Broom Street Theater Explained

Broom Street Theater
Address:1119 Williamson Street
City:Madison, Wisconsin
Coordinates:43.0821°N -89.3653°W
Owner:Broom Street Theater
Capacity:50 to 99
Opened:August 12, 1977 (building)
Yearsactive:1969–present
Currentuse:Live theater, music and dance performance

Broom Street Theater (also known as Broom Street or BST) is an experimental black box theater located in the heart of Madison's isthmus. As one of the oldest and most prolific experimental theater companies in the United States, it has produced over 350 original works.[1] [2] [3] Productions are most frequently written and directed by local playwrights and artists, who are able to realize their vision without censorship of content or presentation.[4] [5] Broom Street Theater is a 501(c)(3) member-run non-profit which currently produces nine to ten plays per year.

History

Foundation and early years

Broom Street Theater was founded by Stuart Gordon in early 1969 in reaction to censorship attempts by the University of Wisconsin-Madison on Gordon's on-campus theater troupe, Screw Theater. The controversy surrounding nudity in the production of Peter Pan had received national attention in the fall of 1968.[6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] BST's first public performance, a reinterpretation of Lysistrata, occurred on May 9, 1969, after a several-months delay due to legal action by the Dane County District Attorney.[14] [15] [16] Gordon left Broom Street after its first production, founding the Organic Theater Company, which moved to Chicago in 1970. Broom Street Theater has never performed on Broom Street, but takes its name from the location of its first rehearsal space, the third story of the Heeb warehouse,[17] condemned and demolished by the City of Madison in 1969 to make way for a left-turn lane onto University Avenue.[18]

After Lysistrata closed, Gordon ended his involvement with Broom Street, and a search was made for his replacement. Until June 1970, the theater's organization was fluid and changing, in a variety of administrative styles. Don Hilgenberg served as artistic director for several months in late 1969, and in 1970 there was an aesthetics committee selecting plays. In June 1970, Joel Gersmann began serving as artistic director. A search committee had previously selected him to direct the theater's second play, Woyzeck, in July 1969. Gersmann would serve as artistic director until his death in 2005.[19] [20] [21]

After performing in several locations around the UW-Madison campus, the theater found a semi-permanent home in the basement of St. Francis House, 1001 University Avenue, performing there from 1970 until 1975. In late 1974, a visiting bishop witnessed a performance of The Song of Bernadette, where an excessive amount of Oreo cookies, representing communion wafers, were stuffed into an actress' mouth portraying Saint Bernadette Soubirous. In the summer of 1975, the theater's use of performance space at St. Francis House came to an end, due to the controversy generated by Bernadette.[22] The theater's time at St. Francis House included film and video projects, a literary magazine, and performance tours on UW System campuses around the state,[23] and nationally.[24] [25] [26]

Permanent home

After leaving St. Frances House, the theater focused for two years on purchasing its own building, culminating in the acquisition of an old radiator repair shop at 1119 Williamson Street.[27] [28] The theater's main energies were and continue to be devoted to producing original theater in this space. The number of plays produced expanded to 7 shows per year with 6 week runs. BST has gone on to produce over 250 original productions since taking ownership of the building. During this period, dozens of new playwright/directors premiered their works at BST.[29]

Post-Gersmann

The passing of Joel Gersmann required a substantial change to the organization of the theater, as he had been solely responsible for its management for 35 years. Callen Harty was appointed Artistic Director in July 2005,[30] while the board of directors took a more active role in running the organization. By early 2006, the theater's articles of incorporation and bylaws were rewritten to make it a member-run organization with direct election of board members.[31] Later that year, the roles of Technical Director and Development Director were established, completing this transitional phase.[32]

In October 2010, Callen Harty resigned as Artistic Director, succeeded by Heather Renken. Under Renken, the theater switched its format to a ten-show season with four-week runs.[33] [34] Doug Reed became the Artistic Director in 2017.[35]

Critical response

Especially early on, Broom Street style and Gersmann style were seen as one and the same. This style was frequently criticized for the shows being too long, being unpolished in the writing, the actors screaming their lines and playing multiple roles, and repeating themes ad nauseam.[36] [37] [38] Criticism has sometimes manifested itself in the concept of a "typical Broom Street" show,[39] [40] [41] [42] [43] [44] [45] often used in a negative light by reviewers. Despite this, the theater has received positive reviews from alternative and mainstream press and was invited to tour numerous times in its early years.[46] [47] [48]

Notable people

Like Stuart Gordon, many BST members went on to found other theaters through the years, among them Proud Theater,[49] Organic Theater, Tapit New Works,[50] [51] Mercury Players Theater, Dysfunctional Theatre,[52] and Insurgent Theater.[53]

Aside from Gordon and Gersmann, some of Broom Street's noteworthy actors, playwrights, and directors include:

