All day, I’ve been trying to figure out what to write. Nothing seemed to gel — perhaps the headache I was fighting today got to me (as always, one gets sick when one takes a vacation day). But reading the newspaper today, the topic came to me.
Why isn’t Los Angeles proud of its theatre scene?
Lately, I’ve been listening to a lot of Broadway and New York Theatre podcasts. The interviews that the American Theatre Wing produces in its Downstage Center series are excellent. Michael Gilboe does a great job with Broadway Bullet, producing interviews and including show clips that promote not only Broadway, but the Off-Broadway scene as well. The Macy*s Thanksgiving Parade is well known for promoting Broadway shows.
But Los Angeles?
In a recent Broadway Bullet, there was a discussion of a new venue in Los Angeles, the Upright Caberet. In the discussion, it was implied that Los Angeles had no Caberet scene, and no theatre scene. Look at Los Angeles’ promotional parade, the Hollywood Santa Parade. The only theatrical promotion is for Wicked, which is on Hollywood Blvd. But there are loads of TV and Movie stars. Perhaps this made sense when the parade was done by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce… but nowadays, the parade is run by the City of Los Angeles.
Where’s the promotion of Los Angeles’ excellent theatre scene? We can rival Broadway (and certainly have better prices). From our larger theatres such as the Ahmanson, Pantages, Kavli, and others to our small equity-waiver houses, Los Angeles is producing a top-notch theatrical product with top-notch talent, both on the board and in the wings. I’ve been attending theatre in Los Angeles since 1972, and it has been first rate. But where’s the promotion? Where is the Los Angeles Theatre Scene podcasts? Where are the Los Angeles musicals in the parades? Why wasn’t Ray Charles Live performing? The Wonderettes? The other great productions, large and small?
We should stop placing ourselves in the shadow of Broadway and New York. We should stop placing our theatre in the shadow of TV and movies. Especially with the writer’s strike: you want original content? Go see theatre in Los Angeles.
P.S.: If I am wrong, and there is a podcast about theatre in Los Angeles, please let me know.
