A Reflection
So, my time in NYC has come to an end. And I think it is only fitting to reflect on my time here with a series of haikus. Note that each period ends a line (Haikus can be cool. But sometimes they don’t make sense. Refrigerator).
Sunrise brings the fire. Sunset brings the hurricane. The city is wild.
Lunch at the park. Dinner on 42nd. Breakfast on the go.
I love the office. Bright ideas and faces. Opportunities.
Burgers and milkshakes? Shake Shack is the place to be. Go there all the time.
Backstage at Broadway. The New York Time newsroom floor. On top of the world.
Make the most of it. Summer is a memory. History is ours.
Key Findings
There is so much to be said about Broadway. Even after studying it for the entire summer, it feels as though I have barely scratched the surface. I chose to focus mainly on the history of the district, but there is so much else to study when it concerns Broadway. There’s the history of American theatre and the American musical. There’s the rise and fall of famed actors and actresses. The list goes on and on. But through my research, this is what I have found out about Broadway:
My historical research led me through the birth of theatre in New York City all the way to the present day. It showed that the theatre district has not only been able to adapt to the changing city, it has been a force for social change itself. The very first class riot in the city was started because of two theatres (one for the lower class and one for the upper) mounted the same production. The people involved in theatre have always understood that in order to be successful, the district has to be in the heart of the city, so while it was originally in Union Square, they were more than willing to move north to Times Square as the city continued to expand.
Through observation, it was easy to get caught up in the mystique of Broadway. After all, this is the Great White Way. There is so much energy and excitement in the air; it really is infectious. This is especially potent if you visit Times Square right before the shows start, as there is something really special about walking through that area with a ticket in your hand to see the next big thing in theatre. While just sitting at one of the tables, I saw so many people who were whipping their heads around, trying to take in all of Times Square. I stood next to lines of people waiting to get into theatres, discussing their excitement. The area is very high energy, and most people tend to fall in love with it.
That is, except for the people who actually live in the city. That was one of my biggest observations. New Yorkers avoid Times Square like the plague, because it is very much a tourist destination, with little else going on. The only time you’ll see locals in the area is right before shows, as New Yorkers love the theatre more than tourists. Outside of that, they stay away.
My interviews gave me insight into people’s first impressions, as well as what it is like to live in the area and work in the business. Brooke, the girl who was visiting the city for the first time, explained to me that, to her, Times Square had always been the pinnacle of life and excitement, and finally being here has shown her that she was right. Frank, the doorman at the St. James, told me about how Broadway is still evolving today and how change in the industry is what leads to the creation of new classics like Wicked. And finally Ari, who runs a chauffeur service for Broadway stars, told me about how living and breathing Broadway is fantastic, but it is important to balance that with other aspects of the city. These perspectives show that the area is very complex, and can be extremely overwhelming.
Through conducting my research, I found that it was difficult to not be moved by my own biases about the area. I personally have a love/hate relationship with Times Square. I am fond of it because it is the center of American theatre, and I really dislike that it is nothing more than a tacky, oversized mall. However, what I did to avoid my bias was to see the area through other people’s eyes, like Brooke’s. It was very important for me to be objective in that I wanted to fully understand every opinion of the area, rather than seek out people who’s opinion’s matched my own.
In the end, I have found that the area is one that is rich in history and consistent change, and that there is a new shift in ideals that is on the horizon. Broadway is changing once more, and with it, I believe that the touristy landscape of Times Square might eventually become a distant memory, replaced by an area that everyone wants to visit, rather than just people who come from out of town. Broadway is not afraid to adapt, and it will be very exciting to see what comes next for the district.
My Interviews
So in continuing our ethnography project, we were asked to conduct interviews of people in our area. Part of this process involves transcribing the interviews in order to prove that we actually did them. Unfotunately, none of the people I interviewed were comfortable with me taking their picture or recording the conversation, so I’m going to have to sort of outline the interviews rather than transcribe word for word.
My first interview was also the one that I told the story from, earlier in my blog. Brooke told me about how this was her first time in the city, and all about her dreams of being on broadway someday. I don’t feel the need to go into a lot more detail, as it is all in the story I told earlier in the blog. For the other two interviews, it willl be a lot more comprehensive.
