LA Stage Blog - Beta

390 eligible productions.  390!!!  Yes, that was the number of shows that were under consideration for nominations this year for an Ovation award.  It’s sort of mind-boggling when you think about it.  That’s more productions than there are days in the year.  And that’s just “eligible” productions.  Start adding up the number of individuals in all of the categories and your head will spin.  Plus, can you imagine how many other shows there were in the Los Angeles area between September 1, 2007 and August 31, 2008 that weren’t even under consideration?!?  Simply put…CONGRATULATIONS to all those who were nominated.  Well-deserved nods indeed.  We had a great time together at the recent Ovation nominations reception, and I know there will be lots to celebrate at the Ovation ceremony on Monday, November 17^th.  Join us!!!

We are quite fortunate in Los Angeles to have the support of noteworthy publications - LA WEEKLY, BACKSTAGE, LA TIMES, among others - even though cut-backs continue.  We are also fortunate to have quite a few theatres in our city that bring quality work to our stages.  We should celebrate our successes and lift up those experiences as much as possible, especially when getting butts in seats has become difficult in this uneasy economy.  The publications and the theatres must work together to make this happen.  Sometimes though I feel they are at odds with one another.  There is so much theatre produced in our lovely town; some excellent, most good, some…not so good.  Producers must weigh carefully when opening the doors of the theatre to the public, because a poor production affects all of us in this business.  And if you don’t think that’s true, ask those who attend theatre.  Yet, I also want to request that our critics do their homework before writing their reviews.  They wield a mighty pen and what they have to share is important; nevertheless, when the critic has failed to do their research on the shows that they are reviewing, making sure what they write is accurate,…,it is not the reader who suffers; it is the theatre.

We are all in this together.  May each of us give praise where praise is due…and let us work together to promote theatre in Los Angeles!