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Rhem. James. Ever-changing, challenging drama. The Capital Times. May 7, 1982. Madison, Wisconsin. 25, 27.
  2. News: Goff. Nadine. 'Freaks' is Broom Street's 200th. "Rhythm" section of Wisconsin State Journal and The Capital Times. March 5, 1998. Madison, Wisconsin. 4.
  3. Web site: A radical experiment: Broom Street Theater marks 50 years of living on the edge. 17 October 2019. February 14, 2020.
  4. News: Lynch. Kevin. Feisty Broom Street 25 and going strong. The Capital Times. April 21, 1994. Madison, Wisconsin. 1F, 3F.
  5. Web site: BST mission statement. February 14, 2020.
  6. News: Student Production Goes Back to Never-Never Land. Winona Daily News. September 25, 1968. Winona, Minnesota. 18.
  7. News: This is 'Peter Pan'? Nudes enliven tale. The Arizona Republic. September 25, 1968. Phoenix, Arizona. 17.
  8. News: Student takeoff no puton. Chronicle-Telegram. October 2, 1968. Elyria, Ohio. 18.
  9. News: Nude Coeds Depict Innocence in Wisconsin's 'Peter Pan'. Bennington Banner. October 1, 1968. Bennington, Vermont. 5.
  10. News: Nude Coeds' Musical Role Debated. Oakland Tribune. September 25, 1968. Oakland, California. E5.
  11. News: Peter Pan in the Nude Too Raw for University of Wisconsin Officials. El Paso Herald-Post. September 25, 1968. El Paso, Texas. 11.
  12. News: "Peter Pan" Controversial. Panama City News-Herald. September 29, 1968. Panama City, Florida. 5A.
  13. News: U. Of Wisc. Nude Scene In 'Peter Pan' A Surprise. Evening Observer. September 25, 1968. Dunkirk-Fredonia, New York. 18.
  14. News: Dieckmann. June. Lack of Witnesses Causes D.A. to Drop 'Peter Pan' Charges. Wisconsin State Journal. December 4, 1968. Madison, Wisconsin. 1–2.
  15. News: 'Lysistrata:' Act II: City Review Planned. Wisconsin State Journal. May 15, 1969. Madison, Wisconsin. 1, Section 6.
  16. News: Heinberg. Nancy. Gripping Story Of 'Lysistrata' Invades 20th Century. The Capital Times. May 10, 1969. Madison, Wisconsin. 9.
  17. Web site: Diemer. Melvin E.. Heeb Company Warehouse. December 2003. Wisconsin Historical Society. April 13, 2013.
  18. News: Notice To Bidders. The Capital Times. May 29, 1969. 10. Legal Notices.
  19. News: Waxman. Howard. Gersmann of Broom Street Part I. The Isthmus. October 8–14, 1976. Madison, Wisconsin. 3, 5.
  20. News: Gersmann. Joel. An interview with the creative self. The Daily Cardinal (UW-Madison). August 21–25, 1972. Madison, Wisconsin. 13.
  21. News: Broom Street Theater WIBA Topic. The Capital Times. December 11, 1969. editorial staff. Madison, Wisconsin. 3 (entertainment section?).
  22. Levin, Daniel. April 2012 . Filthy Theater: A Film About Joel Gersmann . Motion picture.
  23. News: Ruff. Wilson. 'Shakespeare' Updated. Daily Northwestern. May 3, 1972. Oshkosh, Wisconsin. 8.
  24. News: Winn. Steven. The best of Bumbershoot. the Weekly. August 25–31, 1976. Seattle, Washington. 19.
  25. News: Pollack. Joe. Plays On Prison Life, Baseball. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. February 7, 1977. St. Louis, Missouri. 4D.
  26. News: Vandenberg. Harvey L.. Fear Strikes Out At Hum Center. The Bachelor (Wabash College). February 11, 1977. Crawfordsville, Indiana.
  27. Levin, Daniel
  28. News: Wagner. Dave. Broom Street Theater plans to buy building on Williamson. The Capital Times. November 18, 1976. Madison, Wisconsin. 54.
  29. Goff, Nadine
  30. News: Lynch. Kevin. Harty is new Broom Street chief. The Capital Times. July 30, 2005. 1B.
  31. Web site: Broom Street Theater Ltd. Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. May 4, 2013. Corporate Records.
  32. Web site: Medaris. David. Scene change at Broom Street Theater. Isthmus. May 2, 2013. Madison, Wisconsin. July 1, 2010.
  33. Web site: Hammel. Cailley. Broom Street Theater names Heather Renken new artistic director. Isthmus. May 2, 2013. Madison, Wisconsin. November 10, 2010.
  34. Web site: Worland. Gayle. Stage Presence: Heather Renken, director of Broom Street Theater. May 2, 2013. April 23, 2011.
