Some truths are so self-evident that they can suffer outrageous neglect. One such is that theatre takes place in places. There is nothing virtual about it. Theatre takes place. In four dimensions: one of time, three of space. (Not even my fancy film friends can do that.) So it matters where you originally make a play.As they say in the blogosphere, RTWT.
It reminded me of this from Tom Loughlin and Isaac's response. (Leaving aside Isaac's final point, which I do think is valid, but confuses the actual issue.) The second point is key:
There are many smaller urban areas that have vibrant theatre communities. Portland Oregon, for example, has over 100 theater companies in it. It's the 30th largest city in America, with a population of under 600K. What it does not have very many of are theater companies that exist within the framework of institutional theater in America.I love Scott's work on rural and small community theatre-making, but it's worth remembering that we do already have a wide, varied and multi-focal theatre scene and if we can stem the flood of New York-ism (or Chicago-ism), it would go a long way to revitalizing our theatres and our communities.
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True. However, that theatre scene is very much concentrated in urban areas. While all cities are different, and should be celebrated, they are still all cities. But your main point is sound: the first step toward decentralizing the American theatre scene would be to celebrate the theatres that already exist all over. Which is why I take American Theatre magazine to task so often about its Nylachi focus. I understand that part of it is budgetary -- they just don't have a big staff. But if you're named American Theatre, you ought to cover American theatre!
Amen. And I do see it as a decent first step, or a good co-process to decentralization. They should give Paul a soapbox to make his case.
Come to think of it, the only American play I ever saw at the American Repertory Theatre was a Philip Glass opera.
You did shout him out... it's how I found him...
Understaffed as it is I'm never been eble to figure out why AT didn't pull a Chris Wilkinson and say (on the website) here's what's going on in the provinces in their own words" and just summerize the zeitgeist...
It's funny, Travis -- I actually suggested that in a conversation with an AT staffer. He seemed sort of baffled by the idea, as if Web 2.0 didn't really exist. I remember once when I lived in NYC visiting the offices of Samuel French to buy a script, and despite it being the computer age I remember seeing an office that ran pretty much as it would have in the 1950s -- all hand-written on notes. There are times when I think NYC lives in some Brazil-like time warp...
It's desperately uncool amongst the modern gays, but I love, love, love "The Boys in the Band" and have never seen it onstage. Looking forward to it.
I know that goes against all my points about new plays or whatever so SUE ME.
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