tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post3883530537924485805..comments2024-01-07T06:59:04.212-05:00Comments on The Playgoer: The Rise of the Resident Playwright?Playgoerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02994724588504353485noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-37256319263491112382011-10-04T12:32:05.878-04:002011-10-04T12:32:05.878-04:00This seems like a really positive move on the part...This seems like a really positive move on the part of Signature. For one, it does, as PG points out, spread the money around, which is often not the case in arts funding. And the promise of production offers a strong incentive to keeping these writers focused on the stage, not television. It probably isn't perfect, but it's a much better attempt at this sort of support than I've seen elsewhere. And PG, it doesn't seem fair to say that since Katori Hall has one hit, she's guaranteed a decade or two of great success. As you know, that isn't always the case.Matthttp://papamatt.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-81655724964389529482011-09-21T10:30:04.716-04:002011-09-21T10:30:04.716-04:00Dear Anonymous,
The press release says "young...Dear Anonymous,<br />The press release says "young and mid-career" playwrights, actually. That's why Annie Baker and Katori Hall are included--I would hope for their sakes that they are not in the "middle" of their careers just yet! And my initial post did not mean to refer to their income when I said they were "doing very well," but rather their visibility in the industry. <br />And again, I am pragmatic enough to realize that the only way a theater like Signature is going to know of these playwrights in order to give them the award is if they are already out there, getting things produced all over the place. And so I also realize that I will have to work much harder and be far luckier before I can even qualify as a struggling unknown writer.Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06062987385482820410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-38347566862931681562011-09-20T21:57:38.845-04:002011-09-20T21:57:38.845-04:00This program is specifically set up for mid-caree...This program is specifically set up for mid-career playwrights -- so why complain that they're giving it to, um, mid-career playwrights? If you think most of those five writers are making a decent living with health benefits from WRITING, you are wrong. Even the big dough to Kushner that you love to carp about will enable him to write for the theater for a bunch of years, which is a GOOD thing. Sure, more money, more programs, more, more, more for those who don't have much at all yet, but jeez. ANY project that gives money and productions to playwrights is an excellent thing. Go raise a quarter mil and distribute as you wish.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-23466705601373743142011-09-20T17:03:56.188-04:002011-09-20T17:03:56.188-04:00As someone who works professionally in theatre - n...As someone who works professionally in theatre - not as an actor, director, or playwright - as a designer, things like this drive me absolutely mad!<br /><br />Where are the initiatives that support early-career ("emerging" ::shudders::) designers? These programs just don't exist. Programs that match-make early career directors with early career designers make so much sense. <br /><br />Hell, what's ever dedicated to theatrical design? Not magazines, articles, blogs...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-66476514291240729862011-09-20T15:46:17.755-04:002011-09-20T15:46:17.755-04:00As said above, these playwrights are the test case...As said above, these playwrights are the test case -- if they can't produce quality work under these conditions, then why would funders risk bestowing such bennies on early-career writers?cgeyenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12657288.post-45972076678305187222011-09-20T11:04:24.672-04:002011-09-20T11:04:24.672-04:00Love this general idea, but, as you said, it would...Love this general idea, but, as you said, it would be nice if all this largesse didn't have to go to writers who were already doing very well. But alas, in order to get the initial word out about such a program, you need "names" attached to it. Opportunities like this, which seem heaven-sent to a perenially struggling writer like myself, also usually seem all but out of reach.Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06062987385482820410noreply@blogger.com