"Speculations: An Essay on the Theater" is a treatise by experimental playwright Mac Wellman. It was published with the collection of plays entitled The Difficulty of Crossing a Field (University of Minnesota Press, 2008). It is also available, with additional material not included in the book, on Wellman's website (see link below).
The treatise is written in an eccentric style which, at times, reads like a series of aphorisms. Nevertheless, in its totality it presents a vision for contemporary theater which is both cohesive and profound, and which constitutes a radical departure from the Aristotelian paradigm that dominates mainstream theater today, where plot and character are central to the drama. As such, Speculations constitutes a critique of mainstream theater, but it also offers alternatives. It looks at the nature of time and space; the transfer of energy between people, places, and things; the unlimited potential inherent in the present moment; the subjective nature of experience; and discusses the implications of these things for the way we do theater. In the course of his discussion, Wellman alludes to scientific developments which have influenced his understanding of the creative process, such as relativity, chaos theory, and fractal theory. He also makes connections between experimental theater and religious ceremony, both of which seek to plumb the depths of human potential in search of “epiphanies” -- moments of personal revelation or insight which are, for Wellman, the highest object of the theatrical experience.
Wellman has received extensive recognition for his work over the last thirty years, including grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and three Obies (Off-Broadway Theater Awards), the most recent of which was a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003.
Bibliographyedit
Erickson, Jon. “The Mise en Scène of the Non-Euclidean Character: Wellman, Jenkin and Strindberg.” Modern Drama 41.3 (Fall 1998).
Masterman, Glynn. Perpendicular to the Aristotelian: The Speculations of Mac Wellman. Los Angeles: Three Pigeons Publishing, 2009.
Munk, Erika. “The Difficulty of Defending a Form: David Lang and Mac Wellman, Interviewed by Erika Munk.” Theater 32.2 (Summer 2002), 56-61.
Shaw, Helen. “Mac Wellman and Things of the Devil.” The Difficulty of Crossing a Field. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2008. vii-xii.
Simpson, Jim, artistic dir. Mac Wellman, co-founder. The Flea Theater. <www.theflea.org>.
Wellman, Mac. “A Chrestomathy of 22 Answers to 22 Wholly Unaskable and Unrelated Questions Concerning Political and Poetic Theater.” Cellophane: Plays by Mac Wellman. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2001. 1-16.
--- Speculations: An Essay on the Theater. Jan. 20, 2009, <www.macwellman.com/images/speculations13.pdf>.
--- “Speculations: An Essay on the Theater” (abridged version). The Difficulty of Crossing a Field. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2008. 293-342.
--- The Bad Infinity: Eight Plays by Mac Wellman. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1994.
--- The Difficulty of Crossing a Field: Nine New Plays. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2008.
--- “The Theatre of Good Intentions.” Performing Arts Journal 8.3 (1984), 59-70.
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Speculations: An Essay on the Theater, by Mac Wellman. [1]
December 18, 2023
speculations, essay, theater, this, article, possibly, contains, original, research, please, improve, verifying, claims, made, adding, inline, citations, statements, consisting, only, original, research, should, removed, march, 2012, learn, when, remove, this,. This article possibly contains original research Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations Statements consisting only of original research should be removed March 2012 Learn how and when to remove this template message The topic of this article may not meet Wikipedia s general notability guideline Please help to demonstrate the notability of the topic by citing reliable secondary sources that are independent of the topic and provide significant coverage of it beyond a mere trivial mention If notability cannot be shown the article is likely to be merged redirected or deleted Find sources Speculations An Essay on the Theater news newspapers books scholar JSTOR May 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message Speculations An Essay on the Theater is a treatise by experimental playwright Mac Wellman It was published with the collection of plays entitled The Difficulty of Crossing a Field University of Minnesota Press 2008 It is also available with additional material not included in the book on Wellman s website see link below The treatise is written in an eccentric style which at times reads like a series of aphorisms Nevertheless in its totality it presents a vision for contemporary theater which is both cohesive and profound and which constitutes a radical departure from the Aristotelian paradigm that dominates mainstream theater today where plot and character are central to the drama As such Speculations constitutes a critique of mainstream theater but it also offers alternatives It looks at the nature of time and space the transfer of energy between people places and things the unlimited potential inherent in the present moment the subjective nature of experience and discusses the implications of these things for the way we do theater In the course of his discussion Wellman alludes to scientific developments which have influenced his understanding of the creative process such as relativity chaos theory and fractal theory He also makes connections between experimental theater and religious ceremony both of which seek to plumb the depths of human potential in search of epiphanies moments of personal revelation or insight which are for Wellman the highest object of the theatrical experience Wellman has received extensive recognition for his work over the last thirty years including grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and three Obies Off Broadway Theater Awards the most recent of which was a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003 Bibliography editErickson Jon The Mise en Scene of the Non Euclidean Character Wellman Jenkin and Strindberg Modern Drama 41 3 Fall 1998 Masterman Glynn Perpendicular to the Aristotelian The Speculations of Mac Wellman Los Angeles Three Pigeons Publishing 2009 Munk Erika The Difficulty of Defending a Form David Lang and Mac Wellman Interviewed by Erika Munk Theater 32 2 Summer 2002 56 61 Shaw Helen Mac Wellman and Things of the Devil The Difficulty of Crossing a Field Minneapolis University of Minnesota Press 2008 vii xii Simpson Jim artistic dir Mac Wellman co founder The Flea Theater lt www theflea org gt Wellman Mac A Chrestomathy of 22 Answers to 22 Wholly Unaskable and Unrelated Questions Concerning Political and Poetic Theater Cellophane Plays by Mac Wellman Baltimore Johns Hopkins University Press 2001 1 16 Speculations An Essay on the Theater Jan 20 2009 lt www macwellman com images speculations13 pdf gt Speculations An Essay on the Theater abridged version The Difficulty of Crossing a Field Minneapolis University of Minnesota Press 2008 293 342 The Bad Infinity Eight Plays by Mac Wellman Baltimore Johns Hopkins University Press 1994 The Difficulty of Crossing a Field Nine New Plays Minneapolis University of Minnesota Press 2008 The Theatre of Good Intentions Performing Arts Journal 8 3 1984 59 70 See also editMac Wellman The Flea Theater Performance art Performing Garage Elizabeth LeCompte The Wooster Group Ontological Hysteric Theater Richard Foreman Richard Schechner Happenings Allan Kaprow Fluxus Intermedia Dick Higgins Marina Abramovic Experimental theatre Avant gardeExternal links edit nbsp Wikiversity has learning resources about Performance art Speculations An Essay on the Theater by Mac Wellman 1 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Speculations An Essay on the Theater amp oldid 1022203774, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
