Theatre Show Choices

Since I seem to be having a wealth of downtime here at work today, I suppose I'll write about local area theatres and their show choices (or lack of).

I was just checking the upcoming show calendars on some of the local theatre websites and, I gotta tell ya, it's slim pickins out there. I realize that the ultimate goal is to get butts in the seats and make money, but c'mon people. What new and exciting things can be brought to overdone shows like Guys and Dolls, Oliver!, and Bye Bye Birdie? Nothing. Would you want to pay $20+ bucks to watch the same show done the same way by the same actors? (Because, as anyone in local theatre can tell ya, the circles are extremely incestuous.)

It's so bad out there that at least two of the local theatres I researched are doing musical SEQUELS (I never knew there was such a thing): Alladin, Jr. and Cabaret II. WTF??

It doesn't stop at musicals, either. I think I saw at least three theatres listing Love Letters and two listing Doubt in their 2009-2010 seasons. Sad, sad, sad.

People in local theatre seem to only want to perform the tried-and-true shows, whether they're classics or "new classic" contemporary pieces. Admittedly, I can't stand most classic plays. Their subject matter, manner of speaking, and overall themes are outdated and irrelevant to me, and many actors these days (present company included) don't know how or can't pull off the very stylized movement and dialogue in such plays. And generally speaking, much of the subject matter is pretty fluffy. In one of the last shows I designed, the main "problem" in the story was that the father hadn't been baptized.

*blink*

*blink*

*cricket chirp*

Exactly. Like, who cares? I suppose it helped to enhance the jolly-good, clean fun of the play-- a play which is touted as, "...the longest-running play in Broadway history..." It's a good family show. But I like my entertainment with a hefty portion of meat (and a little grit don't hurt).

The most recent show I have had the pleasure of designing is far from fluffy. In fact, one of the cast members asked me last night if I liked the show (performances aside), and I honestly couldn't answer. Like? The show is based on the true story of a New York Jew living in Atlanta in 1913 who was accused of raping and killing a 13-year old girl, was tried and sent to life in prison, and was subsequently kidnapped and lynched. And it's a musical. It's uncomfortable and racial and sad. The music is haunting. There is no happy ending. Do I like the play? You know, I do. I can say with confidence that I do. It has SOUL, and showcases the very-relevant subject of racism and prejudice in this country. And it was written in 1998, so even though it takes place almost 100 years ago I can understand what the characters are talking about because it doesn't feature the slangs and colloquialisms of a forgotten time. It's real to me. It's gritty and meaty.

More local theatres should take a cue from this theatre and throw caution to the wind in favor of artistic substance. Art doesn't take talent; it takes balls.