  35. News: 'Lamentable Tragedie' author Doug Reed to take over Broom Street Theater. Times. Lindsay Christians The Capital. madison.com. 2017-02-24. en.
  36. News: Coenraad. Susan. 'Normal Love' at 16 Nets a Normal Laugh. Wisconsin State Journal. May 22, 1971. Madison, Wisconsin. 15, Section 2.
  37. News: Davies. Donald K.. One man show a hit. Wisconsin State Journal. February 14, 1977. Madison, Wisconsin. 3, Section 3.
  38. News: Henry. Amanda. "The Ballerina and the Economist" BroomStreet Theater, through Dec, 14, tickets available only at the door. Wisconsin State Journal. November 12, 2003. Madison, Wisconsin. B5.
  39. News: Campbell. Genie. 'The Ramayana' updates Hindu mystery and sci-fi. Wisconsin State Journal. February 21, 1979. Madison, Wisconsin. 7, Section 5.
  40. News: Campbell. Genie. 'Running' is on right track. Wisconsin State Journal. November 26, 1979. Madison, Wisconsin. 5, Section 3.
  41. News: Mullins. Dennis. 'Packer Glory:' A winner. Wisconsin State Journal. September 29, 1984. Madison, Wisconsin. 3, Section 3.
  42. News: Kelley. Tim. 'Philoctetes' is classic with wit. The Capital Times. November 26, 1985. Madison, Wisconsin. 18.
  43. News: Groark. Steve. 'Blackhawk War' comedy a painfully serious play. Wisconsin State Journal. September 27, 1990. Madison, Wisconsin. 3F.
  44. News: Lynch. Kevin. Broom Street play sheds light on early gay activist. The Capital Times. January 26, 2005. Madison, Wisconsin. 1D, 3D.
  45. News: Archwamety. Rena. 'Oklahomo' fine tribute to Gersmann's vision. The Capital Times. July 12, 2005. Madison, Wisconsin. 7B.
  46. Winn, Steven
  47. Pollack, Joe
  48. Vandenberg, Harvey L.
  49. Web site: Proud Theater Madison Staff. April 13, 2013. 23 February 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131127175716/http://proudtheater.org/index.php/about-us/staff-bios. 27 November 2013.
  50. News: Mullins. Dennis. 'Frankenstein' spinoff works. Wisconsin State Journal. August 10, 1985. Madison, Wisconsin. 3. Section 3.
  51. Web site: 1985-1990 Organizational History. 5 January 2011. April 13, 2013. “Frankie N. Stein – Drama in Taps.” Script, Danielle Dresden; taps, Donna Peckett. Broom Street Theater, Madison..
  52. Web site: Vorndran. Rick. bio. April 13, 2013.
  53. Web site: Morgan. Ken. The Devil Made Them Do It... Vital Source. April 13, 2013.
  54. News: Rubien. David. Aylesworth, Newton explore life of Edgar Cayce. San Francisco Chronicle. May 4, 2013. August 7, 2008.
  55. News: Coenrad. Susan. Broom St. Combo Stirring Drama. Wisconsin State Journal. July 31, 1971. Madison, Wisconsin. 15, section 2.
  56. News: Conklin. Melanie. Mayor's time in the Street. Wisconsin State Journal. September 15, 2006. Madison, Wisconsin. A2.
  57. News: Trott. Walt. Broom St Theater survives a rocky, creative 15 years. The Capital Times. April 27, 1984. Madison, Wisconsin. 39–40.
  58. Web site: Clark. Rod. A Letter From the Editor. May 4, 2013.
  59. News: Two Plays at Broom Street. The Capital Times. August 11, 1969. Madison, Wisconsin. 4, "Green" section.
  60. News: LaBrasca. Robert. 'Metamorphosis:' Broom St. Dada. The Capital Times. March 26, 1973. Madison, Wisconsin. 4, "Green" section.
  61. Web site: Jill Holden. IMDb. May 4, 2013.
  62. News: Colden. Anne. Actor's not himself in Broom Street role. Wisconsin State Journal. May 2, 1985. Madison, Wisconsin. 3, Section 4.
  63. Web site: Gip Hoppe. about the artists. May 4, 2013.
  64. Book: Child, Doreen Alexander. Charlie Kaufman: Confessions of an Original Mind. 2010. ABC-CLIO, LLC. Santa Barbara, California. 978-0313358609. 9.
  65. Mullins, Dennis. "Packer Glory"
  66. Web site: Daniel T. Levin Films. May 4, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130423132316/http://levinfilms.com/. April 23, 2013. dead.
  67. News: Wagner. Dave. Patrick McGilligan stars with three books. The Capital Times. January 20, 1976. Madison, Wisconsin. 17.

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