After talking to Brooke in the line for TKTS, I headed along 44th street and wandered around near the theatres for Memphis, American Idiot, and Billy Elliot. There, I met Frank, a doorman at the St. James theatre. He has been working there for around 3 years. He began in the spring of 2008, just as the Producers was coming to a close. It was his first time working in a broadway theatre, so he was extremely excited to help end the run of such a huge show. I mostly talked to him about the progression of shows that have come through the St. James, and his thoughts about the future of Broadway. With shows coming out like American Idiot and Next to Normal, it seems as though Broadway is heading in some very new directions, and I have been very interested in hearing the industry’s take on this. Frank, also an aspiring actor, believes that it is fantastic that the Broadway formula is coming apart. ”It’s time for a change,” he said. ”The classic Broadway formula musicals will remain classics, so let’s start trying new things. After all, that’s how the original classics were born.”
He told me about the reactions he hears from people as they exit the theatre after seeing American Idiot. He feels that the public has reacted to the show extremely well, and even if it isn’t doing as well as it could be, it has shown that change is on the horizon, and it isn’t as frightening as you might think. He also told me a little about his job, which is basically checking people’s tickets and standing by the doors to ensure that the whole entering/exiting the theatre process happens safely. He has had to help deal with one or two fights, as alcohol is served in the theatre, and so a few patrons have been rowdy at points.
So after talking with Frank fro about a half hour, I thanked him and went on my way. I then met up with Ari, a friend who runs a concierge/chauffeur service for Broadway stars. He talked to me about running a business in the industry. Because he deals with customer service, he is basically working 24/7, and his office is actually part of his apartment. A lot of what his company does is provide limo service for big name Broadway actors and actresses. His favorite story has to do with Promises Promises. He just loves how nice the lead actors are, and how appreciative they are of everyone involved in the process. Sean Hayes especially. Sean loves to chat with the drivers backstage. He makes everyone feel welcome (something I can attest to, as when I was backstage, he walked right up to me and said hello). The important thing about actually working on Broadway is to not get starstruck. Everyone is there to do a job, and what is appreciated is respect, not accolades. Being kind and professional is what is going to get you places, not fawning over famous people. Ari and I also talked a little bit about living in the city. He told me that it is important to have interests outside the theatre. To do things like find a sport to play or go out on the town. Just keep yourself out and exploring the city, don’t restrict yourself to one area, no matter how much you love it.
So those were my three interviews. i learned a lot, and I had a great time talking to all three. It was a shame that none of them would let me post their picture , but so it goes.
Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better…
…but because I knew you, I have been changed for good.
A lot has changed about me this summer. I’ve done a fair amount of growing up, and some realizing that I have along way to go before I’m ready to enter the real world.
When I went into my internship, I can honestly say that I didn’t expect to get much out of it. I’m a film/tech theatre major, so I assumed that there wouldn’t be anything for me at a PR agency. Boy was I wrong. They immediately set me up as a video editor, and I was given project after project to work on. I edited videos for some really major clients, so that was a really big plus for me.
I’ve learned that I am very good at dealing with pressure. I was handed some very big projects with extremely fast turnarounds, and I was able to edit them to a quality that pleased the client. I think what this has taught me is that there are ways for me to apply my skills across a wide variety of areas, and that just because I’m a filmmaker doesn’t mean that I need to work for a production company. Working at Attention has been a great example of that.
This class has taught me that New York City is the place where I absolutely need to be. The energy of the city is so infectious, and I really felt like I belonged. I can see myself living in Chelsea and heading to work for either some hip trendy new Ad/PR agency, or catching the subway up to broadway to work backstage.
I know that in 10 years I’m going to be living in the city, having the time of my life, and I’m going to look back on this summer and be so thankful that I was given the opportunity to discover exactly where I wanted to be.
Berliner Plätze
For this week’s big blog assignment, we had to find a piece of art in the Guggenheim that best represents our street. I have chosen Julie Mehretu’s “Berliner Plätze” as the piece of art that best represents the Theatre District.
Berliner Plätze, by Julie Mehretu
To get a real idea of what this is, you need to click on it and view it in full size. Prepare to be amazed.
