MormonDaddyBlogs

Erik Orton

January 20, 2012 by Dennis

Erik Orton began writing and producing theater while a student at BYU, where he graduated in 1998 with a degree in Arts and Media Music, with a minor in playwriting. He was raised primarily in Germany and the suburbs of Washington D.C. In addition to producing and directing a number of plays, Erik has also written a number of works, including the musical Berlin.

His blog, simply called Erik Orton, covers a variety of his musings, all written with a certain style that suggests he could do this writing thing for a living.

Erik and his wife, Emily, live in New York City.

Filed Under: MDBer, Media, Music, Stage, Writers Tagged With: Erik Orton

How did the Chicken Cross the Ocean?

January 16, 2012 by Dennis

For many of us, a big, scary thing would be writing and producing a musical. For Erik Orton, a writer/director/producer in New York City, it takes a little something more.

Erik’s big, scary thing is sailing around the world with his family. Not on an ocean liner. In a sailboat.

He admits that it is a daunting challenge. And when faced with such a daunting challenge, Erik and his family are breaking it down into what they like to call “chicken steps.”

“Here’s how we’re starting out: our children need passports for this undertaking. Getting passports is less scary than sharks. So…getting passports is what we call a chicken step. Next scary thing: how in the world are we going to pay for such a ludicrous undertaking? We don’t know exactly, but why should that stop us? What we do know is that we have a lot of stuff around in our apartment that we don’t use or really need…certainly not on a boat. (That’s my wife’s idea. She’s just dragging me along.) What if we sold all that stuff and put it toward passports? Small stuff, but it’s a start. That’s a chicken step. Starting to get the idea?”

Erik was raised primarily in Germany and the suburbs of Washington D.C. He graduated from BYU in 1998 with a Bachelor of Arts in Media Music and a minor in Playwrighting. He began writing and producing theatre while a student. In addition to producing and directing a number of plays, Erik has also written a number of works, including the musical Berlin. Erik and his wife, Emily, live in New York City.

MDB would like to welcome Erik Orton to the blog. Be sure to read Erik’s post, Chicken Steps.

Filed Under: Featured, Stage, Writers Tagged With: Erik Ort, Erik Orton

Broadway Squeeze Play

June 16, 2011 by Dennis

Sure, we’re noted for being “nice,” but it doesn’t mean we Mormons can’t at least share how we feel about how our faith is being portrayed on Broadway, where The Book of Mormon (the musical, not the book) has just won 9 Tony awards, including Best Musical.

“Dealing with parody and satire is always a tricky thing for churches,” wrote Michael Otterson, head of public affairs for the Church in the Washington Post. “We can easily appear thin-skinned or defensive, and churches sometimes are.”

But he goes on to share exactly how he feels about the show.

“Specifically, I’m not willing to spend $200 for a ticket to be sold the idea that religion moves along oblivious to real-world problems in a kind of blissful naiveté.” Read Michael’s full article, Why I Won’t Be Seeing the Book of Mormon Musical.

►Braden Bell, who has three degrees and a job in theatre, notably musical theater, blogged about what a musical theater guy is supposed to make of this show that everyone loves and has officially taken Broadway by storm.

“I don’t think it’s productive to get upset or boycott or things like that, either. The Church’s official statement is a one sentence thing that basicaly amounts to: ‘Meh.’ Personally, I think we all just need to grow a thicker skin and stop being offended at everything. Freedom of Speech is an incomparable gift and the cost is that we might hear things that offend us.

“I just wish this were practiced more equitably. Why is it ok to mock Mormon beliefs and things we hold sacred, but jokes about other more favored minorities are immediately off-limits?”

Read Braden’s full post, A Musical Theatre Mormon’s Thoughts on The Book of Mormon Musical.

►Davison Cheney is a “poor Idaho boy living in Utah,” who has not seen The Book of Mormon musical. But the former BYU musical theater major has followed the rise of the show with interest.

“What bugs me is not that this stereotype is poorly researched or shallow or incomplete. On the contrary. Nor is the problem that others will look at the stereotype and go no further in their pursuit to understand Mormons and Mormon beliefs. I know that, having been trivialized, there will be many who won’t be able to get past the caricature of rose-colored-glasses-wearing, naive and unsophisticated Latter-day Saint trying to save the world. That kind-a describes me.

“Mormons are not the first group of people to be lampooned. But Mormons are the ones who won’t fight viciously in retaliation. There will be no picket lines. And other than folks like me commenting, the response will be decent and faith affirming (http://newsroom.lds.org/). Mormons will weather that storm with a smile — not unlike the stereotype.”

