DOPPELGANGERS

There are two types of community theaters: Anything-to-Stay-in-Business (SIB) theaters and Anything-to-Go-Outta-Business (GOB) theaters. Neither are good for American theatre artists or audiences.

SIB theaters program sure-thing musicals, traditionally directed mid-century classics, and new plays inspired by the success of The Foreigner. “We’ve always done it this way,” and “this is what our audience expects” are board meeting mantras. SIB executive directors look like a stock broker after the crash...just before leaping from the ledge.

GOB theaters go in and out of business as often as furniture stores. Each time they shut down, their artistic director releases a pissy press release that blames current economic conditions and a vastly uneducated populace for their demise. They reopen promising an even stronger commitment to Grotowsky’s poor theatre principles and a new coat of black paint on their walls, floors, and ceilings.