I was recently sitting in the Joyce Theater with a fellow photographer, discussing the mental focus it takes to shoot dance. In all honesty, you have to stay so tuned in to every minor change of movement, every single body spinning around the stage, that you rarely get a sense of the complete piece, and while the act of photographing is extremely enjoyable, it's a different type of enjoyment than the type you get from watching a show. Shooting music? A different experience altogether, as I found out when I shot the unfathomably great concert: Rated RSO at Joe's Pub.
A collection of music by the uber-talented Ryan Scott Oliver, Rated RSO still lingers in my mind over a month after I left the theater, a rare feat for anything I photograph. Perhaps this stems from the fact that when shooting music, I'm more aware of when I've taken "the shot" and can then relax a bit and listen to what's being performed. (Helps when the performers aren't constantly moving around the stage.) And what a stellar performance it was. From the cast of up-and-coming Broadway performers (not to mention the wonderful Kate Shindle, no up-and-commer) to Oliver's varied, clever collection of pop-rock showtunes it was by far the most enjoyable, well-directed musical theater concert I've been to in my years in the city.
Apparently I wasn't the only one who was impressed. Oliver's career is already starting to take off, beginning with a Playwright's Horizon reading of his show Mrs. Sharp, starring Jane Krakowski and directed by none other than Michael Greif (Rent, Next to Normal).
A collection of music by the uber-talented Ryan Scott Oliver, Rated RSO still lingers in my mind over a month after I left the theater, a rare feat for anything I photograph. Perhaps this stems from the fact that when shooting music, I'm more aware of when I've taken "the shot" and can then relax a bit and listen to what's being performed. (Helps when the performers aren't constantly moving around the stage.) And what a stellar performance it was. From the cast of up-and-coming Broadway performers (not to mention the wonderful Kate Shindle, no up-and-commer) to Oliver's varied, clever collection of pop-rock showtunes it was by far the most enjoyable, well-directed musical theater concert I've been to in my years in the city.
Apparently I wasn't the only one who was impressed. Oliver's career is already starting to take off, beginning with a Playwright's Horizon reading of his show Mrs. Sharp, starring Jane Krakowski and directed by none other than Michael Greif (Rent, Next to Normal).
(Kate Shindle (center) and cast.)
(Geoffery Kidwell, Lyle Colby Mackston and Mat Burrow)
(Morgann Karr)
(Natalie Weiss)
(Katie Gassert, Arielle Jacobs and Grace Wall)
(Cait Doyle)
(Alex Brightman)
(Jay A. Johnson)
These are great! Makes me feel like I'm right there.
Posted by: Barbara | June 19, 2009 at 08:37 AM