Re: RAT, The dramaturgy of...

[DgSWEET@aol.com]

My anger (or what I can muster) is at the dominant media in a town that pays 
more attention to who is paying for advertising in their paper than the 
indigenous production.  It's incredly short-sighted, even from a booster 
perspective.  At a time when everyone has access to the same movies, the same 
CDs, the same Internet content, what makes living in a particular town 
attractive is what is unique to it, and that is what is the product of that 
specific town and the expression of that culture.  For all attention to be 
directed to ANY GET YOUR GUN and SHOWBOAT is annoying as hell.  Not that 
people shouldn't have a chance to enjoy landmarks of our theatrical heritage, 
but that people should be aware that the heritage is still alive and being 
made in small spaces down the street from their homes.  We need both.  We 
need the fun of the big stuff and the stimulation of the new and provocative. 
 Media that don't understand this are doing their communities and audiences a 
disservice.  (They are also doing local business no good.  The way you get 
talent to come work in your town is to offer them something special in the 
town they can't get elsewhere.  They can get CATS anywhere.)

Jeff Sweet