One of the great things about having Max Granitz as our intern this Fall is his forward-looking perspective. In this post, Max ponders the future of theater. What might the next "My Dearest Friend" or "Chapatti" look like?

Theater in the Digital Age
By Maxwell Granitz
 
Virtual reality on your mobile phone. Increasing dependence on technology. More users on social media than ever before. It is the digital age, and, really, has been since the beginning of the 21st century. Technology advances on us daily. In the year 2017, and the future, considering the above, and that criticism of the arts and calls for their defunding come from all sides, how can live theater truly enter the digital age, and remain a cornerstone of American and global culture(s)?
 
In 2011, the Menier Chocolate Factory, an independent nonprofit theater in London, known for producing new iterations of existing works, produced a modern interpretation of Stephen Schwartz’s Pippin. Drawing inspiration from the Tron films and incorporating lasers, projections and neon lights into the set, the title character’s Odyssean quest took place in a digital underground rather than the height of the Holy Roman Empire.

In early 2016, the London production of composer Duncan Sheik’s stage adaptation of American Psycho opened on Broadway. It was generally panned by critics and closed after only 81 total performances. In images of the set, however, it comes across as something not necessarily common in Broadway theater. The design and lighting plots (shown in this image from the opening number) reflect the worldview and modern attitude of anti-social protagonist Patrick Bateman.

My name is Maxwell Granitz. I am thrilled to begin my tenure as the intern for GEM Theatrics over the next fifteen weeks. As a self-identified patron of the arts, I look forward to using the skills I have gained as a writing major at Grand Valley State University in advancing the arts in West Michigan and beyond.

Gary and I originally met in April of last year, at the first scheduled reading for Grand Valley’s production of Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure. It was an absolute pleasure to work with him during the rehearsal process through the first half of the fall semester. He was a paternal figure to many in the cast and a joy to work with.
 
A part of the writing major curriculum at Grand Valley is the completion of a for-credit internship, which is designed to build upon the skills students have gained in class. I reached out to Gary in late February, remembering that he co-owned GEM Theatrics with his wife, Mary Beth. By the end of the following month I had signed on to complete my internship through him. I felt the best use of my talents would be in a performing arts setting that would allow me to see the theater in new ways.

My love for theater started when I was eight or nine, and has developed into a passion which has seen me through some very trying periods of my life. I have been fortunate to perform in four productions, and while I have perhaps less experience on-stage than others my age, each time I get to do a show is a wonderful experience. And I have attended some truly incredible performances as an audience member, including many plays at Grand Valley/in West Michigan, on Broadway, and even on London’s West End.

Following graduation from Grand Valley in April, I hope to begin full-time employment with a performing arts organization in New York, and pursue graduate-level study in performance at some point in the next few years. I look forward to these upcoming months with GEM Theatrics, and being able to engage readers with content that will both inspire and produce meaning.

We at GEM Theatrics are thrilled to welcome Maxwell Granitz as our new intern for the next four months.

Max is currently a Senior at Grand Valley State University, majoring in writing. Max also has a profound interest in theater. Gary worked with Max last Fall when Gary was a guest artist at the GVSU Shakespeare Festival, playing the part of Escalus in Measure For Measure, and Max was part of the student cast.

Max will be in charge of the regular blogs on our website and Facebook, as well as editing our brochures and suggesting upgrades to our website. Max will also be working on a script for consideration by GEM Theatrics for production at a future date.

We're thrilled to have Max working with us and we think you'll be thrilled with the content he will share with you in the coming months!