DT Moat Etiquette
Every week, we're receiving literally dozens of requests from talent and producers looking to bring new shows to our theater. An overwhelming and literal 31 percent of them have been asking about our moat policy: Can they build one? How deep? Predatory amphibians and/or fish: y or n? Do we provide drawbridge? Will we promote-moat on our social media or does that responsibility fall on the show producer? Why does castle have a T in it? Does our insurance cover moats? WE COULD GO ON... so, we will. Why limit ourselves in our own newsletter!? Must they chlorinate the moat water? How long can NON-chlorinated moat water be stagnant w/o attracting mosquitos? Can goats swim well enough for a goat-moat to be plausible? Goat shit in the moat: how to handle? Motorboats in the moat? Boats in GENERAL in the moat?
You asked, we answer. Our MOAT ETIQUETTE is probably the same as yer grammy's. "No deeper than 1 foot.Chlorinated. NO GOATS. 1 alligator w/ exotic animal license and proper onsite wrangler. YOU provide moat insurance, you promote-moat (promoat)? You can hear the "T" in castle if you're listening. Have fun!"
What I Learned from Judd Apatow
PHOTO: ADRIAN AGUILAR / FRANZ RICHTER
MAKE THE COMEDY THAT YOU WISH EXISTED
In anticipation of his Comedy Knowledge Drop, we asked writer/show runner/producer Brent Forrester to recount some lessons learned from working for over twenty years on some of television's most iconic programs, including The Simpsons, The Office, King of The Hill, Late Night With Conan O' Brien, and more.
Brent Forrester: Judd first hired me as a writer when I was 26. He was only 25 and had co-created a sketch show called “The Ben Stiller Show” with Ben, an unknown 27 year old actor. Why had Fox given them a show. In part it was Judd’s passion. “There is no sketch in prime time!” he said. “This show needs to exist!” In the 20 years since, I have heard Judd shout sentiment many times. He created Freaks and Geeks because there was no realistic comedy about nerds. He produced Bridesmaids because there were no big screen comedies with an all-female cast. Most recently he did “The Big Sick” because there were no mainstream rom-coms with an openly Muslim star. When Judd thinks about what project to work on next, he always asks himself this same question: “What am I not seeing out there, that I wish existed?” When he finds an answer, the passion comes instantly. That passion is infectious, and has been for 20 years.
Join us at Dynasty Typewriter on Sunday May 20th where Brent will be sharing more stories and tips from his time behind the frontlines of comedy. Tickets available here.
DT Goat Etiquette
Every week, we're receiving literally dozens of requests from talent and producers that are looking to bring new shows to our theater. An overwhelming and literal 72% of them are inquiring about DT's goat policies. That's literally 800% more goat inquiries than we anticipated when opening this venue. So to literally save us all time, we've created this comprehensive informational-graphic. Please read it (literally) before hitting us up with your goat-heavy show.
Dynasty Typewriter Featured in Los Angeles Magazine
Historic Theater Will Be Reborn as a New Hub for L.A. Comedy— Backed by a respected comedy scene vet, the project is no joke.
The comedy constellation in L.A. will soon be getting a shiny new star, when Dynasty Typewriter opens its doors. The new venue for live comedy, variety shows, and film screenings is taking over the historic Hayworth Theater in Westlake, helmed by comedy scene stalwart Jamie Flam.
Flam, a comedian himself and, until recently, the artistic director of the Hollywood Improv, hopes the restored 200-seat theater will fill a niche that isn’t quite being served, somewhere in between the traditional stand-up clubs on the Sunset Strip and the network of indie performance spaces that host quirkier acts.
“Comedy has evolved considerably in the last few years,” Flam says. “With podcasting and streaming, fans have far more intimate relations with artists than ever before. They are more in tune with the process behind creating comedy, which opens the door for savvy audiences to interact with talent in new ways. I want this to be a place where comedians and other artists can experiment with new immersive show formats, do engaging live podcasts, and also have the opportunity to bring more production and theatricality to their acts. And of course there will be stand-up shows as well, but by focusing on curation, and building a new theater-going experience for our artists and audience, we are bringing something fresh to a classic show format.”
If all goes to plan—and a Kickstarter that launched yesterday meets its goals—the theater will soft open in December with an initial phase of programming, followed by a full-scale launch in March, 2018. Once fully operational, the goal is to book performances seven nights a week, plus a range of daytime events including workshops and screenings. While the space will open without a bar, they plan to get a license about six months down the line, and until then, comedy-goers can stop into the adjacent La Fonda de Los Camperos bar and restaurant with which Dynasty Typewriter will share a patio area, perfect for pre- or post-show drinks and food.
As for the acts that will be taking the stage, Flam is aiming for a mix of marquee-names and more underground and emerging comics. “I tend to like weirder sometimes more experimental acts, but also have deep respect for many seasoned ‘club’ comics who know how to work any room,” he says. “It’s finding that perfect mix that can keeps an audience engaged and open to taking a ride with unexpected turns. We anticipate that we’ll be hosting some of the biggest names in comedy on a nightly basis, but we’ll also be carving out places in the schedule where we can develop and nurture emerging talent as well.”
Back in the Hayworth Theater’s heyday in the 1920s, Westlake and MacArthur Park was called the “Champs-Elysees of Los Angeles.” While the neighborhood has shifted over time, it seems to be on the verge of a new chapter. Dynasty Typewriter (a name and fictional backstory meant to evoke the building’s bygone days) will be the area’s only nightly live-performance space. The structure was bought in 2014 by Weeds and Orange is the New Black co-creator Jenji Kohan, who maintains offices on the upper floors and oversaw the restoration efforts for the vintage theater space. “Westlake is the densest neighborhood in Los Angeles, and filled with tremendous history and culture. We are excited to embrace the local community, and bring something innovative to a stunning part of the city,” Flam says, adding that “A lot of talent will be excited that they won’t have to travel to the Westside or Hollywood every night to do a professional show.
— Brittany Martin
Originally Published October 26, 2017 | Read The Original Article Here