I chose this image because, rather than pick out some odd performance video or photograph, I wanted to find something that shows the chaos of the area. Times Square and the Theatre District are crowded. It’s noisy. It’s busy. And everyone is climbing on top of each other.
The intersecting buildings in this painting (yes, it is a painting, I promise) are a great metaphor for all that life crashing together in my district. There is so much to see, so much to do, it is all overwhelming. And when we step back from it to examine, (as this painting is GIGANTIC), it all blurs together. it is not till we take the time to stop and look closely that things become clear.
Yet there is precision in this work. Everything has been drawn perfectly, with each line straight and constructed to the highest level of detail. It is all purposeful, and I feel that my area is just the same. While everything in Times Square seems chaotic, there is an organization to all of it. It all fits in place, just right, each billboard and store sandwiched between the others with precision.
I hope this painting gives you the same sort of emotional reaction it gave me, which was that I was instantly rendered dumbfounded when I realized what was going on. Just like I was when I saw Times Square for the first time.
A Good Deed
Hey everyone! So for one of this week’s blog assignments, we are supposed to think of a good deed we can perform on 9/11 in honor of the amazing acts of volunteerism that happened that day. Then we have to post what we are going to do both here and on Day of Service.
I think that, as an RA (Residential Associate, or someone in charge of a dorm building), a great thing for me to do would be to get my residents involved. So I want to take a group of my residents to help volunteer at the Boys and Girls Club, in order to help out kids after school. I think it is important for us to give to the youngest generation, as their development is so important to our future. I’d also like it to be a monthly trip, because 9/11 is not the only day people should perform acts of service.
A Tour Guide’s Look at Times Square
A map of broadway theatres
Hey everybody! I’m here to give you a little run-down on the history of Times Square. The first thing you should know is that Times Square is part of a larger area known as the Theatre District. This area is defined as the area between 40th and 53rd Streets running north and south, and 6th and 8th Avenues running east and west.
Around the time of the Revolutionary War, the area was owned by John Morin Scott. Scott lived in a manor on what is know 43rd Street. In fact, the district was Scott’s farmland, which he used for growing crops and breeding horses.
John Jacob Astor
In the early 1800’s, John Jacob Astor purchased the area from Scott. Astor is known as the first multi-millionaire in US History. Astor garnered a huge profit from the land when he sold it off in parcels to hotels and other real estate ventures as the city grew farther north from the tip of the island.
Due to the city’s rapid growth, the subway system needed to expand as well, and with it came the 42nd Street station.
42nd Street Station
This station became the intersection for most trains in the system, and thus became a hub of transportation. With this, Longacre Square began development above it.
Also growing with the city, the New York Times decided that it needed a bigger office, and so set up shop in Longacre Square. Due to the notoriety of the building, the area soon became referred to as Times Square, and the name has stuck ever since.
1 Times Square, back in 1908
The NY Times no longer occupies 1 Times Square, as the paper continued its rapid expansion and that building also became too small.
In the early 1900’s, the original theatre district, located in Union Square, moved up to 42nd Street because it was a center for transportation and because the city was expanding so much that it was an easier location for patrons to travel to.
In the 1920’s, the area became known as “The Tenderloin,” as it was the most desirable place in the city. This is also when vaudeville was born, and the area became known for such celebrities as the composer Irving Berlin, Fred Astaire, and Charlie Chaplin.
In the late 1920’s the area became overrun by crime and corruption. It also became the center for prostitution in the city. Times Square garnered a very bad reputation, and so people no longer visited the area unless they were going to see a show. This reputation continued on into the mid 1990’s, when Mayor Giuliani decided that the area needed a major clean-up.
ABC Entertainment, Times Square
Giuliani brought in a large amount of police force to the area to deter the crime, and then encouraged family friendly businesses like Hershey’s and ABC to open up in Times Square.
In 2009, Mayor Bloomberg decided to close off many of the lanes of traffic through the square to make it safer for the masses of pedestrians. He turned these areas into little plazas.
The original New Year's Eve ball
So that’s the history. Another big part of Times Square is New Year’s Eve. New Year’s in NYC has become
the premier celebration around the globe. It is famed for the ball drop, which began on December 31, 1907. Back then, the ball was made of Waterford crystal!
