<![CDATA[Nick Gabriel Online - BLOG]]>Sun, 08 Feb 2026 23:42:49 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[11/21/20]]>Sat, 21 Nov 2020 16:32:44 GMThttps://www.nickgabriel.net/blog1/112120
]]><![CDATA[June 09th, 2020]]>Fri, 03 Jul 2020 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.nickgabriel.net/blog1/june-09th-2020Professionalism

Phrases We Should Work to Eliminate]]><![CDATA[June 26th, 2020]]>Fri, 26 Jun 2020 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.nickgabriel.net/blog1/june-26th-2020List of queer, black playwrights. Add Mfoniso Udofia, Lydia Diamond, Christina Anderson, Colman Domingo, 

List of Queer Black Playwrights
List of Must-Read Black Plays

]]><![CDATA[June 19th, 2020]]>Fri, 19 Jun 2020 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.nickgabriel.net/blog1/june-19th-2020Kristin Linklater, author of Freeing the Natural Voice and iconic educator whose work was taught and practiced throughout the world, died Friday, June 5th, 2020.

Mary Overlie, originator of the Six Viewpoints, died on the same day. Although Anne Bogart and Tina Landau further developed the system, The Viewpoints are principles of movement that were conceived by Overlie as an improvisational framework for generating choreography and theatrical staging. These principles, which are widely taught and practiced, allow choreographers, directors, and actors to share a vocabulary in their collaborative processes. 

I first learned the Linklater Technique as an undergraduate and I cannot honestly say it had the transformative impact on me that it seems to have on other young actors. But that's precisely what I appreciate about it - it systematizes the practice of vocalization in simple terms, essentially demystifying the process by which the vocal mechanism functions. 

My first substantial experience with viewpoints occurred several years later as a graduate student. I believe that some educators attempted to teach me at least some of the viewpoints prior to that, but not with any practical clarity that I was able to draw upon in my own work. As a graduate student, however, I was rigorously put through my paces by a guest director who trained at SITI Company who incorporated viewpoints in every collaborative process she facilitated. It was also then that I learned there are a total of fourteen viewpoints, eight of which were later added by Bogart.
]]><![CDATA[June 15th, 2020]]>Mon, 15 Jun 2020 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.nickgabriel.net/blog1/june-15th-2020Is de-commodification the answer?

Streaming or broadcasting an ancient art form is a stop-gap solution that may have long-term consequences. Producers must think very clearly about what's really at stake by freely distributing productions online that were meant to be experienced live.

​As "stay-at-home" orders are lifted, even if producers take extensive precautionary measures on behalf of patrons, we must think critically about how we'll attract patrons back into our theaters, not because they're afraid we haven't taken precautionary measures on their behalf, but because we've already given them ​

In an article published to ​https://theconversation.com, Dr. Caitlin Vincent eloquently describes the pitfalls of moving live programming online:
"In this climate, digital content may be the only means for sustaining the sector in the medium-term. But a problematic precedent has been set. 
In the initial panic of moving their artistic offerings online, companies have undervalued their own product. In this regard, we can see clear parallels with the newspaper industry’s shift to online platforms over the last decade. After initially offering online news for free, the industry is still struggling to shift consumer expectations, with major repercussions for both journalists and papers.
To survive, arts organisations must establish a monetised business strategy for online performances and presentations. But this shift must be navigated carefully, particularly by companies that began with an open-access model and now risk alienating audience members."
Joe Haj, artistic director of the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, delivers a powerful, heartfelt message on the importance of live performance. 
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