Re: RAT talk;Reading Series

[Btmsdream@aol.com]

I thought I'd chime in here as not saying something here is an action as 
well. and a lazy one at that. This poor communication between Brad and Karen 
is a model we should learn from as a mistake. BUt hold on. Brad Rothbart has 
layed his life down for theatre ,Rats and playwrights. He was there in Iowa 
City in December of 94 starting this loose alliance of ourselves. He has 
consistantly lead and followed the cause for the left and for our very center 
as theatre artists. he has made a mistake, in public, This is his  first year 
as series coordinator for theatre double. I doubt he will repeat it. I am 
sorry for Karen , she has had a tough year on this list serve. I remember the 
feelings she shared with us about the very play, scavengers, that she felt 
wasn't getting proper attention. Brad obviously was listening. He read the 
play. He obviously meant to show her support by trying to include it in a 
series filled with brilliant writers. He failed this time. Is that the end? 
can this be the end of it? maybe not. as opposed to renumeration for an 
airline ticket, shouldn't we have talked about another date? Or other 
possibilities? But Brad is an art worker of the very first order. And 
although it appears he handled the situation poorly, lets not beat on one of 
our best soldiers. Brad was fighting, every day, in every state, on the day 
of state executions. Putting up plays with artists from across the country in 
states that executed. he has been to every conference we've had. He has met 
every challenge life has thrown at him, physically and mentally and has never 
flinched at integrity for the art of theatre. He is not a bad man. He is a 
great artist who fights for artists. He made a mistake and has acknowledged 
it the best way he knows, for now.As far as the age old, argument about 
reading series'. i dont love them to death either.There are many who are also 
served by the process.Not all. But some who absolutely are. Bottoms Dream  
produces a reading series with sun and moon press. I've never forced a 
playwright to take advantage of this type of theatrical process. It aint 
perfect but it has led to production as well as the playwrights process of 
finishing the play. Sometimes a great actor reading a part in a new work can 
be pretty inspiring.And i've made mistakes too. I've learned, and so will 
Brad. He doesn't deserve more scorn. a reading series is only part of a 
theatre body. a limb. no one is running without a heart  above this limb.
mitchell