“Keep the Drama on the Stage”

That is a quote from Angie, an old co-worker at Arena Stage. She used to always say that about the backstage drama, and it always made me laugh. I chose it as the title because today I am going to write about something in the news.

In case you have not been following the news about the upcoming shows, Broadway is about to get its largest (in capitalization) Broadway show. The price tag, estimated at 40 million; the show, Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark, a new musical about none other than Spider-Man.

The industry has been talking about this musical for years. With giants like U-2 and Julie Taymor attached, how could you not?

Well, maybe non-profits are not alone in the economic crisis. A publicist for one of the producers said in a statement that the work had stopped due to an unexpected cash flow problem. The statement also said they have a plan to get things rolling again soon and don’t think this will have an impact on the plans of the production. Previews are scheduled for February.

This will be a show to keep your eye on.

Ask My Friends - Where Would You Work

Again with the Wednesday series “Ask My Friends.” My friend didn't get his post in on time so I thought I would repost our most popular, "Ask My Friends." This week we go back to my friend Clayton Smith's posting. Clayton is a young and upcoming theatre professional. He received his Journalism degree from University of Missouri, Columbia and is currently getting his Masters in Arts, Entertainment and Media Management from Columbia College Chicago. He is a very bright and really talented writer and marketer. I asked, “If you could work for any theatre in the country after graduate school, what theatre would you choose, and why?”

"Let’s face it; there is a correct answer to this question, and it is “In this economy?! I’ll take what I can get!” But hey, I’m an optimist, and I like to think that in one year, when I strap on my new Master of Arts Management degree, the theatre world will be my oyster. My cautious, just-off-a-hiring-freeze, “please God don’t let that happen to us again” oyster.

(Optimism ain’t what it used to be.)

If I could work anywhere in the world after graduation, it would be…are you ready for this?…St. Louis. Not theatre capital New York, not arts-heavy Chicago, not beautiful, brilliant, captor of my heart Vegas…St. Louis. And not only that, but I’d work for the St. Louis Rep. The REP, for God’s sake, when I could choose any theatre in the country.

Before you decide that life dreams also aren’t what they used to be, bear with me a second.

If you’re not familiar with St. Louis, you’re at least familiar with a city like it…a sizeable metro area with a lot to offer, but still struggling to find a solid identity. The city has been through a lot of changes in the last decade, and one of the most significant is the push for more arts. Independent theatres have sprung up like mushrooms, but they’re struggling. Like so many independent theatres, they produce art for art’s sake, and the would-be patrons, the ones who want to see quality shows selected for them as part of a target market, are being left behind.

On the other hand, St. Louis has the Fabulous Fox Theatre, an enormous, gorgeous Broadway touring house, the theatre that understands the commercial nature of the arts business and attracts crowds because its offerings are safe and familiar.

Then, in the middle, we have the St. Louis Repertory Theatre. Under the direction of artistic genius Steven Woolf, the Rep has managed to bridge the gap between the listless indies and the commercial monolith, offering line-ups that are just this side of mainstream, but doing so with so much talent and solid focus that even the art-wary citizens of the St. Louis area pack the house time and time again. In a city still trying to boost its artistic reputation, the St. Louis Rep is a bright red flag that screams, “Yes, by God, we are here, and we are quality!” It’s an accomplishment you gotta respect.

And that’s what’s important for me. I’m sure I could get a job at other theatres that would pay much better, and who knows, maybe I will…but nothing can replace the idea of working in a theatre that does high quality work to a public that is sometimes ungrateful or, at best, not understanding, a theatre that works diligently and tirelessly because the people there know that there is value in the work they are doing and believe that, with their help, the entire city can be so much more.

Great work with high ideals; sounds like quite the pearl to me."

Just Read

I met with a graduate student yesterday from Julliard. She asked if I had a moment to talk, and of course I made time. She was very smart, and in the conversation she asked if there were any books I would recommend. Well, of course there are. Some of them are even listed just a little way down on the right side of this blog. So I thought I would cover some of them.

For beginning producers, I recommend CTI’s Guide to Producing Plays and Musicals. It is easy to read and understand, and they have a great index of terms. Many of the great producers and managers of our time write about their specialties. Fast and easy read.

For more advanced people, there is Donald Farber’s Producing Theatre. It is full of legal information, but everything you will have to know. It is not the easiest read, but push through and read it all. You will learn a lot. I had the pleasure of meeting Donald in his fabulous NY apartment, and I have to say I was so impressed.

For the marketers out there; you should read Purple Cow by Seth Godin. It talks about how to make your product or company different and stand out. Easy read and full of “out of the box” thinking, which I love.

The last book is What Would Google Do? by Jeff Jarvis. Brilliant. My best friend told me he makes all his employees read it. If you are into social media and want to hear some of the ideas that Google used to rise to the top, you should read this.

Call me a nerd, but I love books about theatre, business and marketing. I say read them as much as possible and you will have an edge on your competition. What other books do you like? Leave other books in the comments section.