tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16876687.post7802324789418479462..comments2024-02-27T16:59:54.089-05:00Comments on (The New) Theatre Ideas: Outrageous Fortune: Commitment-PhobiaUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16876687.post-24250369522575319252010-01-26T17:09:57.740-05:002010-01-26T17:09:57.740-05:00When Steppenwolf started their program, I was thri...When Steppenwolf started their program, I was thrilled, partly because I'd been suggesting this very idea for a long time, but not out loud online in the kind of forums we have now. And partly because it meant I wasn't insane, that this was an idea worth exploring.<br /><br />I'm glad to know Arena's going to, um, pay homage to the program; I had a feeling.<br /><br />It's because of the success of Steppenwolf, the potential of Arena and of the few other places that do such projects that I feel bold enough to bring it up as a challenge.<br /><br />I know several small groups in DC who'd do well in such a program. Taffety Punk and Faction of Fools pop to mind immediately, and a few others. (I'd like to think a small company from Indiana might be able to visit once in a while...)<br /><br />But where is this program at ATL? (I single them out only because I'm intimately aware of their seasons, since I'm forty miles away.) So many regional theatres could benefit from such a program--and they could implement it pretty quickly, I think. It would presumably be a low-cost way to boost attendance in general and get attention in the local press, etc.<br /><br />I know, I'm preaching to the choir to an extent. But it's nice to finally have a choir...<br /><br />And Rebecca, I'm happy to take up the challenge. You're right, there's not enough willingness to critique--either self or one another. I don't know how many times I've seen a "big" show at a major regional theatre and walk out feeling like the emperor had no clothes. Listening to other patrons after shows or at talkbacks, I know I'm not alone.<br /><br />What about a blend of these ideas? Say there's a network of regional theatres featuring local companies. Maybe New Leaf Theatre does a show at Steppenwolf. Because they have that imprimatur, perhaps they can take that show to Arena. Or Taffety Punk could bring a show from Arena to ATL. Or Riverrun could bring something from ATL up to Steppenwolf. We create a network of smaller companies that could work together and work with the major regional theatres.<br /><br />But I'm a cockeyed optimist sometimes.David J. Loehrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03730376433424754068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16876687.post-39344041016434497102010-01-25T21:48:49.316-05:002010-01-25T21:48:49.316-05:00Really excellent post. I hope this energy can be ...Really excellent post. I hope this energy can be put into action!<br /><br />I think all y'all are on to something with this working together and self-producing thing, both in the realm of new work, and the larger realm of making good theatre, new or old, that’s responsive to our audiences and our communities rather than beholden to the bound-for-Broadway model. <br /><br />David Loehr, I want to accept your challenge of working together. But I think there are some habits standing in the way – including a lack of willingness to critique each other, an inability to accept the fact that very few of us will ever be able to feed ourselves through theatre, and plain old selfishness. <br /><br />That said, in addition to getting larger companies to be more community-minded, what about forming networks of smaller professional theatres that can share resources to produce work outside the bound-for-Broadway model? We can do it if we give up some of our bad habits.<br /><br />I think we all need to step up as artists / producers / teachers / community members and do some of the difficult work that working together entails. Since there's never enough time or money, so I feel like the best I can do is make the change I want to see.<br /><br />I'm a interloper into this conversation, but I've posted more on my thoughts <a href="http://rebeccalongworth.blogspot.com/2010/01/when-it-rains-it-pours.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>.<br /><br />Thanks for reading, posting, and thinking about this.rebecca longworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17093665271760539927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16876687.post-41445547900988384972010-01-25T20:13:40.542-05:002010-01-25T20:13:40.542-05:00NC Stage here in Asheville does the same thing -- ...NC Stage here in Asheville does the same thing -- it is called the "catalyst Series," and it has had a remarkable effect on our theatre scene. Thbey deserve a great deal of credit.Scott Waltershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06465161646609405658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16876687.post-63085609301977918902010-01-25T20:00:24.302-05:002010-01-25T20:00:24.302-05:00And here's where understanding what's alre...And here's where understanding what's already happening in the sector can help us. I believe there's a program in play at Steppenwolf, has been for years, that does pretty much what you are talking about. They have a Visiting Companies initiative, which we're shamelessly stealing at Arena Stage when we get into our new building. And YES, you've got it right-- it's not a free-for-all. It's a revenue-neutral program, not a money maker for the host. It's curated. There's a quality and readiness bar for the indie theaters to clear. Yet there doesn't seem to be a shortage of companies meeting that challenge in Chicago. My guess is once we're clear about it here, and can focus on the program once in new building, DC has plenty of projects that will qualify. This is part of the alignment that will be a feature of the "next": thinking of space as a resource for the whole community. And not just space. Expertise. Materials. Programs. Advocacy. There's a ton of resources that can be shared without devaluing them. Put 'em play!David Dowernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16876687.post-60610023666713841402010-01-25T13:03:08.380-05:002010-01-25T13:03:08.380-05:00Well said. As someone who's been self-produci...Well said. As someone who's been self-producing for six years--and turns out several scripts a year among other theatre duties--I'd say we're all on to something here.<br /><br />My challenge to the theatre world in general is, why don't we work together? Specifically, what if the major theatres--and by major, I mean the big regional theatres as well as any company that has its own building--what if those theatres adopted one or two local resident professional theatre companies?