Category: theatre

“Given the economic downturn, sharing of space may turn out to the new paradigm for Chicago cultural institutions. But even though the benefits of splitting costs, pooling resources and putting arts venues to maximum productive use are obvious, sharing performance space is a lot trickier than it seems. Especially if it takes place on less-than-equal terms.”

“Except for David Mamet… and Tom Stoppard…, I can’t think of a single well-known American or British playwright whose political views are even slightly to the right of center. Nor do I think it likely that such a person would flourish were he or she suddenly to emerge from out of nowhere: Theater is a social art form, and the culture of American and British theater is 99% left-liberal, if not more so.”

The buildings are up for sale, and one plan is to build a high rise on the site. The four-story, 19th-century buildings on Manhattan’s West 28th Street were home to publishers of some of the catchiest American tunes and lyrics — from “God Bless America” and “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” to “Give My Regards to Broadway.”

“Musicals are traditionally the last thing people want to spend their money on in tough times. We sold them like cheap flights, heavily discounted, to get word of mouth going,” said artistic director Peter Cousens. “We’re finding we have to drop the prices just to get people in.”

Chicago is legendary for its theatre scene, but many troupes in the city remain homeless, performing wherever they can find available space. And now, with the credit markets nearly frozen and funds for new construction drying up, some organizations with big plans for the future are confronting the scary possibility that they may have missed their window of opportunity for growth.

“Kim Motes has resigned as executive director of the Minnesota Shubert Center after seven years. Motes, who became personally identified with the effort, will become the first full-time managing director of Theater Latté Da, the fastest-growing midsized theater company in the Twin Cities.”

“Let’s call this drama: Many Women Playwrights in Search of a Stage. Because if you write plays and have the wrong chromosomes, you’re in for a lot of frustration in New York.” A meeting on the issue last week at New Dramatists moved the conversation forward, but just barely.

“Flush from the global returns of ‘Mamma Mia!,’ Universal Pictures is tuning up another stage musical transformation. The studio has acquired rights to turn the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical ‘In the Heights’ into a feature.”

“The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation will dole out $2 million to Off Broadway’s Playwrights Horizons, with the money earmarked for the development of new tuners.
Grant will fund the commissioning of at least four new tuners and the full production of three or four works, each staged both at Playwrights and at a regional partner. Seven-year program aims to create a network of nonprofit regionals to develop and produce legit musicals.”

A £5 million arena production of the epic will open next September at London’s O2 Arena (formerly the Millennium Dome), “complete with live chariot race, massed gladiatorial combat, sea battle, heaving bazaar, crucifixion and, for good measure, an orgy.”