National Theater

[Gothampc]

Posted: 11/20/04 at 2:29pm

Every so often, the United States takes a stab at creating a National Theater. The last one was Tony Randall's pitiful attempt to hire well known stars to play Broadway houses. I guess he expected the theater deprived patrons around the country to round up grandmaw and the kids and flock to New York to see mediocre productions of Ibsen, Chekhov, etc. I believe that if the U.S. is to ever have a National Theater that it's going to have to have a plan to tour the country.

What do you think it will take for the U.S. to get a National Theater?

[Broadway_Bound_Star]

Posted: 11/20/04 at 2:30pm

I don't think we will ever get one, we just don't have what it takes.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 11/20/04 at 2:33pm

Possibly we have to stop thinking of theater as a business and think of it more as an art form.

[BWIDB Charlie]

Posted: 11/20/04 at 2:34pm

You know, a while back I thought up a plan for a national theatre project. If I am motivated, I may post a rough outline on here. Actually, it was more of a plan to make small off-broadway (and Broadway) musicals and plays have a successful run throughout the country. It almost combines the ideas of Vaudeville circuits with touring. But, with some tweaking it can work as a national theatre project.

Ah this makes me want to go watch Cradle Will Rock, heh.

Charlie
[e-mail]

[Kris2]

Posted: 11/20/04 at 2:36pm

What exactly is the purpose of a National Theater? What function does it serve? They have one in London, right?

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/20/04 at 3:58pm

It won't and can't happen here until the federal government is willing to devote the proper resources to subsidize such a venture as the governments in Great Britain and all European countries do -- though I suppose a Bill Gates, David Geffen or other such wealthy individuals could make it happen if they wanted to, donating the tens of millions needed to endow such an enterprise in the long term. Without heavy underwriting, the costs (union minimums, theatre rentals etc) are too high to be able to get the best actors, directors, designers to do several plays on a regular basis, let alone have them tour the country.

Just look at the millions in city, state and federal funds and donations from corporations and private individuals it takes to do just ONE classic play for two months every summer at the Delacorte in the park and have it be free to the general public -- and that's with all the actors and other participants making next to nothing. Imagine what it would cost to do five or six (or more) plays in rep year round paying the actors a livable wage (Equity minimum) and touring the whole ensemble around the country? We're talking MILLIONS, even if you charged for admission (and ticket prices would necessarily have to be rather low if you want anyone to show up to see Ibsen, Strindberg et al).