A new play in St. Louis, currently untitled, will be produced in December 2012 that integrates social media into the live performance on stage. The author of the play, Romeo, commented, “To me, one of the most interesting things about the rise of social media...is the way it has turned the communication of information from a one-way into a multi-way conversation. It struck me as interesting that most theater is still a one-way conversation, and I started thinking about ways to get the audience actively involved in commenting on or even shaping the direction of a piece of theater in real time, as it was going on."
I’m sure this will not be the only play or performance piece produced with this intention, especially by Dec. 2012, but it is an interesting step that the arts are taking in order to break some of the natural divide between audience and performer.
So, I initially thought this sounded great, progressive, and sort of thought – finally, the arts are trying to get up to speed with technology, but after talking this over with the 60-year-old development director at my old internship, she brought up some good points. Why does social media have to make its way into live performance? What is wrong with turning off our devices and “social media brain” and escaping into the world of theatre or dance or music? She was very adamant that ‘that is the point of many performances– to bring us into a different world, for us to find quiet space, to reflect on the scene, movement, or expression. Art takes time.’ I found her point very interesting and I started to swing the other way, getting defensive about allowing this in the theatre until I ran into the Dean of Fine Arts at Boston University. He loves bringing in his ipad to the symphony. He’s a trained musician and gets so much joy out of reading the score of music while hearing the symphony play. Now here’s a point where technology is enhancing an audience member’s experience.
Recently, Julie Taymor, original writer of “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark,” gave the artist perspective on social media and the arts, claiming that it’s very hard to create work when you are under a microscope and “it’s very scary if people are going to move towards having audiences tell you how to make a show.”
So what do we do? Do we allow devices into the theatre and provide wi-fi to all and for those who wish not to be connected, they can still choose not to? Do we section off theatres so that the first third is for the quiet and contemplative, the second third for devices, and the last third for the people who want to duck in and out or have a drink or chat with someone instead of paying full attention? I’m really curious how all this could either bring the performing arts a new audience or how it could deter theatre lovers from attending? Also, are the arts really ahead or catching up – Dec. 2012, c’mon! Are the arts trying to make something fit into their art form that really doesn’t belong or could this just be a new art in itself?
I’d be very curious to hear anyone else’s opinion on this, especially those not from an arts background.
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