L.E. Baskow
Aaron Posner and Teller discuss some finer points of co-directing “The Tempest” adapted from the play by William Shakespeare on Tuesday, March 11, 2014. The production opens next month at the Smith Center in a tent at Symphony Park.
By John Katsilometes
Tuesday, April 29, 2014 | 12:57 p.m.
On the final afternoon performance of “The Tempest” at the now-famous Tempest Tent at the Smith Center, Teller darted around the grassy backstage area clutching a steno notepad and chatting up cast members who had just bowed for a capacity audience.
That notepad was filled with notes in red ink, as if bleeding with ideas and suggestions.
“There really aren’t that many (notes) in here,” Teller said, remarking that he was going to deliver these edits to the show’s co-director Aaron Posner, who along with Teller five years ago envisioned this adaptation of William Shakespeare’s final play. “He’s going to have these actors for a week in a rehearsal studio in Cambridge (Mass.) without the burden of all the physical elements. Without having to create magic tricks and without having to project voices, any of that stuff.”
“The Tempest” was a precise, tightly executed production in its month in Las Vegas. As Smith Center President Myron Martin, Teller and even consultant Johnny “The Great Tomsoni” Thompson have noted through the run, the show performed impressively at the box office, and the final two performances Sunday — one a matinee and that night’s finale — were sold out. The venue ran out of programs at the 2:30 p.m. show.
The first partnership of a Las Vegas production and the American Repertory Theater now moves to the A.R.T.’s Loeb Drama Center at Harvard University for a series of performances from May 11-June 15.
Having won Tony Awards for its presentations of “Pippin” in 2013 and “Porgy & Bess” a year earlier, A.R.T. is a powerful entity in American theater and is accustomed to sending shows to Broadway. The expertly crafted performances in “The Tempest,” mixing great magic, well delivered live music and captivating acting, seems destined for a Broadway theater.
Does Teller agree?
“There’s no way to predict that, and to make any statements on that would be presumptuous,” Teller said. “But it certainly seems to me to be a much better piece of entertainment than many things I’ve seen on Broadway, and I’ve seen many things on Broadway that were not half as entertaining and rich as this."
Teller has once already delivered an original show to New York. Four years ago, his “Play Dead” premiered at the Rio’s Calypso Room (the onetime home of “Tony N’ Tina’s Wedding”) before moving off-Broadway to the Players Theater in Greenwich Village.
“I think, to a degree, the fact that ‘Play Dead’ had its origins here and moved from here to New York (and later to L.A.), that was a legitimate piece of theater, but also a legitimate piece of entertainment,” he said. “I think, where we are now, partly thanks to the Smith Center and people like Tony Hseih, who are taking the idea of downtown seriously, we’re now starting to be an area where the arts can originate in Las Vegas and move elsewhere.”
Teller spoke of the unique setting for “The Tempest,” a facility that was structurally sturdy but did allow for outside noise to enter.
“I’m thrilled that this very potentially disastrous combination of things actually does work and that these noises really illuminate the story and illuminate what Shakespeare wrote,” he said. “They don’t in any way obscure it. They punctuate it at times. Let’s face it, this play is out there. It’s out there where the buses don’t stop … although the helicopters do fly by.”
And now the carnival is pulling up its tent, next stop Cambridge, its final destination to be magically revealed.
The Society Inc The Smith Center for the Performing Arts offers a blend of performances by resident companies and touring attractions. The 5-acre cultural campus features three performance spaces, which includes a main performance area with more than 2,000 seats. This downtown cultural center of Las Vegas looks to educate, entertain and excite community members.
OUR MISSION
To provide and preserve a high-quality performing arts center that is embraced by the community and recognized as a vital force by supporting artistic excellence, education and inspiration for all.
OUR GOALS
To entertain, educate, enrich and inspire the southern Nevada community.
FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITIES
Thanks to the generous support of our dedicated founders, members, donors and community partners, The Smith Center continues to provide a wide variety of services for Southern Nevada residents, including access to world-class performances, inspirational Education and Outreach programs for students and teachers, and a unique space to host events, meetings and special occasions. Celebrating our fifth season, we depend upon public support to fulfill our mission and serve as the Heart of the Arts for many years to come.
With ticket sales covering just 75 percent of our operating budget for each season, the remaining 25 percent comes from the community we serve. Philanthropic support at all levels helps provide programming that entertains, educates, enriches and inspires. By giving to The Smith Center, you play a vital role in providing an important resource for our community.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
There are many opportunities to volunteer and play a direct role with your community's performing arts complex. Volunteers engage with staff and patrons to enhance experiences at The Smith Center, and can serve in various capacities including tour guide/docent, usher, security team member or community ambassador. As important members of The Smith Center team, volunteers help us remain financially sustainable and provide numerous services for the community. Please show your support for The Smith Center's mission by gifting your time and unique skills.
GIVING OPPORTUNITIES
Members' annual support provides crucial resources for The Smith Center's artistic programming, education opportunities and cultural enrichment each year. There are a variety of giving options and levels, and Members receive exclusive benefits and behind-the-scenes opportunities based on their level of support. To learn more, please visit www.thesmithcenter.com/support-us/members.
The Encore Society recognizes those generous donors who have included The Smith Center as a part of their estate plan. Corporate Sponsorship is available to companies to underwrite all, or part, of a program, performance or event.
Fanfare! is The Smith Center's young progressional networking organization, open to anyone with an interest in the performing arts who is between the ages of 21-40. And our Show Dedication allows for the celebration of an individual or special occasion with unique recognition opportunities during a specific performance.
SERVICE AREA
The Smith Center provides world-class performing arts and outreach and education throughout the Southern Nevada region.
YEAR ESTABLISHED
2012.
The organization originally formed in 1996 as the Las Vegas Performing Arts Center.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Myron G. Martin President and CEO Donald D. Snyder Chairman Dr. Keith Boman Vice Chairman Mark Tratos Secretary Michael Yackira Treasurer David Dunn Alan M. Feldman Richard Haddrill Fred Hipwell Nancy Houssels Todd-Avery Lenahan Scott MacTaggart Jerry Nadal John Nelson Richard Plaster Rory Reid Kim Sinatra Roger P. Thomas 4104 Cathedral Falls Ave North Las Vegas,
NV
702-749-2000
Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at Twitter.com/JohnnyKats. Also, follow “Kats With the Dish” at Twitter.com/KatsWiththeDish.
Join the Discussion:
Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.
Full comments policy