Research Assessment III

Date: September 22, 2016

Subject: Combining stage directing and architecture.
MLA Citation:
"Stage Craft - American Way Magazine." 2016. 22 Sep. 2016
Assessment:
In the article Stage Craft, Tom McNamee writes about the unlikely partnership of a
stage director, Michael Halberstam, and an architect, Jeanne Gang, in Chicago who are together
reinventing a form of theatre that is much more raw and real. Gang and Halberstam worked on
creating a space that would artistically display the beauty and necessity of architecture, while
creating an intimate and simplistic setting for plays, similar to Shakespeares Globe Theatre in
London, and entirely evolving into a modern inside-outside stage. This interesting duo has thus
created a space that has been received with incredible reviews and responses with almost always
sold-out performances, leading to a unique appreciation for an art form that has since been
masked by the materialistic tendencies of society.
Gang first takes advantage of the beautiful location of the theatre by making the actual
performance area lined with windows. On one specific wall there are floor to ceiling windows
and then the others have large windows surrounding the top of the space, this allows the audience
to experience the beauty of the outside world during a time where they too can escape the outside
world. She continues the beauty of simplicity by creating benched seats that move and
accommodate different sized audiences but remain minimalistic in all cosmetic and aesthetic
choices, constantly returning back to the sleek modern look. In comparison, Halberstam wanted
to ensure that the venue remained intimate, which meant putting a cap on the amount of seats at a

maximum of 255, something he felt very passionate about. He suggests that it provides the
audience a more realistic connection to the production, as well as it challenges the audience to
delve deeper into the story, immersing themselves for a moment of their lives into another's life.
Similarly, he suggests that it also helps him as a director because of how he is challenged in
directing the production and how to lead his actors as well. Halberstams small space dares the
creative mind to go places not deemed possible on a larger scale, it also focuses him to be much
more detail oriented since the audience is close enough to spot any mistake. In addition, when
directing his actors he has to challenge them to also go deeper into their character making it the
most realistic performances most of the actors have ever had, and since the audience sits on 3 out
of the 4 sides of the stage, it pushes actors to act in almost a 360 degree fashion.
This is all relevant information that I hope to test out this year in my ISM 2 journey. Last
year, I believe I had too many ideas and notions and wishes that led to something little compared
to the goal, however this year I plan to do one simple task in a simple setting hoping to create so
much more on a deeper artistic level. Halberstams venue challenged him to become a better
director by forcing his mind to find boundaries and push them. His ideas have inspired me to
think largely on a small scale, hoping to create something magnificent. I also really enjoy the
idea of the almost 360 degree performance for actors, its a form of art that has been under
appreciated and masked with the glamour of the big stage. There is something so raw and
incredible about being up close and personal with an actor while they are displaying their craft.
The transformation from actor to character is undeniably visible and breathtaking, and in my
opinion furthers the audience's experience while witnessing the production.
With all this useful information I learned from this article, I plan to utilize it while
thinking of how I want to further my directorial career this year. The plan currently is to write a

short play or a 40-minute one act and then later in the spring direct it. And now that I have
become much more appreciative of small space performances I plan to write something intimate
that will excel in a small venue and I also hope to incorporate the idea of the almost 360 degree
performance.
Halberstam and Gangs creation was incredibly helpful in aiding me realize how I plan to
take on this year in ISM. Also their personal stories and achievements are quite inspirational and
very much needed as I begin to take on a challenge while stepping way outside of my comfort
zone. In addition, I believe that their techniques beautifully married to create another wonderful
product that is once again pushing and breaking boundaries that are social norms and expanding
the creative minds of many like myself.