Re: RAT CONFERENCE 99 INFO

[KSTUARTXX@aol.com]

It's funny how this issue (alternative vs. mainstream) raises so much ire.  
A.S.K. and the Taper... though I may get irritated with them sometimes... are 
institutions that do a lot to support smaller theatre companies, and 
"alternative" playwrights.... such as giving props, commissioning writers, 
helping out with xeroxing, recommending and mailing scripts to other theatres 
around the country, workshopping and/or doing readings of things that it's 
obvious are not targeted for the mainstage.... and also these two 
institutions have money to pay actors. Why is that bad? I always wonder about 
the word "alternative" too.  Truth is, I don't want to be "alternative". I 
don't want to define myself "alternative or mainstream" because it starts to 
sound like, "bitter loser or success...  artist or hack..." and you can't win 
either way. Quite frankly I've been literally hungry too often to buy into 
the mystique of being underfunded.  What does it mean to find alternate 
sources of funding?  Does it mean you have to know rich people and seduce 
them into giving you money for productions? Burn down your credit cards... 
marry well?...   A.S.K. certainly develops lots of work that is "alternative" 
form and content wise.  And if you think these people are the enemy, then 
what's so terrible about looking them in the eye and finding out who they 
really are and how they work?  And every body else on this list INCLUDING ME 
why do we bridle so violently about this subject?