Bri Baltes

Work in Theatre

[lagonegirl]

Ruby Dee - The artist and activist

FOR A GENEROUS slice of her long life, there were two places you’d surely find actress Rudy Dee — she was always at center stage in acting and political activism, and she was always in Harlem.

Though born in Ohio, the actress, who died June 11, spent much of her 91 years in the famous Manhattan neighborhood she called home. And while her words and actions reverberated around the globe, her roots were firmly planted in Harlem.

Throughout their careers, Dee and her actor-activist husband, Ossie Davis, “focused evermore on that which was happening in Harlem.” 

source

#BlackHistoryMonth 

[humansofnewyork]

“I graduated fifteen years ago with a degree in theater, but I wasn’t really doing anything with it. I was working at a theater box office. I was writing just enough so that I could tell people I was a ‘playwright.’ I’d tell my wife I was going to the coffee shop to write, but I’d end up just staring at the screen. I was about to give up completely. The city has a way of crowning young geniuses that makes you feel old. But my wife always had an unending belief that I had something to offer. It got to the point where even that belief was hard to hear because it made me feel like I was letting her down. Finally a friend of mine convinced me to do a small reading at his theater. He just kept bothering me about it. And when I finally agreed, so many other people stepped forward to help. I wasn’t living in the vacuum I thought I was. Once I lit the fire, people came and sat around it. So many people were willing to lend their craft to my idea. I’ve put on four plays in the past three years. They’ve all been very small productions. I’m much more frantic and stressed now. I lay awake at night wondering if I’m going to sell any tickets. But at least my life has urgency and purpose. My wife is proud of me. Though now I’m sure she wishes I wasn’t so absentminded. And that I’d remember to close the front door. And that our living room wasn’t always filled with props.”

[bribaltes]

Production photos of Cyrano, two years late. Oops.

[bribaltes]

(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SKPEGUbSZY)

Two years ago today! My second time directing a play.

[bribaltes]

In service at University of Idaho, Vandal Theatre Lab creates original work, adaptations and site-specific productions wherever you are, whenever you want.

Matt Foss’s company, currently at the University of Idaho. I worked with Matt and the company several times while it was in Ames, IA. “a hamlet” was produced by Vandal Theatre Lab.

[bribaltes]

New play. It's gonna be good. I wrangled costumes.

[i-remember-there-was-mist]

Let’s hear it for the technical theatre artists out there.

For the stage managers, the lighting designers, the sound board ops, the fly ops, the run crews, the makeup artists, the light board ops, the assistant directors, the production managers, the painters, the set designers, the prop masters/mistresses, the wardrobe crews, the carpenters, the light hang crews, the wig masters/mistresses, the sound designers, the light board ops, the assistant stage managers, the costumer designers, the orchestra, the riggers, the spot ops, the pyrotechnicians, the dressers, the live sound mixers, the master electricians…

Reblog, show your love.   Show them how much they matter.  

[bribaltes]

Check-in

I’ll be teaching a brief segment on Shakespeare to the Oregon, WI high school drama club this week, and prepping for it feels like flexing a muscle I knew was there but hadn't used in a while. I’m excited. And terrified that they’ll sit there staring blankly at me. But mostly excited, because compiling and organizing all of this information has been a tiny breath of fresh air.

[bribaltes]

A very rough, informal essay on the various texts of "Hamlet"

[bribaltes]

Website dedicated to the newest project I am involved in.

[bribaltes]

New directing project for Rhinofest in Chicago, Valentine's Day weekend.

[bribaltes]

Update

Hello, Tumblr.

I moved to Madison, WI a few months ago, and I'm hoping to eventually get invested in the theatre scene here. 

I'll be painting the set for a new play called "Widescreen" in the fall.

Hoping for some volunteer opportunities and maybe a little acting over the summer.

[bribaltes]

CYRANO - Full Show Playlist

Cyrano

an adaptation of Anthony Burgess' translation of Edmund Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac

Adapted and directed by Bri Baltes

Ames, Iowa

January 2014

[bribaltes]

Cyrano rehearsal photos

[bribaltes]

Cyrano poster, designed by me

[bribaltes]

Podcast Interview about my newest play, Cyrano

In the nineteenth episode of the “Entertainment Effect” podcast, Ames Tribune reporters Anthony Capps and Julie Ferrell talk to Bri Baltes, the director of an independent theater production of “Cyrano,” and discuss this year’s Oscar nominations.

[bribaltes]

Much Ado About Nothing, 2013

Adapted and directed by me

photo credit to Tammy Gangelhoff