If you have 30 minutes to spare, check out "Theater People," a web series created by Matthew Anderson. He wrote, directed and edited ten episodes about the drama behind drama. It's all locally made – which is important these days, right? At least when it comes to garden produce.
Anderson had toiled for many years in the Twin Cities theater market and then took a stab at Los Angeles. He came back but has put his energy behind a camera. The concept here is just to lampoon the quirks and tics of theater life. But it all feels friendly and cheeky as it lands its punches – kind of like Kate Wetherhead's "Submissions Only."
Theaters, private homes and public streets provide cost-free locations and the actors in "Theater People" are doing it mostly for fun.
And it is fun. Stacia Rice and Steve Sweere play former spouses who still run Theatre Unhinged. Sweere is an aging lothario auditioning potential Juliets to his Romeo – but really just trying to make out with young women. Rice's character watches with simmering but controlled rage. In another scenario, Mark Mattison does a florid and pompous director crafting an original production that he is says is based on the work of Aleister Crowley. Jane Froiland, Jen Rand, Matt Sciple, Katie Willer and Sara Marsh all contribute.
There are ten episodes on the web site, each about eight minutes long. Anderson would like to put together another season and is hoping for some real funding this time. It's definitely worth having a look and supporting.
