Is Playbill a theatre magazine or political forum
Is Playbill a theatre magazine or political forum
Chance4042
Swing Joined: 7/10/22
#1Is Playbill a theatre magazine or political forum
Posted: 5/31/25 at 8:53am
Playbill seams to me no better than fox or cnn lately.
The magazine drew a line in the sand and ready to fight. Lupone ask to turn down the sound a bit. Now it a fight between the black community and the white community.
Can we just stick to Broadway.
#2Is Playbill a theatre magazine or political forum
Posted: 5/31/25 at 9:09am
To be fair, this is one of the biggest events and controversies we've seen in recent history involving basically the two most famous Broadway actors currently alive. I would fully expect this to be front page news on Playbill, which it is.
Also, the current article seems to be focussed on reporting what is happening - in my opinion fairly accurately - without taking sides so to speak. Correct me if I'm wrong.
https://playbill.com/article/over-500-broadway-artists-release-open-letter-reprimanding-patti-lupone
I'm more concerned about the 500 artists (+ other related personalities such as Donna Murphy who are involving themselves) trying to create a race war and cancel Patti, all because Patti didn't seem to like Audra's performance in Gypsy and because she was rude to someone that unfairly accused Patti of racism.
This is far beyond acceptable.
What we are seeing is a race war in the Broadway community, similar to the Great Comet incident but with far more publicity and toxicity. Despite the apparent 'support' the various people and associated virtue signallers are doing, I think it is obvious to anyone who isn't hysterical that this is too far and it's reflected in many of the comments of major outlets reporting on this. It is pretty accepted that Patti is a bitch but only an extremely loud hysterical group (larger than a minority but not the majority) seem to truly believe that Patti is a racist.
The 500 artists are the first and only people who have even started to use the term 'violence' - they use it 6 times in their open letter. This is a major unfortunate escalation because there is no violence happening and Patti's words are not violence, as much as people want to scream and shout about it.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
Updated On: 5/31/25 at 09:09 AM
windowwaving
Stand-by Joined: 12/14/19
#3Is Playbill a theatre magazine or political forum
Posted: 5/31/25 at 9:47am
Chance4042 said: "Playbill seams to me no better than fox or cnn lately.
The magazine drew a line in the sand and ready to fight. Lupone ask to turn down the sound a bit. Now it a fight between the black community and the white community.
Can we just stick to Broadway."
How is reporting on a big Broadway story considered picking a side? It’s them literally reporting a news story.
Bwaygurl2
Featured Actor Joined: 3/8/22
#4Is Playbill a theatre magazine or political forum
Posted: 5/31/25 at 9:55am
The Social Justice Left has really played themselves by using language that alienates the average person. Using "violence" in this way is a good example. Even when their cause is just, most people just roll their eyes. A "micro-aggression" just sounds like a dumb thing to get upset about.
#5Is Playbill a theatre magazine or political forum
Posted: 5/31/25 at 10:01am
I'm not seeing a lot of opinions from them in their articles. It's a big theatre story right now and they are reporting it as such.
#6Is Playbill a theatre magazine or political forum
Posted: 5/31/25 at 10:05am
Chance4042 said: "Now it a fight between the black community and the white community. Can we just stick to Broadway."
Grammar is a lost art.
As far as I’m aware it’s the broadway community vs. LuPone.
In our millions, in our billions, we are most powerful when we stand together. TW4C unwaveringly joins the worldwide masses, for we know our liberation is inseparably bound.
Signed,
Theater Workers for a Ceasefire
https://theaterworkersforaceasefire.com/statement
7thbighero
Stand-by Joined: 11/9/15
#7Is Playbill a theatre magazine or political forum
Posted: 5/31/25 at 11:03am
“Is this an institution of learning or a teenage brothel?”
ErmengardeStopSniveling
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/18
#8Is Playbill a theatre magazine or political forum
Posted: 5/31/25 at 11:40am
Mr. Wormwood said: "I'm not seeing a lot of opinions from them in their articles. It's a big theatre story right now and they are reporting it as such."
Yeah they are a famously neutral publication that. ALL the theatre sites mostly do softball journalism and summaries of a press release. The one time they did investigative reporting (the audience behavior/ushers story) it got taken down by the CEO and resulted in two years of that horrendous letter in the Playbill.
Their job is to report the news on Broadway. This is news.
Huss417
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#9Is Playbill a theatre magazine or political forum
Posted: 5/31/25 at 11:50am
Bwaygurl2 said: "The Social Justice Left has really played themselves by using language that alienates the average person. Using "violence" in this way is a good example. Even when their cause is just, most people just roll their eyes. A "micro-aggression" just sounds like a dumb thing to get upset about."
With all these terms people float around I had to look up what is "The Social Justice Left".
Without even knowing I guess I am a part of the group. Not sure if Bwaygurl2 was saying it in a disparaging way but it came across as such to me.
The Social Justice Left encompasses various groups advocating for social, economic, and political equality. They often focus on dismantling systemic inequalities and advocating for a more equitable distribution of resources and opportunities. This can include issues like race, gender, LGBTQ+ rights, and economic disparities. The term "Social Justice Left" is often used in a broader sense to refer to individuals and groups on the left side of the political spectrum who prioritize social justice issues
"I hope your Fanny is bigger than my Peter."
Mary Martin to Ezio Pinza opening night of Fanny.
SteveSanders
Stand-by Joined: 3/29/25
#10Is Playbill a theatre magazine or political forum
Posted: 5/31/25 at 12:10pm
Bwaygurl2 said: "A "micro-aggression" just sounds like a dumb thing to get upset about."
One or two microaggressions probably don't evoke a strong reaction. But it is worth remembering that some people exist within a community, an organization, and/or a system where they experience multiple microaggressions (almost) every single day. A commonly understood example is the kid who gets mocked daily at school and then one day snaps.
It's "death by a thousand cuts." At some point, the next microaggressions provokes a strong reaction, the release of pent-up frustration of daily slights.
As someone who hardly ever experiences anything close to comparable, I've learned to not dismiss others' reactions as overwrought or making a bit deal out of nothing.
Your mileage may vary.
#11Is Playbill a theatre magazine or political forum
Posted: 5/31/25 at 6:06pm
Bwaygurl2 said: "The Social Justice Left has really played themselves by using language that alienates the average person. Using "violence" in this way is a good example. Even when their cause is just, most people just roll their eyes. A "micro-aggression" just sounds like a dumb thing to get upset about."
You gave a perfect example of a microagression on the Patti LuPone thread earlier today, but it was deleted, along with all comments criticizing it.
#12Is Playbill a theatre magazine or political forum
Posted: 5/31/25 at 6:20pm
Chance4042 said: "Playbill seams to me no better than fox or cnn lately."
Considering CNN is airing Good Night, and Good Luck, I think there's actually more of a case for flipping the question.
Is CNN a place for political discussion or just legitimate theater?
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