Starting Some Shit

Written by Tony Adams Thursday, 11 September 2008 13:38

Apparently the output as of late hasn't been up to snuff.

I have been blogging less lately. Confession: it is not my top priority, it never has been. I love the exchange of ideas. I love being able to feed my son more. I have a family, a full-time job, and another full-time job with the theatre company. We have a lot going on, and blogging takes a backseat to that.

In response to Whatever: Scott, I'll bet you a beer--redeemable next time you're in Chicago--that since May (when I was blogging more regularly) I have:

• Produced more plays by women than you
• Worked with more female directors than you
• Worked with more artists of color than you
• Read more new plays--including those by men and women, white and non-white--than you.

If any of these are untrue, I will purchase you a beverage of your choice next time you're in town.

None of which will change anything on Broadway or for LORT houses. Few will add more money into our budget so we can do more of the above. None of which will feed my child. But I do it. I work my ass off everyday to make the world a better place and to make better, more inclusive theatre.

Most of this does not lead to results online. There seems to be a lack of available hours in a day.

Here's the thing, being a small company any revenue not coming in through donations or the box office is coming directly out of my pocket. I've been putting my money (sometimes the lack of) where my mouth is for a long time. I expect no sympathy and feel no shame about that. I would have to be douchebag to put blogging above being a father. I'd have to be a fool to put it above fulfilling the mission of the company I (and my beautiful talented wife) founded.

So Scott, please come off your high-horse. What you interpret as "a stifled yawn, a shrug, and a relativist mumble" is far from it. Just as (shock) Broadway does not accurately represent our incredibly diverse population. It is far from new news. It has been widely noted for years. It also has not changed much. I can't change what is being produced for $75 a ticket and up.

Divine fury is great. Directing it at those actually walking the walk is not. Broadway ain't gonna change because of a blog post.

If you'd like me to do more, there's a button on the right side where you can donate to Halcyon. Or, find another company that is doing the work you want to see, and donate to them. Help spread the word about companies that are doing what you want to see.

Start some shit, where it matters, and things may change. Write to foundations, try to convince them to change their funding priorites. Instead of throwing money on a fire, try to convince them to fund organizations that are inclusive on and off-stage. Convince them to fund companies that produce work by writers of color.

The voices you speak of are out there, but they're not being heard. They won't be heard if they're never funded.

Read more: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JayRaskolnikov/~3/390057363/starting-some-shit.html

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