STAGE TO SCREEN: An Online Film & Theater Discussion Group

This is an online movie and play discussion group. READING THE PLAY IS OPTIONAL, although doing so will increase your appreciation for the film and knowledge of theater history.

From its inception, cinema has relied on theater as a primary source of material. So why is the relationship between live theater and film so vexed? Calling a film “stagy” is always a criticism. But what are the various techniques of adaptation? Which films radically rework a play to make it more “cinematic”? Which commit to theater’s spatial boundaries and emphasis on the spoken word? These are some of the questions we ask.

We look at every style of theater and film, from the most accessible to the most challenging, as well as musicals and opera. We sometimes watch recordings of live performances too.

Fans of theater, film, literature, history—as well as actors, directors, playwrights, screenwriters and filmmakers—will find there’s a lot to learn by looking at the theater to film transformation.