<br /><br />Instead of sucking up rent money from groups that might want to use an empty black box space for a show, embrace and support them. I'd happily let the AD and ED of a major theatre join my board, let them have some say in what we'd produce in their building. <br /><br />Best of all, make those resident companies part of the overall season. That means more theatre events in your building, maybe drawing newer and younger audiences, different audiences. It means more theatre events made easily accessible to your current patrons. (Those patrons might be interested in other theatres' shows but just not know about them. Now they would.)<br /><br />Yes, there'd be a minimum of technical support--the landlord theatre would want to handle their equipment themselves, most likely. But if the shows themselves are funded and produced by the resident company, that's almost like having four or five free shows added to your schedule. That looks good to the outside world.<br /><br />And no, not everyone would get adopted. This isn't for small community groups or hobbyists. This would strictly be for companies that produce good work, consistent work. If some of it is original work, even better. And if they have a local playwright at their heart, that's something every major theatre ought to embrace.<br /><br />James Still's name isn't bringing people into IRT. And most theatres don't rely on tourists coming to town. You want the local audience to be excited, you want them coming through the doors. With my theatre company, we have a growing audience that comes to shows specifically because they know I wrote the script. We've done the research, and the majority of them gave that as their reason for coming to a given show. "Interesting story" was a distant second. But we've built that relationship for more than six years now.<br /><br />Maybe by working together, we could actually improve both models from within without having to start from scratch or fight for what little money there is available out there...David J. Loehrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03730376433424754068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16876687.post-82402831116436141102010-01-25T12:48:41.962-05:002010-01-25T12:48:41.962-05:00I think you're good on the Shakespeare. In fac...I think you're good on the Shakespeare. In fact, I think you're pretty much good all over.99https://www.blogger.com/profile/11955916620902994495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16876687.post-36989136920638367032010-01-25T12:46:21.207-05:002010-01-25T12:46:21.207-05:00David -- Like you and Chris, I think we have reach...David -- Like you and Chris, I think we have reached a crisis point that will serve to tip us into something new. It is clear I need to read more of Bucky, but I am glad that somebody like you is starting the next conversation. When Mike Daisey started it two years ago, there were a lot of nay-sayers accusing people of simply being whining losers. Now, I think we can all sense that something needs to change.Scott Waltershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06465161646609405658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16876687.post-75078641676822525502010-01-25T12:42:44.436-05:002010-01-25T12:42:44.436-05:00Broken record here, but I think a:) this is the ye...Broken record here, but I think a:) this is the year the "next" comes into view; b:) that we have have the resources RIGHT NOW in the #newplay sector to create that "next"; and c:) that the "next" will rely, in large part on a rational organization of those resources AND on a healthy respect for diversity-- of approach, of aesthetics, of geography, of cultural perspective ("the come from" as I heard it defined this past weekend...), and of demography (is that right? I mean age, class, educational level, etc.).<br /><br />It's a Design Science issue, if we keep the Fuller influence alive here. The system is ineffective (and not just the LORT system, the whole system) and spinning its wheels as a result. This is the year that we design and test effective solutions for that "next".<br /><br />Sleeves rolled up, puttin' my back into my shovel, and happy for the work.David Dowerhttp://npdp.arenastage.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16876687.post-11171702934238192102010-01-25T12:26:33.190-05:002010-01-25T12:26:33.190-05:00If so, count me among the perverse, Chris. As long...If so, count me among the perverse, Chris. As long as we can shake off the old tropes and think freshly, this could be an exciting time.<br /><br />Isaac, I totally agree. Well stated.Scott Waltershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06465161646609405658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16876687.post-43490615310330752812010-01-25T12:21:56.830-05:002010-01-25T12:21:56.830-05:00Maybe this is perverse, but I find this situation ...Maybe this is perverse, but I find this situation thrilling.<br /><br />I can't wait to see what all this newly unfettered energy is going to make in the next few years.Christopher Ashworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05438952063008073418noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16876687.post-38280397508033464892010-01-25T12:14:06.940-05:002010-01-25T12:14:06.940-05:00Scott,
Great summation! Holy crap!
A think i sai...Scott,<br /><br />Great summation! Holy crap!<br /><br />A think i said to someone over gchat last week that i'll repost here was that, basically, Lodnon's call for more money makes a lot of sense in a specific context: The current regional theatre system was built upon certain promises of funding that never came through. The current system of working actually probably could "work"-- which is to say, fulfill the goals it set out to fulfill rather than the current goal of surviving and occasionally growing-- if it had more money. I actually do believe that.<br /><br />The questions are... do we want to give it more money? is it worth it? and if we did believe it was worth it... how likely is it that the system will get an influx of the probably tens of millions of dollars it would take?<br /><br />And to me the answers are... Not really, maybe and totally unlikely to impossible.<br /><br />I do think the system could be made better by a large influx of capital, i think a lot of the problems have arisen by trying to do too much with too little, resource wise (and putting short term self-interest ahead of long term goals). But I'm not sure I really want the current crop of theaters to have more money. I'd rather that money go towards to epopel who are doing it right than trying to create incentives for people who are doing it wrong to do it slightly better.isaac butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07815094790605298884noreply@blogger.com