The Gate Theater Group Of Chiang Mai

[theateratthegate]

In keeping with our ultimate goal of establishing the first English language theater in Chiang Mai, we put forth our mission statement and invite questions, comments, and of coures the support of our community. Further information can be obtained by writing to

thegatetheateratasia.com, or just posting your coments and questions here.

The Gate Theater Group's Mission Statement

To establish a non-profit English language theater group within the old city of Chiang Mai where residents can become involved in the performing arts, while seeking to entertain, inform, and educate. Thereby, enriching the cultural life of the Chiang Mai area in general and the English speaking residents of the community in particular. In meeting these goals, the Gate Theater Group shall be mindful of the standards of its audience and shall maintain fiscally sound management.

Objectives supporting this mission are:

· To sponsor approximately four productions per year, which will be predominantly drama and comedy, with one additional play for children.

· To be recognized as a significant cultural asset by the local community.

· To develop and draw from local talent to the maximum extent possible.

· To enhance development of youth in the theater arts through cooperative ventures with local schools via workshops and sharing resources.

· To sustain and increase recognition and financial support to talented youth through scholarships and other means.

· To present quality family entertainment while creating opportunities for young people and adults to develop talents in all aspects of theater arts.

· To express artistic, civil and educational abilities and interests in our community and bring an enjoyable theatrical experience to our community.

Edited November 27, 2007 by theateratthegate

[cm-happy]

Please specify exactly where in the old city. and if possible schedule of events. Thanks

[theateratthegate]

Please specify exactly where in the old city. and if possible schedule of events. Thanks

Presently performing out of the AUA auditorium but aspiring to have a home of our own at some point in the future. The old part of the city being inside the moat.

We will restage The DODO Bird, our first poduction, in January. There will be six performances on Fridays and Saturdays starting 1/11 through 1/26. Two additional productions are on the table but there is a lot of planning which needs to be done before we are ready to post info. Shows under consideration are The Homecoming, by Harold Pinter, The Middle of The Night, by Paddy Chayefsky, and The Gin Game, D.L. Coburn. We'd like to be able to stage a new play about every 3 months. However, since it took a year to bring The DODO Bird to the stage, it's safe to say that we are quite a ways from being in a position to produce a 4 play season.

[LeungKen]

Cheers & Best Wishes from an ex Theatre Production Manager, Lighting Technician, Stage Mechanist and Scenic Designer.

Pity I'm in Phuket and you're all way up there in the North, but as we used to say..

Chukkas

[theateratthegate]

Cheers & Best Wishes from an ex Theatre Production Manager, Lighting Technician, Stage Mechanist and Scenic Designer.

Pity I'm in Phuket and you're all way up there in the North, but as we used to say..

Chukkas

Thank you very much LeungKen!

[L&J]

Very pleased to receive this information and we will be as supportive as possible in

the future. Will be there in January for an encore of The Dodo Bird and will hope to

encourage many others to attend.

Bringing good theater to Chiang Mai will be an asset for the foreign community and

eventually should be an asset for all the people of Chiang Mai.

Hoping that you will entertain a large base of support that will sustain the effort over the

long long haul. Thanks.

[cmsally]

An excellent idea, the best of luck to you.

Remember to post schedules; as well as the expat community I am sure tourists and part time residents would be interested too.

[theateratthegate]

L&J- cmsally- Thanks for your positive comments. We are looking forward to seeing you again L&J and hopefully, meeting you cmsally, at one of the performances in January! Don't forget to bring friends and a hanky. As one local news paper states, "The heartfelt performance of the play's title character is bound to bring a ear to your eye."

[SwaziBird]

L&J- cmsally- Thanks for your positive comments. We are looking forward to seeing you again L&J and hopefully, meeting you cmsally, at one of the performances in January! Don't forget to bring friends and a hanky. As one local news paper states, "The heartfelt performance of the play's title character is bound to bring a ear to your eye."

Bet you meant, ".....bring a Tear to your eye." !!!!!!!!

Your last production was terrific theatre. If you've still got the heart , you'll find you'll capture Chiang Mai's.

Break all your legs !

Cheers.

[theateratthegate]

L&J- cmsally- Thanks for your positive comments. We are looking forward to seeing you again L&J and hopefully, meeting you cmsally, at one of the performances in January! Don't forget to bring friends and a hanky. As one local news paper states, "The heartfelt performance of the play's title character is bound to bring a ear to your eye."

Bet you meant, ".....bring a Tear to your eye." !!!!!!!!

Your last production was terrific theatre. If you've still got the heart , you'll find you'll capture Chiang Mai's.

Break all your legs !

Cheers.

Good catch SwaziBird. You're right. TEAR not ear. And thanks for your support!

[Chrissygunn]

We are moving to Chiang Mai in June and our eldest boy, who will be eleven, is really keen to join a theatre group. He will be attending Lanna School. Can you please tell me where I can keep up to date with any youth theatre activities you might be involved with.

thanks

Chrissy.

[theateratthegate]

To date, we are wrapping our first production which was quite successful. However, our plans to involve youth remain on the drawing board at this time.

We will post all upcoming events such as auditions and performances here at thaivisa and you can also write to thegatetheater(at)asia.com for additional information.

We are moving to Chiang Mai in June and our eldest boy, who will be eleven, is really keen to join a theatre group. He will be attending Lanna School. Can you please tell me where I can keep up to date with any youth theatre activities you might be involved with.

thanks

Chrissy.

[Bluelotus]

this old trouper is intrigued

[Sojourner]

This is great! I was surprised after moving to Chiang Mai eight years ago that there wasn't a repertory theater established. I'll be looking for the next performance date and be first in line. Best of luck.

[theateratthegate]

When we first started working on the idea of bringing live English language theater to Chiang Mai we put out feelers on a couple web boards which had pages focused on Chiang Mai. We wanted to gather opinions on what people might like to see if there were a theater company here. The response wasn't all that positive and for a while, I for one felt that the expat community just didn't care enough to be bothered. To a certain extent, that assumption was correct. There seemed to be a mentality that felt like, if it's not some kind of girly-bar or a restaurant then, sorry, not interested. Believing my assumption to be somewhat, true I procrastinated for months, had a false start or two before reminding myself that theater has its place in every community. No matter where that community may be and no matter what other forms of entertainment are popular or "available" within that community, there is a place. And that in Chiang Mai there is a place for English language theater and there is a certain segment of the community that will be thrilled and excited to see, and perhaps participate in creating the art. Sort of like the feeling I got from watching the movie Field of Dreams, and that catch phrase, "If you build it they will come."

Well, after one year of wishing and procrastination we built it. And on opening night, people came to see a little known play called The Dodo Bird by an obscure writter named Emanuel Fried. Then, they came to the extended performances of that same show. And most all who came to the auditorium at AUA, tell us that they will continue to come, because there's nothing else in Chiang Mai like it.

If only you could have seen the looks on the faces of the audience as they left the theater.

This is the power of live theater! And Chiang Mai has a place for it!