Another interesting thing to note is that Times Square makes $69 million a year in ad revenue from the gigantic billboards that cover the area. This is the most revenue of any single area for advertising around the world. The Kodak billboard alone costs the company $2 million a year.
My favorite moment in Times Square is more of a place than a moment, and that place is the TKTS booth. The TKTS booth is a place where you can find discount tickets to almost any show on Broadway. It has allowed me to see so many fantastic shows this summer, and it is such a staple of the area.
As for you, if I were to recommend anything to do in this area, it would be to go see a show. Walk up to the TKTS booth, pick a show that you know very little about, and get taken into an experience that you will never forget. There is no place on earth like Broadway, and there never will be.
So that’s the tour! I can only hope you had as much fun as I did, and that you learned at least one new thing about Times Square.
A Story about Broadway, taken from an interview
Note: This is a story I was told by a girl I met in line at TKTS. I think it is a great example of how people perceive Broadway when visiting for the first time, and so I have done a wee bit of embellishing to add some flow to it all, but this is basically what she told me:
I hate airplanes. I hate how uncomfortable the seats are, I hate the fat, smelly people around me, I hate the falsely cheerful stewards, and I especially hate that I have been sitting on the tarmac for an hour, waiting to finally go to New York City.
Okay. Back up. I don’t really hate airplanes. I’m just anxious, that’s all. See, I’ve never been to the city before and I’ve always wanted to go. I hate to sound like a clichéd romantic, but I’ve always been in love with the city. The buildings, the lights, the people, they’re all like a dream. It’s the center of the world, the universe even.
I grew up watching all those classic films that take place in the city. You know, ones like Breakfast at Tiffany’s and The Godfather. Eclectic taste, right? Anyway, seeing those movies has convinced me that New York is where I need to spend the rest of my life. How could I not? What with all the glamour and drama, it just seems like the right fit for me.
I haven’t introduced myself yet, have I? I’m Brooke. Just your typical 20 year old college student looking to figure out where she stands in the world. Gearing up for my junior year, so I decided that it was high time to see if I could actually live in the city of my dreams. My parents agreed and so they let me pack my bags and head to the city for two weeks.
Now, as much as I love all of the city, my favorite place has to be Broadway. Yeah, I know, it’s stupid to pick a favorite place in the city when I’ve never even been there, but I’ve always loved theatre. I’m not much of a singer, and my acting isn’t on the same level as Johnny Depp or Helen Mirren, but I’ve been to every show at the local playhouse since I was about seven. So I think it’s okay for me to say that I’m most looking forward to seeing at least one show while I’m in the city.
That is, if this plane would ever take off. Geez. It’s like being stuck in traffic except that I’m stuck here with a hundred other people who aren’t afraid to complain in my ear.
“This is completely unacceptable. Can you believe how long we’ve been sitting here?” says the woman sitting next to me. I do my best to ignore her and stay focused on the tacky catalogue they have on every flight, but it gets pretty hard after she starts poking me, trying to get a response. Thankfully we hit the runway and take to the sky.
Made it to LaGuardia. Man, this place is a dump. I mean, I’ve been to my fair share of airports and this one is just awful. It needs some rehab stat. So I get my luggage and prep myself for the first time I’ll ever have to hail a cab. Thankfully, they’re just lined right up at the exit waiting, so I just had to hop right in one.
Oh my God. This city. It’s so much cooler in person. All the buildings and lights and people on tv are nothing compared to the real thing. My hotel is kinda small and cheap but I could care less because I AM IN NEW YORK!!!! Of course I’m heading straight for Times Square. It’s only 3:00 and I might be able to land tickets to a show tonight.
Okay so Times Square. Kinda smells like pee. But still really cool! All the billboards and shops and stuff were so cool. But my favorite thing was TKTS. This place is awesome! I got a ticket to see American Idiot tonight and I can’t wait! All I can do now is wander up and down the street, trying to take in everything from the Forever 21 billboard that takes your picture to the M&Ms store that is literally bursting with fun things to buy. And I get to see my first Broadway show! Word’s can’t describe how excited I am.
