Your input needed... thanks!

[dialectgirl2]

Posted: 1/31/05 at 6:14pm

Hello theatre folks,
I'm new on the board and I already have a request!! I hope it's OK and that you can help me... please!
I am working on a thesis which I am writing on American theatre. I would like to ask all of you Americans (and maybe non-Americans who have any interesting input too), to please help me with my survey. The purpose of the survey is to find out how Americans today perceive theatre as part of their culture and what role current theatre plays in the American society - in general and in more narrow social circles as well. Please, I encourage you to give me as much input as you can, this survey is not only meant for theatre-workers but practically for anyone who is willing to answer my questions. Thank you all very much and maybe you could spread it to your friends too and please send the filled out surveys back to [e-mail], with "survey" in the subject line. I appreciate your help!!


Survey follows:


Age:

Gender:

Education level:

Field of study:

Your involvement in theatre (Ex: theatre-goer, actor, crew...) :

For theatre workers – why did you decide to work in the theatre? What is it giving you?
For theatre-goers – On average, how often do you go to theatre?

For all – what are the most representative features of American culture – in general:
- in art:

What does theatre mean to you? What role does it play in your life?

How is theatre represented in your community?

What type of theatre do you most often go to (ex: repertory, community, seasonal...)?

In general, are performances in your community aimed at a certain target audience (i.e.: age, social standing...)?

What do you think of theatre as a career path or profession?

How do you perceive theatre as part of your culture and cultural heritage?

What does theatre depict from your life, your social and cultural environment?

What do you think current theatre lacks or how should it change to be more poignant for today's audiences?

What issues would you like to see dealt with in current theatrical productions?

If you go to see a performance, what kind do you usually pick (ex: drama, comedy, musical, stand-up...)?

What is it that touches you about a theatrical performance, what effect does a performance have on you?

Do you think Broadway represents typical all-American theatre, or is it rather commercial, deigned for specific interest groups?

How do you view Broadway in terms of accessibility, affordability, representation of American identity in the world?

Do you think American theatre is well represented abroad?
Is American society truthfully presented by theatre today? Do you think it creates an accurate picture of
American society to an outside observer? How about to an American?

Your favorite dramatist, favorite play and favorite show you've seen:
Why – what did it catch you by?

Do you perceive theatre as an integral part of your community, your society, your culture?

How does theatre represent American culture?

What do you think is most characteristic about American theatre?

Which typically American feature is most widely presented in American theatre?

Do you think theatre nowadays is readily accessible and available to everyone? Why or why not?

Is there anything that should change that would make you attend theatrical performances more often?

Does theatre now, like in the past (i.e.: Uncle Tom's Cabin) have the power to speak to people, bring attention to and change social circumstances?

Does theatre today contribute to the richness of American lifestyle?

If yes, in what way and to what extent does it touch daily life?

In the future, according to current trends, do you think theatre will remain an integral part of American culture? Why or why not?

How does theatre contribute to your feelings of national identity?

What role does theatre play in representing American Identity in general?

Additional comments:

Thank you.

[MyNameInLights]

Posted: 1/31/05 at 6:40pm

I'd love to do this, just give me a little time. When do you need it by?

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 1/31/05 at 8:17pm

Age: 13

Gender: Female

Education level: 8th grade

Field of study: None

Your involvement in theatre (Ex: theatre-goer, actor, crew...) : Theater-goer and aspiring singer

For theatre workers – why did you decide to work in the theatre? What is it giving you?
For theatre-goers – On average, how often do you go to theatre?
About once a month or once every other month

For all – what are the most representative features of American culture – in general: Food, clothing and music
- in art: Music

What does theatre mean to you? What role does it play in your life? It is very important to me. I buy a lot of cast recordings, see a lot of shows and perform. It helps me when I feel upset and I can't imagine my life without it.

How is theatre represented in your community? No way. My community is theater free.

What type of theatre do you most often go to (ex: repertory, community, seasonal...)? Broadway and student (camp and school)

In general, are performances in your community aimed at a certain target audience (i.e.: age, social standing...)? No

What do you think of theatre as a career path or profession? I think that the people who get to do it as a profession in their life are very lucky and I admire them very much.

