Stage Fright (1989)
Encyclopedia
Stage Fright is an independent
feature film
produced and directed by Brad Mays
and written by Stanley Keyes
. It was director Mays' debut film, and it had its premier screening at the 1989 Berlin International Film Festival
under the auspices of the New York Foundation for the Arts
.
It is a fictionalized account of the trials and tribulations of a Baltimore
-based experimental theatre
company called Storefront Theatre, loosely fashioned after the now-defunct avant-garde
theatre company Corner Theatre ETC
.
, who had once been associated with Baltimore
's Corner Theatre ETC
and was now living and working in New York City
, approached his friend and fellow Baltimore transplant, director Brad Mays
, about working on a film together. The two threw around a number of ideas, finally settling in 1986 on the notion of co-writing a farcical script based on their mutual experiences at Corner Theatre, during the late sixties and early seventies. Corner Theatre ETC was an experimental company, where the offbeat and untried was encouraged, thus attracting a good number of offbeat individuals who were, as often as not, as much interested in kicks as in creating interesting theatre. Keyes and Mays made a list of the various artists from their past who might be successfully fictionalized into a story centered around a new play that is experiencing the sort of difficulties they had both experienced back in their Corner Theatre days. By early 1987, a shooting script had been produced.
. The company's director, Broderick Kands (Greg McClure), is based on the director of the film itself, who makes a brief appearance in the opening scene. When one of the play's leading actors has a complete nervous breakdown just three days before opening, the group must recast the role and work around the clock to get the play ready for a much-heralded premiere.
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
feature film
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
produced and directed by Brad Mays
Brad Mays
Brad Mays is an independent filmmaker and stage director, living and working in Los Angeles, California.-Background and education:...
and written by Stanley Keyes
Stanley Keyes
-Career:Stanley Keyes began his theatre career in Baltimore performing various roles at Theatre Hopkins in the early 1970s. It did not take long for him to become associated with Corner Theatre ETC, an experimental theatre also located in Baltimore, where he continued acting as well as trying his...
. It was director Mays' debut film, and it had its premier screening at the 1989 Berlin International Film Festival
Berlin International Film Festival
The Berlin International Film Festival , also called the Berlinale, is one of the world's leading film festivals and most reputable media events. It is held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in West Berlin in 1951, the festival has been celebrated annually in February since 1978...
under the auspices of the New York Foundation for the Arts
New York Foundation for the Arts
The New York Foundation for the Arts was created in conjunction the in 1971. The organization gives grants to individual artists and writers and developing arts organizations with a mission to '.'-NYFA's Programs:...
.
It is a fictionalized account of the trials and tribulations of a Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
-based experimental theatre
Experimental theatre
Experimental theatre is a general term for various movements in Western theatre that began in the late 19th century as a retraction against the dominant vent governing the writing and production of dramatical menstrophy, and age in particular. The term has shifted over time as the mainstream...
company called Storefront Theatre, loosely fashioned after the now-defunct avant-garde
Avant-garde
Avant-garde means "advance guard" or "vanguard". The adjective form is used in English to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics....
theatre company Corner Theatre ETC
Corner Theatre ETC
Corner Theatre E.T.C. was an American experimental theater in operation from 1968–1987, a not-for-profit cultural organization located in Baltimore, Maryland, which provided resources for new playwrights, designers, directors, actors, dancers, and other artists seeking alternative means and...
.
Background
Playwright Stanley KeyesStanley Keyes
-Career:Stanley Keyes began his theatre career in Baltimore performing various roles at Theatre Hopkins in the early 1970s. It did not take long for him to become associated with Corner Theatre ETC, an experimental theatre also located in Baltimore, where he continued acting as well as trying his...
, who had once been associated with Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
's Corner Theatre ETC
Corner Theatre ETC
Corner Theatre E.T.C. was an American experimental theater in operation from 1968–1987, a not-for-profit cultural organization located in Baltimore, Maryland, which provided resources for new playwrights, designers, directors, actors, dancers, and other artists seeking alternative means and...
and was now living and working in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, approached his friend and fellow Baltimore transplant, director Brad Mays
Brad Mays
Brad Mays is an independent filmmaker and stage director, living and working in Los Angeles, California.-Background and education:...
, about working on a film together. The two threw around a number of ideas, finally settling in 1986 on the notion of co-writing a farcical script based on their mutual experiences at Corner Theatre, during the late sixties and early seventies. Corner Theatre ETC was an experimental company, where the offbeat and untried was encouraged, thus attracting a good number of offbeat individuals who were, as often as not, as much interested in kicks as in creating interesting theatre. Keyes and Mays made a list of the various artists from their past who might be successfully fictionalized into a story centered around a new play that is experiencing the sort of difficulties they had both experienced back in their Corner Theatre days. By early 1987, a shooting script had been produced.
Plot
The story revolves around notorious playwright Grayson Osterman (Rick Hammontree), who after a long hiatus, has returned with a shocking new play, Malaise, based a somewhat degenerate reading of The Wonderful Wizard of OzThe Wonderful Wizard of Oz
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a children's novel written by L. Frank Baum and illustrated by W. W. Denslow. Originally published by the George M. Hill Company in Chicago on May 17, 1900, it has since been reprinted numerous times, most often under the name The Wizard of Oz, which is the name of...
. The company's director, Broderick Kands (Greg McClure), is based on the director of the film itself, who makes a brief appearance in the opening scene. When one of the play's leading actors has a complete nervous breakdown just three days before opening, the group must recast the role and work around the clock to get the play ready for a much-heralded premiere.
Misc
- "American Independents in Berlin" - The Edge Berlin's Largest English Language Newspaper, Issue 8, February 16-March 1
- American Independents - 1989 Berlin Film Festival - Festival Brochure - Copyright 1989 - page 25