Oh yeah, I am all over this internets.
Like French Fries under car seats.
Like my 3 year-old on popsicles.
Like dog hair on a sofa.
Like this.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Rousing arts optimism in tough times
Bob Hupp is the producing artistic director for the Arkansas Repertory Theatre and a smart, funny guy who also happens to be a good friend of mine. In the recent Repartee, the Rep's newsletter, Hupp's Notes column really struck a chord. I asked Bob if I could reprint it for the internets and the good of mankind. He said yes and so here it is.
"During World War II, at the height of the Battle of Britain, someone proposed to Winston Churchill that the government should close all the theaters in London to which the Prime Minister reportedly replied, 'My God! What are we fighting for?'
No one would make the case that life is as hard for us now as it was for Englanders then, but there's no denying times are tough. And non-profit theatres around our country are closing. About one every month.
Comparatively, The Rep is in pretty good shape. Attendance is at an all-time high. We just completed a statewide educational tour that was generously underwritten by institutions at home and across the country. Thanks to the generosity of our community, we recently enjoyed our most successful Saints & Sinners fundraiser ever. Our board of directors is strong and engaged. Our staff is smart and creative. We're well poised to ride out the storm.
But the truth is no amount of ticket sales in our intimate theatre, no amount of hard work, or no measure of cost-cutting will assure our survival through these difficult times. No nonprofit professional theatre is designed to survive on ticket sales alone. The art we create isn't cost effective and there's only so much you can streamline. Hamlet is just as long now, and has just as many actors, as it did in Shakespeare's day. It's not smart, from a business point of view, to give a product away to school children for $8 when it costs $100 to make that product for each of those children.
We do it anyway because we're here to make Little Rock a better place to live, a better place to work and a better place to raise children. We know the arts are a defining characteristic of our city and they enrich our lives in innumerable ways. And without your support, whether it be in volunteerism, cash donations, in-kind gifts, corporate sponsorships or enlighted civic leadership, we are lost.
Someday, and that day may come sooner rather than later, Little Rock might have decide if it wants to keep its theatres open. We're in uncharted waters.
But I believe we'll get through this and that our best days lie ahead. I pray that between now and then we don't become so frightened or so overwhelmed by immediate circumstances that we sacrifice the best of who we are for the worst of what we might become.
I think we'll be more like Winston Churchill. I think the inherently brave and generous spirit of our community will carry the day.
Thank you most sincerely for your past and future support. See you at the Rep."
The Arkansas Repertory is currently staging The Elephant Man at the Wildwood Park for the Performing Arts. Go see it and support this vital theater. (501) 378-0405.
"During World War II, at the height of the Battle of Britain, someone proposed to Winston Churchill that the government should close all the theaters in London to which the Prime Minister reportedly replied, 'My God! What are we fighting for?'
No one would make the case that life is as hard for us now as it was for Englanders then, but there's no denying times are tough. And non-profit theatres around our country are closing. About one every month.
Comparatively, The Rep is in pretty good shape. Attendance is at an all-time high. We just completed a statewide educational tour that was generously underwritten by institutions at home and across the country. Thanks to the generosity of our community, we recently enjoyed our most successful Saints & Sinners fundraiser ever. Our board of directors is strong and engaged. Our staff is smart and creative. We're well poised to ride out the storm.
But the truth is no amount of ticket sales in our intimate theatre, no amount of hard work, or no measure of cost-cutting will assure our survival through these difficult times. No nonprofit professional theatre is designed to survive on ticket sales alone. The art we create isn't cost effective and there's only so much you can streamline. Hamlet is just as long now, and has just as many actors, as it did in Shakespeare's day. It's not smart, from a business point of view, to give a product away to school children for $8 when it costs $100 to make that product for each of those children.
We do it anyway because we're here to make Little Rock a better place to live, a better place to work and a better place to raise children. We know the arts are a defining characteristic of our city and they enrich our lives in innumerable ways. And without your support, whether it be in volunteerism, cash donations, in-kind gifts, corporate sponsorships or enlighted civic leadership, we are lost.
Someday, and that day may come sooner rather than later, Little Rock might have decide if it wants to keep its theatres open. We're in uncharted waters.
But I believe we'll get through this and that our best days lie ahead. I pray that between now and then we don't become so frightened or so overwhelmed by immediate circumstances that we sacrifice the best of who we are for the worst of what we might become.
I think we'll be more like Winston Churchill. I think the inherently brave and generous spirit of our community will carry the day.
Thank you most sincerely for your past and future support. See you at the Rep."
The Arkansas Repertory is currently staging The Elephant Man at the Wildwood Park for the Performing Arts. Go see it and support this vital theater. (501) 378-0405.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Sheep? Why yes, thank you. Baaaa!
I like to think I am as original as the next guy.
Wait. That doesn't work.
Uh. I like to think I am cleverer than you. That I get to things before the herd.
Which I never do. I am a sheep. Like the rest. Nothing wrong with that. Sheep are furry and docile. My kids love 'em.
All that to say I have a Twitter deal.
I am Twittering.
Which is another way of saying, "Baaaa!"
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Son of Shameless Self-Quoting
I cannot believe in this day and age that this store doesn’t have one of those automated check out thingies! To never deal with a person, that would be so much more efficient!
-- SOCIAL WOMAN on her cell phone from Paper or Plastic?
Friday, April 3, 2009
Sing in a Busytown
My son's kidergarten class took a field trip to see Busytown, the latest musical production at the Arkansas Arts Center Children's Theatre.
The Children's Theatre is truly an undersung resource in Little Rock. The productions are high quality, especially the sets, which are always elaborate and fun (and Busytown, which consisted of a bright cardboard city, was no exception). Music was provided by the great Lori Isner, who might be the best kept secret in theater in Arkansas.
My son seemed to love the little musical, which is by Kevin Kling. I wanted to like it, but it seemed not clever enough or constructed well enough. There were nice moments to be sure. You can't go wrong with a song about a pickle car.
Busytown runs through April 5.
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