a separate workshop, the Malthouse, a former centre of the Carlton and United Brewery beer-making operation, is an edifice from a more profligate era and bedevilled by its design.

"Like the Sydney Theatre Company, we inherited 19th-century buildings with heritage overlays," says Kantor. "The Malthouse was fitted out in the late 1980s with no concept of what was to come, in environmental terms."

The Malthouse has just launched its Greenlight Project, a combination of redesign, reduction in waste and a carbon offset scheme. An audit by RMIT students in the school of global studies, social science and planning found that the theatre generated 600 tonnes of carbon annually, equivalent to 2200 medium-sized cars.

"Sixty per cent of that is from theatre lights, they're the killer, and air-conditioning is whopping too," Kantor says. The convention is to keep the theatre at a constant 21C: he would like to see a greater audience tolerance for a wider band of temperature, between 18C and 25c. Lights generate a lot of heat. Lower wattage Source 4 lanterns are two to three times more efficient, and Kantor is waiting on a source of funding for them.

A new roof is planned, but it will be fixed over the original metal one, and further aims for the building do not include messing about with its mix of mellow red brick or exposed timber. "We don't want to disguise its beautiful character," Kantor says.

An appraisal of ecological sustainability by environmental architecture firm Design Inc points to possibilities including solar power and a shaded walkway in front of the building to reduce the need for artificial cooling inside as well as providing shelter outside. Project Andromeda, a company that helps other companies reduce their carbon footprint, has also come on board in a 12-month pro bono deal. Their services include the purchase of carbon credits for investment.

Unlike the Blanchett-Upton team, which has signalled an intention to reduce ticket prices rather than raise them, the less well-endowed Malthouse is introducing a carbon offset charge of 50c on tickets sold through the box office, and $2 on each season's subscription, in order to buy these credits.

The carbon credit scheme is not without contention: consumers can end up bearing the cost for a company that reaps the publicity benefit of looking green, without necessarily being so. Project Andromeda lists offset as the last resort, after all other areas of recycling, redesign and alternative sources of heat, cool and light, but it is a pragmatic step for companies at the beginning of a greening journey.

Even more ambitious plans are afoot in South Australia. The Adelaide Festival is claiming a world first as a CO2-free festival, a bold statement given its program stretches across 45 venues and 245 hours of events. A local company, Carbon Planet, will audit the March 2008 festival in order to assess the overall footprint, and while festival organisers plan to recycle and access green power wherever possible, a significant part of its carbon vanishing act will be through offset, a cost being passed along to ticket buyers, albeit on a voluntary basis.

If the audit includes the airfares of performers and visitors, freight costs for sets, and the tanks of petrol being consumed as audience members drive to and fro (which they will do, despite promotion of public transport alternatives) then the footprint will belong to a giant, but not a jolly green one.

The Carbon Planet deal is for the next three biennial events.

"We will try and neutralise as much as possible now and realistically identify those we can manage in the future," says Colin Coster, the festival's director of marketing and business development.

"Although it's a bit dangerous to put up our hand and say 'We're neutral', with so many partners and visiting companies, as far as the elements we manage, we will achieve neutrality, or very close."

Melbourne and Perth have new arts venues coming on stream in the next two years. In Melbourne, Ashton Raggatt McDougall's design for the new Melbourne Theatre Company venue on Southbank Boulevard, due for completion in 2009, will incorporate the latest range of
green features.

So will Kerry Hill Architects' new performing arts complex in Perth, also under construction. The daily battles with sun, bad natural ventilation, excessive water use and badly designed lighting systems should all be avoided. In a bold civic move, Perth is doing away with on-site parking, forcing punters and staff to rely on the public transport system or bicycles.
The MTC plans to buy bikes for its staff to cycle between Southbank and its refurbished rehearsal and administrative building 1km away.

Overseas, London mayor Ken Livingstone has pledged to reduce the carbon emissions of London's commercial theatres - which in 2006 had a combined revenue of pound stg. 400million ($943 million) - by 60 per cent, in line with his Climate Change Action Plan. The Arcola Theatre in Dalston, North London, is billing itself as the world's first carbon-neutral theatre.

With its initiatives, Australian theatre can also be a world leader. As Blanchett observed at the Malthouse forum, at its base, theatre is a cultural recycler of stories, narratives, and characters. It should also be able to recycle its hardware.