RAT Significant Other

[nick <nick@nickspix.com>]

In the parlance of relationship counseling, does RAT have a "significant
other"?   

Maybe it has several significant others. During the NYC Rat Conference I
was thinking that the first annual New York International Fringe Festival
was RAT's significant other. At another time I thought that the Austin
theater community was RAT's significant other.  Lately I have been thinking
that BCT in Los Angeles is the significant other.  

And always there has been TCG.  That thing that RAT wasn't and never would
become.  "I Piss on TCG!"    Why?  In part I think because there was always
a sense that TCG and its constitutes never had any real respect for the
work of RAT theaters.

Of late there have been overtures and rumors of overtures. Those associated
with RAT are getting TCG grants.  Other grants that would normally be
destined for TCG theaters are headed to rat theaters.  There is a wind
change.  But how strong a wind, and how big a change?

Ben Cameron wrote back immediately on that rat-list email that I CCed him
yesterday.  He's agreed to open up our correspondence to the rat-list.  For
those interested I'm emailing it to the list in (5) parts.  

Beyond the specific topic of discussion, which is Steve Nunns Battle of the
Fringes article, there is that larger question of RAT's relationships to
other theater communities, both significant and insignificant.   

Is the worm turning?  

--nick