So much of my blogging energy today has been involved with this guy who, in the greatest sense, wants actors to become like organic vegetables: Grown locally, consumed within a five mile radius.
There is so much going on here. What’s his agenda? Why such narrow focus? A blog that pushes just one point is a bit odd to me. It’s like Republicans---if you stay forever on message, you will perish. Things are huge and changing. Of course. Look at Seventeenth Century France and Twentieth Century Paramus. So be the reed.
Today’s Theatre
5 comments:
Looks like you had a hearty conversation over there in that blog's comment section...
Don -- By writing about the issues I write about, I have a Technorati rating of 63 compared to your 7. I get 300+ hits a day. So I wouldn't worry too much about my perishing.
You are exactly right: things are huge and changing. And what is killing theatre is that it isn't. We continue to produce using the industrial model that worked in the early 20th century. We live in a decentralized world, but produce theatre from a centralized model.
I think I have been pretty upfront about my agenda: I want to change the business model of theatre, and I want it to be a national art form. What's your agenda? To maintain the status quo and get laid as often as possible?
I like the 'piecemeal' (to use the blogger's term) approach to creating new theatre projects. I think it actually creates more openings/opportunities for creative people. That way, each show is unique - like a snowflake. Theatre companies get stale after a while. Look at Saturday Night Live.
Dear Scott,
I am SO HAPPY For your 300+ Technorati rating! (But aren't they a centralized agency?)Perhaps my 7 measly inches will measure up to your 300 one day...
Look--I don't really care too much about how theatre is made--as long as it IS made. I guess I DON'T understand the kind of mind (yours) that takes a VIEWPOINT and then just stays at it, endlessly---not even considering someone's else's viewpoint. I mean--that kind of obstinate thinking does seem to push one toward perishing. The mighty oak and all....falling. I could be wrong. But go for it, I guess.
I do think your idea of small tribes all over the country (all over the earth!) is thrilling. My personal preference, simply, is for New York, LA, Paris, London. I do understand that there may be MANY people who would be happy in St. Louis. Or Lansing. So they should go! I simply could not.
I think what you are suggesting, though noble, will be hard to pull off. Raising awareness in your blog is great. But how does one really make this happen? AND---where does the money come from? Who is going to produce this theatre? You? Me? Grants? The Feed and Harness store?
A workable plan would be interesting to read about.
As far as my agenda goes---I'm just a playwright who gets his plays produced in smallish theatres in NY and LA...who wants to keep doing that.
If a small theatre in the middle of the country wants to produce my plays---cool---but I don't think I could live there. And my experience has been that theatres in LA and NY will do my plays. Smaller theatres around the country--no matter how often I submit, seem to have no interest. Possibly because my plays have a certain sensibility that does not fit among the corn fields.
In closing---I have never tried to maintain the status quo, certainly not in my writing. But I admit, I am not one to reinvent the wheel of production. Perhaps the way things are produced is the best way? Or could just be improved upon? Or added to? Why the scorch and burn policy? Why not just adding to it? Isn't there room for that?
And on getting laid as often as possible: sadly, at my age, this is no longer an option. But for the up and coming kids---I think they might be interested in a large pool of choice. Powerful thing in your twenties.
May the next generation be pan-creative, find ways to produce on the cheap and ready, and attract wonderful, sustainable audiences. I am not a producer or marketing guy---I hope this next generation finds the skills to do what they must, wherever they must.
Don -- What has infuriated me about your comments, including the one here on your blog, is the level of pure condescension on display. "Go theatre people, go! Push that rock uphill!" Come on, Don, that is about as close to an internet pat on the head as possible, and is insulting to me and to those who are trying to think through alternatives to the current system.
Why the scorch and burn approach? Because in order to imagine an alternative, one needs to acknowledge the problems residing in the status quo. This focuses the discussion, and also serves to provide support for all those theatre artists who have been frustrated with the way things are but have somehow been taught that their frustration is their own damn fault.
My blog is not about happy talk. It exists to explore an alternative, one that might lead to a more democratic and progressive theatre in America. Nobody is going to put a gun to your head and force you to move to Kansas City, which apparently is a g=fear of yours. But there are people, believe it or not, who would prefer Kansas City to New York City, and I write for them. If you are content with the way things are, more power to you, but your contentment does not outweigh discontent.
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