 |
the Way of the ShowmanAuthor: Captain Frodo
Philosophical and esoteric perspectives from a modern day Showman. Each season is different in its approach. S1 is essays. S2 is one book length attempt at Understanding Showmanship, S3 is conversations with remarkable Showfolk. The brand new Season 4 explores the relationship between Showmanship and Play.The host, Captain Frodo, internationally renowned circus performer, director, writer, husband and dad lays out, in great detail, his practical performance philosophy for performers who seek to deepen the conversation with their audiences and themselves. You can find him, and more of his writing at: www.thewayoftheshowman.com Language: en-us Genres: Arts, Performing Arts, Philosophy, Society & Culture Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
Listen Now...
180 - From the Mystere Theater in Las Vegas - w Jay Gilligan & Captain Frodo.m4a
Episode 180
Monday, 26 October, 2026
A 30 year old Cirque Du Soleil classic should feel timeless. So why did Mystere, for the first time, suddenly feel its age to us walking into the theater at Treasure Island? We record on site in Las Vegas, chasing a surprisingly specific culprit and using it to unpack a much bigger idea: the invisible decisions that make showmanship work, and the tiny changes that can quietly break the spell.We talk story and meaning too. Is Mystere a myth about the origins of the universe, or could it be read as the first day in a baby’s life, with each scene as a new encounter with the world? That tension between surface ideas and deeper interpretation becomes a window into how live performance creates emotional truth. The show doesn’t have to “explain itself” to be powerful, but it does have to build a world that feels limitless.Then we get practical about Las Vegas entertainment economics: cast reductions, rotating acts, injury reality, and the uncomfortable question of what audiences are paying for when ticket prices stay the same. We also dig into production design and theatrical lighting, including how brighter LED systems can reveal walls and rigging that used to disappear into darkness, shrinking the sense of infinity that great world building depends on.If you care about Cirque Du Soleil, Mystere, theater craft, stage lighting, or the ethics of live entertainment, this walk to our seats turns into a deep dive on what makes a show last. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves Vegas shows, and leave a review, then tell us what detail most easily ruins the magic for you.Support the show...After a long abscence our Merch Shop is back! Check out t-shirts, hoddies, and hats! Show yourself as a Follower of the Way of the Showman.You can also "listen" to the Way of the Showman at youtube.If you want to help support this podcast it would be tremendous if you wrote a glowing review on iTunes or Spotify.If you want to contact me about anyhthing ou can reach me on thewayoftheshowman@gmail.comYou can find out more on the Way of the Showman website.Follow the Way of the Showman on Instagram.If you're compelled to suport the showes and have the means to do so, you can suport the podcast financially at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/captainfrodo