Wow. Wowowowowowowow. That show was amazing. The lights, the set, the sound, the cast, I can’t even begin to describe it all. I was just blown away. From the moment I sat down in my seat at the St. James to after I left, it was easily the best night of my life. I really felt like I was a part of the show, from signing my name on the wall in the lobby to just getting wrapped up in the energy of the cast.
And I got to meet John Gallagher Jr! I stayed after to stand by the stage door to get some of the cast to sign my program. They were all really nice and were so glad to hear that I enjoyed the show. I know that, as actors, they could easily be lying, but at the very least they do a good job of making everyone in the audience feel happy and special. Then John came out. I thanked him for the show and he gave me a big hug! It was the best.
Okay. Calm down time. I got caught up in it all for a second there. But I mean that’s the point of Broadway, isn’t it? To feel like you’re a star. All I know is that I had a lot of fun at the show and I can’t wait to see something else. Which is why I’m lined up outside TKTS once more. Mulling around in the ridiculous heat with everyone else. There’s this poor woman in front of me who looks like she’s going to pass out. And behind me is this kid who keeps taking pictures of everything.
Today I’m hoping to get tickets to West Side Story. I saw it back in my hometown (did I tell you where I lived? No? I’m from Tuscon, Arizona) but I really want to see it on the Great White Way.
Hey, there’s that kid with the camera. It looks like he wants to talk to me. I wonder what he wants?
Showman Fabricators
Last Monday, one of the places we went to visit was Showman Fabricators. This, to me, was easily one of the coolest visits we have made all summer, as it is pretty much exactly what I’m going to be doing at some point in my life. Showman is a scene shop, meaning they build scenery for Broadway, Television, and miscellaneous events.
For me, this visit was all about seeing how people work in a professional scene shop. I wanted to see some new techniques and ideas that we could bring back to Elon and implement in our own shop to make things more efficient. I also wanted to get their point of view on working with designers.
25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
First I think we should talk about the work that they do. For Broadway, they have built such shows as The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Waiting for Godot, Hair, and The Little Mermaid. For Televison they have done countles sets for sports related shows, as well as news. And under miscellaneous we can file the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
HAIR
So, as for some things that go on in the shop that I found interesting: 1. Everything in the shop is on wheels, so that the space can be reorganized whenever needed. 2. They are able to build the entire set to completion inside the shop before loading it into a broadway house or tv studio. 3. They use a great peer pressure system to ensure that all tools are returned (no one leaves till they are all back on the tool racks). 4. They have one of these.
So on top of that, I talked to the Vice President about what he looks for in a scenic designer. I think it is very important for me, as a designer, to know what other people expect from me as far as attitude and the general qualities I should have as a collaborator. I was told that his ideal designer is smart. I need to know not only exactly what I want, but I should also know what is important and what isn’t. I should be fairly hands on, visiting the shop early and often in the process.So these are some things I plan on working on this year as I move forward as a designer. To really nail down the collaborative aspect of design.
A Reflection on Interviewing
Yesterday, as part of the day’s activities, we had to go out to our area of the city and conduct some interviews of people in the area. As my area was the theatre district, I headed up to Times Square.
When I arrived, I looked around and thought about what would be the best way to approach someone to interview them. Then I noticed the extremely long line at TKTS. I figured that since I had so much time, the best way to meet new people would be to wait in line with them. I’ve found that people who are waiting in line for something are more willing to talk to you than if they are on the go. So I jumped in line. About two or three minutes into the line, the couple in front of me began complaining about the heat (it was pretty much sweltering). So I began talking to them first about the weather, and then from there moved into why they were here in the city, and then what they thought of broadway.
Talking to them about how they see Broadway ( a place of glamour and art and entertainment), really served as a great way to show how the rest of the country sees this area. This couple had never been to the city before, and had always dreamed of going, and here they were, surrounded by bright lights and the excitement of Broadway. ”This is the place to be,” they said, “and now we’re here.”
Talking to this couple made me think about how lucky I am to be here this summer. It’s so easy to take it for granted, but the things I’ve been able to do and see have been invaluable to me and where I see myself in the future. They were right, this is most certainly the place to be.
