Comments on: Drinking the Theatrical KoolAid

By: Jonathan Jovel

Jonathan Jovel — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 18:50:03 +0000

Your post raises some very valid and relevant problems that face that the theatre right now. It has also been my experience that there are few people who want to truly address what is wrong with the American stage and how we can make it right. I find it incredibly fascinating and unfortunately insightful that your experience with the keynote address and Beth Leveal was dominated by discussion of how to “succeed on broadway and be like her.” I think that we can agree that American theatre does not need any more Beth Leveal success stories. What it desperately needs is radical success and reform stories, and this is what should be addressed and encouraged in any theatre conference. From my experience, your discussion of theatre majors is right on the nose. As a soon to be graduating theatre student myself, I have been exposed to several instructors and several working and successful guest speakers. Not one of them has ever pointed out anything wrong with theatre or offered any encouragement or advice on how to fix it. It has consistently been advice and encouragement of how to become successful in the current and broken theatrical model.

I am eager to hear your future thoughts on the issue and how you think we can go about changing. To me, it seems that theatre education is one of the best (If not the best) places to begin addressing the problems. If instructors and guest speakers can begin planting seeds that may inspire students to think twice before drinking the “Theatrical KoolAid” as you put it, I think then we may start seeing reform and revolution against the current flawed system. As far as what that reform entails, I tend to agree with Scott that the decentralization of the theatre is one of the major necessary reforms that will allow theatre to reach its full life-changing potential. Any thoughts you would like to share on the issue would are always welcomed.

By: Monica

Monica — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 13:57:48 +0000

I am currently enrolled in a Performing Arts Administration program, and I see this same problem every day. We fret over the future of theatre and the arts, but are resistant to change the failing model. We seem committed to preserving the tradition till it dies rather than giving it new life. What happened to creativity?

By: From the Blogroll XI « Clyde Fitch Report

From the Blogroll XI « Clyde Fitch Report — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 16:52:14 +0000

[...] chillingly gee-whiz paragraph when I was listening to Beth Leavel’s keynote speech (or, as Tom Loughlin calls it, “performance”) at the Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC) last Friday, specifically [...]

By: Mark Courtice

Mark Courtice — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 15:51:15 +0000

For another model check out Britain’s Devoted and Disgruntled at http://www.improbable.co.uk/show_example.asp?item_id=17
It’s not academic but once a year it gives us all something to think about. Lyn Gardner describes this year’s here http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/theatreblog/2009/jan/13/theatre

By: Thoughts on SETC and Birmingham | Articles About Everything

Thoughts on SETC and Birmingham | Articles About Everything — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 11:44:06 +0000

[...] when they were fresh. In the meantime, Tom has provided some excellent posts entitled “Drinking the Theatrical KoolAid” and “Conference Workshops? [...]

By: The Wal-Marting of the American Theatre | Articles About Everything

The Wal-Marting of the American Theatre | Articles About Everything — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 11:43:50 +0000

[...] that the metaphor Tom Loughlin used to describe what we had both seen at SETC was “drinking the theatrical KoolAid,” a reference, of course, to a horrible example of religion at its [...]

By: The Wal-Marting of the American Theatre « <100k Project

The Wal-Marting of the American Theatre « <100k Project — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:41:25 +0000

[...] that the metaphor Tom Loughlin used to describe what we had both seen at SETC was “drinking the theatrical KoolAid,” a reference, of course, to a horrible example of religion at its [...]

By: Bitter Lemons » Gettin’ in Line

Bitter Lemons » Gettin’ in Line — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 01:57:01 +0000

[...] always Tom Loughlin pours out his soul over the sad state of theatre grads trying to fit themselves into a machine that just [...]

By: Lindsay Price

Lindsay Price — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 22:51:22 +0000

Despair indeed. What will all these young bright eyed actors do if (or perhaps when) Broadway disappears? When that brass ring no longer exists? And spreading positive messages? Good grief, have any of these people actually spend time trying to make a living in the theatre? Happy fun time fluffy bunny world it is not and it does a great disservice to spread that message to up and coming actors.

Being a theatre artist can be an amazingly fulfilling, astonishing, heart expanding job. It’s the only field I’ve ever considered. (that might be because I’m woefully qualified for every other field…)

But the perspective that has kept me sane over the years is not ‘how do I get to New York and get a Tony’ but rather ‘how do I satisfy my art.’ And it’s amazing how the very simple, the very small projects do more than satisfy.

I don’t ever see a Tony in my sights, nor do I see a move to New York. And I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in my career. Ha.

By: Lucas Krech

Lucas Krech — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 20:31:47 +0000

This is a great piece. I wonder if part of the answer lies in creating an alternative to these conference models. Were there events wherein the speakers whole purpose was to critique to status quo and speak intelligently it might provide an alternate vision for your and other’s students.

Then again, critique is often most effective when borne of disillusionment. Perhaps this very system is laying the foundation for the radical critique that is not yet possible since we are still firmly entrenched in the conservative critique of the radical performance art of the ’80s.