We all know it. We all know the problem. We all know the solution. What's the sticking point? What are we waiting for? At the very least, why aren't we, the theatre professionals and amateurs, the working stiffs and practioners, why aren't we howling in the streets, banging on doors, signing petitions? Is it really just apathy and fear and the seduction of the easy road? Is it self-interest?
This is all so very, very simple and we know it. I had a great conversation with a friend who works for a major foundation. And you bet your ass my friend knows it. The suggestion I got from my friend: write these people and these people and ask for meetings, go for lunches. What stops me from doing it? Is it cynicism?
It's like we're all stuck in this boat, this huge massive ocean liner and we see the iceberg, it's there, it's plain as day and we're steaming straight for it. We all know that we have to turn. Maybe some folks are thinking, "We can't turn fast enough." Maybe others are thinking, "If it's not this iceberg, it'll be something else." It could be, "The captain will never listen to us." There are definitely some thinking, "Get me a life raft out of here! We can make it to that island!" What are the rest of us thinking? Or are we just listening to the band? (Sorry, had to squeeze that in there, that's the rule, no Titanic metaphor is complete without the band. Re-arranging the deck chairs is optional.)
Whatever our reasons, we have to get over it and start making noise. Start speaking out, start making it change. We have to get over ourselves and get the ball rolling.
Showing posts with label rage against the machine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rage against the machine. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Friday, February 15, 2008
Grrrr...
This enrages me on so many levels.
1. It's the height of laziness. Let's just do what someone else is doing, slap a different name on it, spin it just a little bit and call it "new". It reminds me of this and this and this and this. That is to say: lazy, lazy, lazy.
2. Um. It's not like you're an obscure, little-known company without an international hit to your name. Are you scared that once RENT closes, you'll need to replace that income? Hence you're doing something that sounds very much like a regular gala benefit.
3. Again, it's not like you don't have a theatre with a history of producing musicals. You're not expanding your programming, heading into uncharted territory. This isn't exactly a risk for you. So...we're back to #2. And #1.
4. I'm all for neglected musicals getting revisited, but to also revisit things that have had long, happy lives, that makes less sense. Also, there's already a company in NYC dedicated to reviving lost musicals. Again, see #1.
5. The most enraging, infruriating, frustrating, hair-pulling-out upsetting thing: YOU'RE A THEATRE DEDICATED TO NEW WORK. NEW WORK. Not a bunch of musicals that have been sitting on a shelf. And even if you wanted to give another chance to underappreciated works, produce them. Don't give them bullshit "high profile" readings. You have a theatre. Produce new musicals. Produce new work. Give new voices a chance. Don't do "readings" of old musicals, which, if they're hits, will invariably be given new productions and keep new musicals in readings and workshops. Take some chances!
Honestly, if this was announced by Lincoln Center or if City Center was expanding the Encores! program, it wouldn't be nearly so enraging. But NYTW doing it is such a shock and so depressing. And senseless. It's easily the most boneheaded thing announced by a theatre this year (and the year is still young...)
1. It's the height of laziness. Let's just do what someone else is doing, slap a different name on it, spin it just a little bit and call it "new". It reminds me of this and this and this and this. That is to say: lazy, lazy, lazy.
2. Um. It's not like you're an obscure, little-known company without an international hit to your name. Are you scared that once RENT closes, you'll need to replace that income? Hence you're doing something that sounds very much like a regular gala benefit.
3. Again, it's not like you don't have a theatre with a history of producing musicals. You're not expanding your programming, heading into uncharted territory. This isn't exactly a risk for you. So...we're back to #2. And #1.
4. I'm all for neglected musicals getting revisited, but to also revisit things that have had long, happy lives, that makes less sense. Also, there's already a company in NYC dedicated to reviving lost musicals. Again, see #1.
5. The most enraging, infruriating, frustrating, hair-pulling-out upsetting thing: YOU'RE A THEATRE DEDICATED TO NEW WORK. NEW WORK. Not a bunch of musicals that have been sitting on a shelf. And even if you wanted to give another chance to underappreciated works, produce them. Don't give them bullshit "high profile" readings. You have a theatre. Produce new musicals. Produce new work. Give new voices a chance. Don't do "readings" of old musicals, which, if they're hits, will invariably be given new productions and keep new musicals in readings and workshops. Take some chances!
Honestly, if this was announced by Lincoln Center or if City Center was expanding the Encores! program, it wouldn't be nearly so enraging. But NYTW doing it is such a shock and so depressing. And senseless. It's easily the most boneheaded thing announced by a theatre this year (and the year is still young...)
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