How do you perceive theatre as part of your culture and cultural heritage? Music has always been important in Judaism and it still is today, and a lot of Jewish people go to theater.

What does theatre depict from your life, your social and cultural environment? I make a lot of friends through theater. However, I also make enemies because people are either homophobes or just anti-musicals.

What do you think current theatre lacks or how should it change to be more poignant for today's audiences? I think that current theater should be less abotu imitating pop culture and more about having fun at a show. I think Broadway needs the Golden Age musicals back.

What issues would you like to see dealt with in current theatrical productions? I would like to see more 20's musicals and more unique ideas, like Urinetown or Avenue Q. Modern times and corrupt people.

If you go to see a performance, what kind do you usually pick (ex: drama, comedy, musical, stand-up...)? I always see musicals, but I am changing a bit and starting to see mroe dramas.

What is it that touches you about a theatrical performance, what effect does a performance have on you? It touches me that people go out there and perfrom 8 times a week and the actors and (usually) so talented and amazing.

Do you think Broadway represents typical all-American theatre, or is it rather commercial, deigned for specific interest groups? It is All-American but lately, more stuff has been targetted at teenagers/family.

How do you view Broadway in terms of accessibility, affordability, representation of American identity in the world? It is hard to afford for many people. If you don't have a lot of money, you won't want to pay $50+ to see a show when there are movies for $10.

Do you think American theatre is well represented abroad? Yes

Is American society truthfully presented by theatre today? Do you think it creates an accurate picture of
American society to an outside observer? How about to an American? Yes. Especially with musicals like Avenue Q, American society is well represented in theater.

Your favorite dramatist, favorite play and favorite show you've seen: Favorite dramatist-Sutton Foster (I'm sort of adding signer to this question by saying that) Favorite play-Modern Orthodox Favorite show(s)-Rent, Cabaret and Thoroughly Modern Millie
Why – what did it catch you by?
I like the plots and I think musicals that make me cry, which Cabaret and Rent did.

Do you perceive theatre as an integral part of your community, your society, your culture? It is an integral part of my society and culture, but not community.

How does theatre represent American culture? It shows us who we really are, flaws and all.

What do you think is most characteristic about American theatre? It used to be about happy society and a good time, but now it is mroe about getting teenagers to enjoy crappy pop music.

Which typically American feature is most widely presented in American theatre? Political corruption and the business world.

Do you think theatre nowadays is readily accessible and available to everyone? Why or why not? It isn't, because people with a lot of money or who live in places where tours don't really come cannot go to the theater very often.

Is there anything that should change that would make you attend theatrical performances more often? The cost and the amount of shows up each year.

Does theatre now, like in the past (i.e.: Uncle Tom's Cabin) have the power to speak to people, bring attention to and change social circumstances? Not that much. People will change sometimes, but has Rent solved the problem of AIDS?

Does theatre today contribute to the richness of American lifestyle? Not really anymore. Not a lot of America is interested in theater.

If yes, in what way and to what extent does it touch daily life? For me, I listen to Broadway showtunes constantly and I am impacted by every show I see.

In the future, according to current trends, do you think theatre will remain an integral part of American culture? Why or why not? I'm not sure because not a lot of Americans are interested in theater anymore.

How does theatre contribute to your feelings of national identity? It doesn't

What role does theatre play in representing American Identity in general? It doesn't.

[Mamie]

Posted: 1/31/05 at 8:41pm

dialectgirl2 - I would really like to help you out with this. I
copied it into a Word document and started filling in the answers but it was getting awfully long. Rather than posting all of that stuff here, could we not send it to you in an email? Maybe just attach the word document to an email? If so, I would need your email addy. You can send it on a PM if you like.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/31/05 at 8:42pm

Hm. I'll bite - I'd like to help... when do you need it by?

[ashley0139]

Posted: 1/31/05 at 9:19pm

I'll do it too. Can I pm it to you or something? When do you need it?

[sweetiedarlinmia]

Posted: 1/31/05 at 9:30pm

loving these questions and like everyone else, when do u need it and can we email/pm it to u?