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ATCA weighs in on Bitter Lemons

By Steven Leigh Morris

This just in from Wm. F. Hirschman, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the American Theatre Critics’ Association. The following statement was agreed upon by the organization’s Executive Committee: 

“The American Theatre Critics’ Association, the only national organization of professional theater critics, is concerned with the model started by Bitter Lemons. While it does not guarantee a favorable review or allow theater companies to choose the reviewer, this pay-for-play arrangement creates a clear appearance of a conflict of interest. That appearance, even if spurious, undermines the crucial credibility of not only Bitter Lemons’ critics, but all critics.

“Our profession has fought for decades to preserve the image of independence. When our work is put out for sale to those we cover, we are concerned not just for the criticism itself but for the bypassing of editorial judgment in deciding what to cover and what not to cover.”