The Differences Between Theater: Broadway vs Latvia
Dārta Smaine
I accidentally introduced myself to Broadway about five years ago and I couldn’t help but notice how theater culture on Broadway differs from the theater culture that I know: the theater culture in Latvia.
REPERTOIRE AND BUILDINGS
This is one of the first things I noticed that are completely different. On Broadway, there are many theater buildings where each has only one show/play playing. Whereas in Latvia, there are theaters that each have their own inhouse actors, the theater buildings have 1 to 3 stages (so there could be up to 3 plays happening in the same time), the repertoire of a season consists of many different plays (the plays that are running up to many years and every year several new plays get to be premiered, old plays get to close). So one play does not perform eight times a week.
As for the actors: Broadway performers exit the show, hand the part to a new actor and move on to a new project. In Latvia, an actor performs several plays in one season, every week. An actor plays one play on a Tuesday night, a different one on Wednesday, then the next morning/day does another project or goes to rehearsal, and then when a play they are a part of is on again, the actor plays it. Long story short - an actor in Latvia has to know more than just one part and one play/show.
CURTAIN CALLS AND FLOWERS/GIFTS
Having a curtain call is no doubt a thing that is the same anywhere in the world. But what is different between Broadway and Latvia is that in Latvia, if a family, a friend, or a relative/acquaintance wants to give the actor a gift and/or flowers they do it at the curtain call. They walk up the stage (or stay by the stage) and give them personally between the bows. If the person is shy to do so, they can give their flowers/gifts to the staff members, and they will give the actor it at the curtain call. If a fan really wants to meet the actor and ask for his or her autograph, they most likely would wait at the service entrance for them (and if that happens, there are no more than 4 people or so). While in Broadway after each show the audience/fans gather by the stage door to ask for pictures, sign their Playbills, etc. If someone wants to give flowers or a gift to the actor, the person has to show up early and deliver them to the stage door.
PREVIEWS AND OFF-BROADWAY
This is something that Latvian theater does not have. There are rehearsals, then there are a few tech rehearsals, the day before the premiere is a tech rehearsal with an audience and the next day is premiere. There is no off-theater, it's just THE theater. I know some Broadway shows when they were Off-Broadways or in Previews, the show had extra songs, other kinds of set pieces or mise-en-scènes that the director noticed weren't really useful, took too much time or for any other reason didn't quite work, so they made changes and went to Broadway with an improved show. That does not happen with Latvian theater. You rehearse, then it’s tech rehearsals (if something needs a change, then that is settled during rehearsals or tech), and then it goes straight to the audience. Although sometimes small changes can happen after the premiere.
I've written about elements that are different, but there are also things that are similar to the theater culture in both Broadway and Latvia. I've mentioned these before - rehearsals and tech rehearsals, also table reads at the very beginning of the production. Obviously the curtain call, and Theater Award Show. In the US it is The Tony Awards, in Latvia, it is Spēlmaņu Nakts. Both are nights of a year when the best leads, best supporting actors, the directors, costume designers, stage designer, the best play of the season, and more get to be awarded.
I've covered the most noticeable and biggest differences between the theater culture on Broadway and in Latvia that I've noticed. I hope this was informative and interesting. I wish someday I get to experience Broadway culture live. Meanwhile, I'm gonna go listen to some DEH. ;)
Photo: National Theater, Latvia