off-stage right

First and foremost, Happy Thanksgiving!

It’s difficult not to think of all of the things I have to be grateful for.  They far out weigh any of the things in my life that I find challenging.

But it got me thinking.  This has been a really challenging year for the theatre industry.  We are still facing an uphill battle as we go into the new year, but we have so much as an industry to be thankful for:

1.  Several nonprofits theatres are not only thriving but producing some of the best and most ambitious work out in years.  Take Hartford Stage and Signature Theatre’s ambitious undertaking of Horton Foote’s nine play The Orphans’ Home Cycle or the Guthrie’s Kushner Festival.  Chicago’s theatre scene is thriving.  Seattle’s scene seems to be undergoing a renaissance.  From coast to coast many theatres are refocusing on mission and on creating great art.  They are facing the financial challenges, re-engaging audiences, and finding a way to continue bringing theatre to audiences of every age group and ethnicity.

2.  Rocco leading the NEA is certainly something to celebrate.  His first interview stirred up some controversy, but since then his batting average has been near perfect.  Rocco Landesman is without question the most exciting thing to ever happen to the NEA.  His recent speech at the Grantmakers for the Arts Conference outlined his initial agenda and is well worth the read.  The Arts Work  blog is also a must read.

3.  The Obama administration in particular Michelle Obama has proven to have an interest and understanding of the arts.  For the first time in a long time we have a leader who can appreciate the value of the arts.

4.  Bloggers are sparking fabulous conversations about the arts.  With newspaper coverage dwindling the real discussion about the arts is happen in the blogosphere.  Independent bloggers like Leonard Jacobs at The Clyde Fitch Report, Isaac Butler at Parabasis are delving into key issues we are facing.  One could get a graduate degree by reading Ian David Moss’ Create Equity.  There are far too many other great folks out there to list (check out the blogroll) – which is why I started posting my favorite posts each week.  I get most of my news from Broadwaystars.com (you know you do too).

5. Social Networking sites like Facebook and Twitter are changing the way we reach our audiences.  Commercial and nonprofit theatre has been embracing this new form of communication.   The arts also have a real opportunity to lead the way in utilizing social networking platforms.  Twitter has had a huge impact on my day to day work.  Art is even being created via facebook (Fatebook) and Twitter (Next to Normal’s new song).

6.  No other TV show has ever had the potential impact that Glee has.  The starts of musical theatre are front and center and gaining more and more fame.  The show celebrates show tunes, performance, all of the positive effects of the arts.  It makes being in the arts cool!

7.  This one will probably generate a bit of disagreement but we have to be thankful for stars on Broadway and off-Broadway.  Hugh Jackman, Daniel Craig, Jude Law, James Gandolfini, Marcia Gay Harden, Hope Davis and Jeff Daniels not only broke box office records, but collectively they were responsible for keeping the straight play on Broadway this fall.  Lots of folks complain producers only wanting shows with stars, but if you look at the list of producers on these shows, you will find that they are the same producers who are on shows like The Norman Conquests and Mary Stuart.  If investors weren’t making money on star vehicles they wouldn’t be as likely to take a leap of faith on more risky propositions. 

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