"but no one in L.A. knows sh*t about theatre" — Page 2

Oh come on, everyone from LA don't take it so personally, there is no doubt regardless of talent and the number of theatres and the education of actors that NYC is the HEART of theatre and LA is the HEART of film/tv. And yes I understand that theatre is all over the country, not denying that at all.

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I think that the person just missed the point of Drowsy Chaperone, prompting the comment... oh well.

As a Angelino (well actually no, as an Orange County-ian) I think that most people know a lot more general information about the entire entertainment industry than any other location in the United States. Especially in Orange County, most people who can afford to (basically all the rich people) "Go to the theater" as they call it whenever they can, and usually can regale their Theatrically affluent friends about their theater experiencesd with Cats, Wicked, Phantom of the Opera, and basically all of the other big touring musicals. Orange County has a lot of great theater (Shakespeare OC, 5 or 6 Civic Light Operas, South Coast Rep., OCPAC, lots and lots of small theater programs, greta theater coming from Fullerton College and Cal State Fullerton, as well as the 3 performing arts magnet schools and 30-some incredible drama programs at local high schools) that is usually overlooked in the scheme of things. I find that Angelinos (no offense this is a generalization) usually neglect a night at the Ahmanson to catch an early sreening of Memiors of a Geisha at the ArcLight or see an exhibit at LACMA, while lots of people from down here drive out of thier way to see shows (like at the Walt Disney COncert Hall, LA Opera, Ahmanson, Pantages... ect).

Also, if you think about it, a LOT of shows do out-of-town tryouts here (Evita, Sunset Boulevard, A Dancer's Life, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Drowsy Chaperone, Ragtime... this is all off the top of my head), so obviously producers believe this area to be an excellent tryout ground for new works. I dont think Des McAnuff would entrust the communtiy to mold one of his new musicals (Doctor Zhivago) by utilizing a new program in which the audience through interviews and surveys actually become a major part of the production and writing process. Each community has its own great theater and ungrateful residents who neglect it.

It's kinda true and kinda not, it matters what groups you run around with.

Gee, I'm white and tend to my lawn....

Now, I will go eat a yogurt, because it is the only culture available to us poor misguided racists in Los Angeles.

LMAO.

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Aye! We are completely inferior in our knowledge of theatre, but we have good hearty lungs that have adapted to the smog! We don't need no pansy-ass pure air, do we?

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You know, every single one of you who speaks about the lack of "cultural diversity" in Los Angeles, has SO obviously NEVER BEEN HERE... or never been beyond a tiny isolated (touristy) section of this vastly spread out city.

There is MORE cultural diversity in the Los Angeles arts scene than there is in NYC. Yes, I've seen both. I've lived in both cities. I know what I'm talking about.

You do not. Period.

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Gee, then that whole GETTY museum thing...shall we burn it to the ground?

Updated On: 12/28/05 at 04:41 PM

I have never heard such a load of sh*t in my entire life.

LA has more theatre than any other American city except NYC. On most weekends there are over 120 plays and shows in LA.

Where but in LA can one see such theare luminaries such as Brian D'Arcy James, Loretta Devine, Robert Mandan, Robert Foxworth, Tonya Pinkins, Daisy Egan, Valarie Pettiford, Jason Graae, and Bonnie Franklin in small theatre (under 99 seat) productions.

As for "The Drowsy Chaperone", it's not a show for everyone, especially not for jaded New Yorkers.

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In response to:

"They also mentioned that the choreography for Drowsy was "uncreative.""

Well then the person in question, who was bashing LA for not knowing anything about theatre, needs to think about something. If the choreo for Drowsy is uncreative...blame Casey Nicholaw, isn't he the choreographer? AND isn't he from NEW YORK CITY!?

I presently call New York City home, and it's a fine city. But one thing really, really irks me about this place...it's ego. Don't get me wrong, I love the pace, the excitement, the plethora of theatre...what I hate are those select (not all!) New Yorkers who think this island is the only place in the world with theatre worth seeing.

Overheard at the Winter Garden the other day: an employee stating that touring performers aren't up to snuff with their Broadway counterparts. I've worked on tours, and grew up seeing shows on tour (as well as their Broadway productions in NY). I have to say that many times I'm more pleased with the casts on the tours. THey have a new press opening night every few weeks or months...so the pressure to keep it fresh, and exciting is greater. In NYC once you open, thats it. You're done. You can coast...and I've seen a lot of that on Broadway lately. Makes me sad. However...I don't think touring performers are better. Let us remember that tours AND Broadway both cast from the same talent pool.

Also, I toured through LA and found the audiences incredibly sophisticated, and the city does have a love of theatre, and quite a remarkable theatre scene. I even found it more varied than NY in some respects.

NY is a fabulous theatre city. LA is a fabulous theatre city. Why fight? Both have ups, both have downs. Both will have smash hits...both will have turkeys. But these New Yorkers who hold such animosity towards the theatre found in LA, indeed anywhere that isn't on their prescious little island, need to grow up and maybe book a flight and travel...spend some time in these places. They might just surprise you. Something to ponder, perhaps.

Does anyone else find the comments directly above posted by obnoxious not only immature, but also a tad (ok maybe a bit more than a tad) rude and offensive?

If after 45+ posts you haven't seen that this thread is going nowhere...

c'mon guys, let's just give it a rest. You are talking to a brick wall. We know the truth and I think we've done an impressive job "defending" our city.

Obnoxious is as new to this board as he is to the art of debate. Let's put him out of his misery and let the thread die.

Boys and Girls: In Southern California theres a place where everyone can be happy, it's the most beautiful place in the whole f***ing world. It's made of candy canes and planes and bright red choo choo trains, with the meanest little boys, and the most innocent little girls and you know I wish that I could go there, but its a road that I have not found for I am an elitist New Yorker who is blind to everything that is the JOY of Los Angeles. Praise the Lord Brothers and Sisters!

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