AC126748 said: "newintown said: "I do hope that this doesn't become a mere fankid site, where nothing but gushing is permitted."
It's been heading in that direction for a while now. When I joined this site 10+ years ago, there used to be wide-ranging discussions about theater history, experimental theater, Off and Off-Off Broadway, regional theater, opera, etc. Nowadays it's basically just musicals, Broadway, and "does X sign autographs after matinees?""
Those are separate arguments. You can absolutely have a conversation about theater history, experimental theater, Off and Off-Off Broadway, regional theater, opera, etc without "gushing" or exclusively keeping it to positive comments. In fact, it's probably easier to have less emotional discussions when actually talking about something of substance. I happen to see more musicals than plays and I find the rush, stage door, etc. threads to occasionally be a helpful resource. But I'm here if anyone wants to chat opera or off-Broadway. Once in a while I start a thread when I'm enthusiastic about a show no one's talking about. I just don't want to be one of those people who starts a thread just to post his review of a show or link to her blog.