Thanks for this. We, too often, eat our own in a feeding frenzy of self-righteousness. The theatre so often lives in a survival mode in which the only sense of value we possess in abundance is our idealism. But it us easy for idealism to turn puritanical. I don’t know ANY theatre people who went into it fir the money. I don’t know any theatre people who have bad intentions towards any minorities or oppressed or disadvantaged communities. The (sometimes) useful sense of outrage that can motor the creation of art can be very destructive when turned on the ignorance or mistakes of others and used to turn flawed friends into the enemy. I hope that the non-profit status itself and the resources that LASA possesses can be passed on to a reborn organization. As starting a new organization is Herculean. LA can use a strong theatre service organization.
This is a sad tale, Steven, particularly in light of your stewardship of LASA and your frustrated efforts to foster community, within LASA and beyond, during your time there. LASA’s abrupt demise seems warranted, under the circumstances — some shaking up of its tribal culture apparently overdue — but what entity will replace it? Should it be replaced? Re-constituted? Your clear-eyed and fair-minded essay lays the groundwork for further discussion and invites soul-searching. Thanks.
Thanks for this. We, too often, eat our own in a feeding frenzy of self-righteousness. The theatre so often lives in a survival mode in which the only sense of value we possess in abundance is our idealism. But it us easy for idealism to turn puritanical. I don’t know ANY theatre people who went into it fir the money. I don’t know any theatre people who have bad intentions towards any minorities or oppressed or disadvantaged communities. The (sometimes) useful sense of outrage that can motor the creation of art can be very destructive when turned on the ignorance or mistakes of others and used to turn flawed friends into the enemy. I hope that the non-profit status itself and the resources that LASA possesses can be passed on to a reborn organization. As starting a new organization is Herculean. LA can use a strong theatre service organization.
Well written, Steven. You have a future in journalism.
This is a sad tale, Steven, particularly in light of your stewardship of LASA and your frustrated efforts to foster community, within LASA and beyond, during your time there. LASA’s abrupt demise seems warranted, under the circumstances — some shaking up of its tribal culture apparently overdue — but what entity will replace it? Should it be replaced? Re-constituted? Your clear-eyed and fair-minded essay lays the groundwork for further discussion and invites soul-searching. Thanks.