| On Awards, Top Ten Lists, Critics Picks, and the Blogosphere...
by Josh Schmidt on 1/09/2008 01:29:00 PM
Greetings to you all from the American Airlines terminal at LaGuardia Airport. Its ~3:30 AM and I am waiting for security to open (how glamorous can life get!) and I have just read an email from Chelsea reminding me to contribute to the blog (she gives me little assigments, and I comply). Things have been so busy I have been remiss in my duties - many apologies! Here's wishing Happy New Year to you and yours...
Along with the ol' Happy New Year comes a slew of published newspaper columns titled along the lines of "Theatre Year in Review", "Top 10 Shows of 2007" etc. etc. I had been made aware that ADDING MACHINE has been listed in many of them - and in some instances was placed at the top or near the top of some lists. Of course, I felt deeply gratified as many of my colleagues who worked on that production also feel. I am especially happy for Next Theatre, Jason, the Next Theatre Staff, and the Next Theatre Board of Directors who, in commissioning and producing that show went way WAY out on a limb in almost every respect - technical and personnel infrastructure, expenses, etc. Regardless of what anyone's personal opinions on the show were, one consensus statement (at least from the reviews and published articles about the piece I read) was that Next's production was a courageous endeavor in every aspect and that in itself commands respect. And I was glad that such risk was rewarded by amazingly strong attendance - especially considering that many of the audience members in attendance were new to the Next Theatre experience. To all this I say BRAVO - recognition well deserved!
And what all this attention means to me...
Well, I cut my teeth in the business in Milwaukee WI, where the greater metropolitan area is something like 1/10th the size of Chicago's (I'm sure this is inaccurate). The arts community there, while quite large for a city its size (and along with that very active and diverse) is still small in comparison to that of Chicago. There is one major news publication, and in that respect the town has essentially one marquee critic for each of the artistic disciplines. What this means - there is one critical opinion all productions in the area become dependent on. There is a "year in review" article published regarding theatrical productions, but it often becomes comprehensive of all theatre in the entire state (Milwaukee, American Players in Spring Green, Madison, Door County, etc.) I feel it is correctly assumed that due to the size of the theatre community in Milwaukee, something akin to the Jeff Awards is not necessary. In fact, the anecdote I tell people when asked about this subject (it is pure fabrication) is that if someone thinks you did a good job on a show, they buy you a beer. If they feel your work wasn't up to snuff, you consequently buy them a beer. As this exchange of awards unfolds over any given time period, enough beer is consumed that individual recognition is either significantly impaired or forgotten in the celebration that everyone involved is fortunate to be active and productive in the pursuit of their artistic craft, and in doing so improves the cultural, social, and (I believe this to be true) economic heartbeat of the community they live in. These are the aspects in my opinion that make the whole endeavor worth while - not so much the individual achievement. And none of this has ever really affected me much because I am not big beer drinker. So I guess on "Milwaukee Awards Night" I either end up cleaned outta cash OR I become the designated driver.
What is so great to me about Chicago - the Jeff Awards, and the multiple publications pitting "Top Ten" or "Year in Review" articles against each other - is that so much activity off-loop in every kind of producing venue possible gets attention - through publication, awards - you name it. For those who come from a place that does not have that kind of media support (regardless if you think its fair or not), the ferventness of the Chicago media coverage of theatre is wonderful. This is the kind of attention that in my opinion fuels activity within a community - I tend to believe the impact is more positive than negative. Does the act of anointing 10 shows out of the hundreds of productions that take place each year leave some feeling snubbed - I am sure. Yes, I have read the "top ten" lists and yes, I have read all the postings in response to these articles passionately defending those endeavors given the critical cold shoulder. I love it all - I am so thrilled that people here get so passionate about the productions they saw and support. I love the debate, the discussion, the lines in the sand...everything! From my perspective - at least there is a community of people ENERGIZED about what they have left the comfort of the couch to see and willing to recognize it. Regardless of what people thought about ADDING MACHINE (love it or hate it), I am here telling you I felt glad to be a part of a scene where THE SPARROW, ASSASSINS, TEAPOT SCANDALS, LADY, JOE TURNER'S COME AND GONE, THE WOODEN BREEKS...(the list goes on and on) were all up at the same time last winter. How great! In many ways, there is some part of me that wished the response toward ADDING MACHINE would have been even more polarizing just to make the discussion even juicier....
No matter - to all those who loved, hated, top-rated, berated, awarded, or avoided ADDING MACHINE - I love you all! To date, life has seldom been more exciting!
All best,
JLabels: Adding Machine, Awards
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From my point of view, awards and top ten lists are good for marketing and fundraising, and that's IT! Though I appreciate Josh's perspective coming from a smaller theater community... recognition IS nice. When I moved here from NYC, I told my friends back there that the press here was unbelievably attentive - you could issue a press release about taking a SH*T, and you'd get coverage.
Of all the advice I got about press here, the best piece was and still is: If you believe everything good they write about you, you better believe everything BAD, too. I work on that every year!
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