So today I got a little angry hearing for the umpteenth time about some theatre complaining about not getting the audience they wanted to get. Okay a little angry is an understatement.
Does it really need to be said AGAIN that the first place to look if you aren’t getting the audience you want is at the work you are producing? Why do we keep blaming the audiences first?
This particular theatre was producing a very traditional season – a classic (and old musical) that from their production history and choice of director will undoubtedly be produced at a decent level but with absolutely no surprises; three “classic” plays again no innovation expected but I am sure they will be more or less solid productions and a play that was off-Broadway recently that will be done at 100s of theatres this year. Sadly, dear readers you can’t guess which theatre I am talking about because this describes the season of many of the professional theatres in this country.
And for some reason this theatre is surprised that they are getting the average audience – upper middle class, white, and well-educated?
How in the world can they be surprised? Year after year their season looks the same – just the titles change. How can you grow your audience if you don’t grow your work?
In the last month hot topics in the blogosphere have been getting younger audiences and diversity. Lots of folks are saying exactly what I am saying in this post – so how come it isn’t getting through to the theatre leadership? Of course there is a lot of work to be done about getting folks to experience the arts at an earlier age and tons of work to be done relating to audiences of different ethnicities and cultures – but before you can do any of that you have to start with the work itself.
Right now Glee is probably doing more to promote theatre than most of the theatres in the country at least musical theatre but here’s hoping Rachel and Finn give a go at the school’s production of an inspired take on Romeo and Juliet or better yet a student production of some fabulous new work – if they do maybe in one episode they can save theatre for us all!
No related posts.
I’ve had a fascinating time reading your blog and had to comment.
I’m one of an eight member theatre ensemble in rural central Pennsylvania. Perhaps you’ve heard of us: American Theatre called us “the theatre that saved America.” (The next week Mike Daisey called out American Theatre, noting the absurdity of the notion that a theatre saved America.)
I think you’re right on track. The entry about the ten main problems facing the non-profit theatre structure could have been written about BTE. And this complaint about theatres whining that there’s no new audience, I hear that too. As an ensemble, we set the programming season to season, and collectively steer the artistic ship. It’s slow going, and we sometimes land on compromises, despite our best efforts. How do you innovate and not alienate that core audience (read: donors) who have come to expect theatre for mass consumption? It’s scary territory!
Anyway, keep up the good work!