tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post6319266423835771086..comments2024-01-07T06:59:04.212-05:00Comments on The Playgoer: "Broadway": meaningless?Playgoerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994724588504353485noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-26681866009434630052008-08-02T11:02:00.000-04:002008-08-02T11:02:00.000-04:00Say au revoir to Dana Gioia; he should be announci...Say au revoir to Dana Gioia; he should be announcing his resignation shortly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-45606230548976772642008-07-31T00:20:00.000-04:002008-07-31T00:20:00.000-04:00In terms of the single season success of a Broadwa...In terms of the single season success of a Broadway actor, that may be true, but it's substantially easier to get the big regionals and the mega regionals to bite based on that one Broadway credit. It would seem that the largest export New York produces is actors. <BR/><BR/>I would love it if Broadway was no longer seen as the acme of the theatrical profession, but it's the home of a few key factors, the largest probably being money. There's also the Tony Awards, which seem to be one of the, if not the, biggest award in American Theatre.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13746879865518968962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-10182685627742228322008-07-28T15:07:00.000-04:002008-07-28T15:07:00.000-04:00It's not about money for money's sake. It's about ...It's not about money for money's sake. It's about independence and being able to support yourself. It's hard to have self-respect (or the respect of others) if you have to have a day job.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-55463158673349763672008-07-26T13:01:00.000-04:002008-07-26T13:01:00.000-04:00I heartily agree with so much of the above. Let m...I heartily agree with so much of the above. Let me just follow up on that sentiment of "making it on Broadway." <BR/><BR/>My only caveat to my friend David's article is the line where he references chorus boys & girls making a $75,000 minimum. I just wish he had clarified that was IF you're in a show that runs a year, AND you're in it for that whole year. (Pretty big IF's and AND's.) It is hardly the norm, neither for every show, NOR for every year in even a chorus performer's career. <BR/><BR/>So one should never assume that an average Broadway performer could be lucky enough to average 75 grand over, say, ten years. It's much more likely that someone lucky enough to score that big, big salary for one or two years, quickly uses it up paying the bills from the other 8 or 9 years eeking out 40-50K or well below.<BR/><BR/>My bigger point is to ask: what does it even mean to "make it on Broadway" any more? How many professional performers do just that on average? (that is, earn over, say, 75% of their annual income on Broadway.) <BR/><BR/>And, of course, one year you think you've made it on B'way, the next year you're waiting tables or working phone sex.<BR/><BR/>So, just another way in which Broadway has become practically meaningless for the vast majority of artistically excellent professional stage performers.<BR/><BR/>(I'm too tired now, but it wouldn't be that hard for someone to find out just how many paying jobs--and how many weeks' employment--there were for actors on Broadway this past season, for instance. AEA must publish those records I imagine.)Playgoerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02994724588504353485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-28731107026000102542008-07-25T22:03:00.000-04:002008-07-25T22:03:00.000-04:00You know, one thing that seeing "August: Osage Cou...You know, one thing that seeing "August: Osage County" on Broadway really brought home to me is that there's great theater going on all over this country. I see a lot where I live, in Providence, and some in Boston. I see a lot of touring productions. You can have an incredible experience anywhere. I know people who love theater but never get to a Broadway show because they don't live anywhere near New York. <BR/><BR/>For me, the great thing about coming to New York is that there's so much interesting theater, so many great stories, being told all within a 10-block area. (Not to mention off-Broadway). But that doesn't mean it's the only place where good things are going on.Estherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16076517542540421210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-43603972929000090332008-07-25T18:42:00.000-04:002008-07-25T18:42:00.000-04:00I very much agree with the fact that Broadway may ...I very much agree with the fact that Broadway may not necessarily be the standard for success anymore. In fact, despite what one may see on my blog (which is laden with little ditties on musical theatre shows that either were on bway, are currently on bway, or are going to be), I have always felt it to be the case.<BR/><BR/>I have always been slightly derisive to anyone who's referred to all theatre as "Broadway". It seems that not only are you not deemed a viable production unless you are on the Great White Way, but also that people's knowledge of theatre is only limited to those running on bway. <BR/><BR/>We definitely need to change that. While I'm a lover of the big shows, it's the ones that don't get the bright-lit marquees that reinforce my love of this art form. <BR/><BR/>I think artists should be able to say they have successful careers without feeling like they have to "make it to Broadway". In a way, that's de-crediting (for lack of a better word) all of off- and off- off- broadway theatre, as if they don't "count".JESSICA TAGHAPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04618778244393553682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-40558432898815403472008-07-25T17:34:00.000-04:002008-07-25T17:34:00.000-04:00Hi Anon - that's about the best argument I've eve...Hi Anon - that's about the best argument I've ever read for arts funding. And are you saying the <I>only</I> ground for respect is money? Now, that's depressing!Alison Croggonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08398213223487458758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-76865728575941989252008-07-25T15:21:00.000-04:002008-07-25T15:21:00.000-04:00Here, here, to both you and Cote! I hope that ever...Here, here, to both you and Cote! I hope that everyone reads you guys and this speads faster than a good slam of new play development.<BR/><BR/>"person by person, maybe we can change things, and change the equation by which our theatre artists have to calculate their lives."<BR/><BR/>When often the blog-talk is about New Models and tearing down the old system, you end with this great call to arms. I doubt there will ever be a new model, new tribe, new revolution, but if we take this to the streets and one-by-one change the thinking toward the direction we want to head, well, there's our best shot at success.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-72450404647878380022008-07-25T12:06:00.000-04:002008-07-25T12:06:00.000-04:00Success is defined many ways. To me it's paying ev...Success is defined many ways. To me it's paying everyone involved in a production a living wage so they don't have to have second jobs (or be otherwise subsidized). Unfortunately there are only two types of theaters that can really do this: Broadway and the mega, non-profit regionals (like the Goodman, the Roundabout and the Guthrie). The Vineyard creates very fine work, but many (if not most) of the actors can't live exclusively on their salaries. As one Vineyard actor said to me "Lot's of cache and little cash."<BR/><BR/>Perhaps the economics of theater just don't work. It's nearly impossible to pay everyone and cover costs at under $100 a ticket without major subsidies (governmental or private grants/donations). But at $100 (or even $50) at ticket, you lose much of your audience. The Europeans can do it because they get governmental support. The mega regionals can do it because they get millions from corporations and foundations.<BR/><BR/>I don't think everyone is dying to get to Broadway because it's Broadway (although some are). People are dying to get to Broadway because of the money and the emotional satisfaction of being able to support oneself doing what one is trained to do. The cache of Broadway is not merely production values (which, in my opinion are often quite poor compared with the mega regionals). It about seeing people for whom theater no longer a "hobby" but a "career." If people could have a career (in the financial sense) in small theaters, those theaters would have the same respect as Broadway (as is the case in Europe).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com