Read Davison’s post, About Mormons and Broadway.

What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Filed Under: Actors, Featured, Stage Tagged With: actors, Braden Bell, Davison Cheney, Michael Otterson, stage

Time for a Renaissance of the LDS Stage

April 6, 2011 by Dennis

Almost hard to believe now, points out Kent Larsen in his latest post, but once upon a time, the king of Mormon literature was the stage drama, which reigned from approximately 1930 to 1970.

Writing in A Motley Vision, a multi-author blog that focuses on Mormon arts and culture, Kent reminds us that there was a time when wards throughout the church would produce a theatrical production annually. Now most members would be hard-pressed to name a Mormon play other than Saturday’s Warrior.

“This decline is certainly remarkable, especially given the attention paid to Mormons in dramatic works in recent decades,” writes Kent. “Instead of our own works, we are the subject (or target, if you prefer) of dramatic works at the highest level of the theater world.” (“The Book of Mormon,” a new musical that takes comic aim at our faith, recently opened on Broadway to much critical praise.)

While these dark times for Mormon stage drama might seem to be the way it is and ever will be, Kent puts forth the notion that this might actually be the right time for a renaissance. Certain elements necessary for such a rebirth already exist. But what would make them come together? Judging by reader reaction, maybe Kent’s post is a good start.

Don’t miss Mormon Literature’s Once and Future King?

A book importer and publisher, Kent lives in New York City, where he moved with his wife after graduating from BYU. They have raised three children in New York. Welcome Kent and A Motley Vision to the MDB Community.

Filed Under: Featured, New to MDB, Stage Tagged With: A Motley Vision, actors, Kent Larsen, stage

Don’t Worry Sweetheart, Got it Covered!

April 4, 2011 by Dennis

Nothing builds appreciation for our wives like having them go out of state for a few days, leaving us to hold down the fort.

But leave it to Christopher Clark, theater professor and father of five, to figure out how to build appreciation among his wife for the need to come home. Quickly, if at all possible.

Enjoy this post from Mr. Mom, Dad’s in Charge!

Filed Under: Featured, Parenting, Stage, Teachers Tagged With: christopher clark, mormon daddy blogs, stage, teachers, uvu

See You at the Truck Pull, Scorpio

March 16, 2011 by Dennis

If Christopher Clark was in charge of writing the horoscope in the daily paper, I might actually start reading it.

From the first line of the first horoscope (“ARIES: Watch out for Tuesday. It’s going to be the worst!”), you know this is not your mother’s horoscope.

Enjoy Dr. Clark’s take on this week here.

Filed Under: Featured, Stage, Writers Tagged With: christopher clark, comedy, stage, writers

What Big Lies You Tell

March 13, 2011 by Dennis

Those of us on MormonDaddyBlogs mostly know Christopher Clark for his mad lip-sync skills, but this theater professor by day is a dad by the rest of the time.

While watching American Idol with his kids, one of those ubiquitous commercials for Red Riding Hood, the movie version from the director of Twilight (did we mention it was from the director of Twilight?) came on, provoking the following cute exchange with his two boys, Miles and Owen. Read it here.

Filed Under: Featured, Film, Stage, Teachers Tagged With: christopher clark, film, mormon daddy blogs, stage, teachers, uvu

Lent Mormon Style

March 12, 2011 by Dennis

Braden Bell earned his Ph.D. in educational theater from NYU. He now teaches theatre and music at a private school in the Nashville area, where he lives with his wife and five children.

Being one of the few LDS people in the area frequently results in pitying looks from those who can’t imagine life without many of the things that we Mormons make a practice of living without.

But once a year, the tables turn. Get Dr. Bell’s fun take on lent Mormon-style here.

Filed Under: Featured, Stage, Teachers Tagged With: Braden Bell, mormon daddy blogs, stage, teachers

Things We May Not Know About Dr. Clark

March 9, 2011 by Dennis

Christopher Clark is a Ph.D. and a university professor who has distinguished himself on a national level as an innovative director of Shakespeare’s work. His love of all things Bard is even evidenced in the names of his children, Miles, Owen, Phoebe, Hugh and Margaret.

So you may not expect that he could lip-sync perfectly to Mariah Carey’s “Bye Bye.”

But he can.

A lot of Mormon dads may claim they can, but Dr. Clark proves it. His latest blog post includes not just a clip of him working Mariah’s song, but songs from Kanye and other artists as well.

You mustn’t go another day without at least checking out his “Bye Bye” here.