Unpopular Vote

Can I say something here that people won't get mad about? No? I really feel I gotta. So, bear with me, and know it comes from a happy heart and a loving mind. :)

The Helen Hayes Awards and Theatre Community in General in DC
For the past few years (comparatively few, I know) I have worked artistically and, for a time, administratively within the smaller theatres in DC. I have worked administratively in some of the larger theatres. I have also been an avid audience member and theatre enthusiast.

For all of these reasons it saddens me, utterly, horribly, terribly saddens me that the theatre community is so divided over its "boundries" between independant and commercial theatre.

Granted - I used to be of the camp that was angered over the HH judges apparent over-looking of small, edgy, low-budget theatre, because it was my work and my friends and colleagues' work that was being over-looked. But in the past couple of years I've started realizing that it's not about the theatres (not always) it's about the worlds being created, the people we're reaching, and the stories we're telling in what way that appeal to critics and judges.

Granted, too - the Helen Hayes awards are not based entirely on talent, of course not, there are plenty of politics being considered in the judging. But for the most part, can we agree that the judges attending shows to rate them are not always "theatre people" with a knowledge of how things work in "our" world?

The work that gets recognition is work that touches each audience in some way - even if just to make them say WOW. Work that breaks some kind of mold, or goes above and beyond. The work recognized this year did that. Small and Large companies alike were recognized for their efforts to create new worlds, or re-imagine old ones. And that is really what the goal of theatre should be - to create a new world for the audience to inhabit with us for however long we can. And if that world convinces them, if it touches some part of them, then we've done our job. Theatre is not about the artists, or the places it gets done, or really any individuals recognized this year - it's about the audiences we reach. Without an audience, we really are just masturbating in a dark room.

But the awards are not masturbatory (are the Academy Awards?). Individuals and companies who go above and beyond their means and the norm should be recognized for their achievements. I think of it in this blasphemous way: The World was purportedly created in seven days, and we set aside one day a week to recognize that; Theatre Artists create worlds, too, but it takes months and months of planning and communication, rehearsal and tech, to accomplish it - so we get one day a year to recognize Theatre Artists who created worlds and people in the past 12 months that reached their audience.

I just wish that we as a community were not so catty about the nominees and winners. It's a big deal, a REALLY big deal for most of those nominated, and I'm seriously sad when I read snarky comments or snide asides that de-value the nominations. There's a good mix of big and small theatres recognized this year, as well as the new and old. Is there ever going to be a time when we're just happy for those who were nominated because we support them as artists and colleagues and not as the competition? Can't we just be proud to have such a diverse and influential theatre community at a time when the arts are deemed less important to schools (and thereby our future audiences)?

Anyway, I'm just bummed about the negativity. I've seen a lot of positive, but it's the negative that gets noticed. I know that we can't all agree on the nominations, and I'm not saying that I do, but we can support our theatre community by NOT bitching and sincerely being happy that we still have these awards, which don't validate ourselves, but validate us to our AUDIENCE. And for those who feel overlooked, we can support them by seeing where they can improve and working together to make that happen.

So just be nice. Thanks.