A Little Irreverence Would Do Us Good

In case you missed it, the 2011 Tony Awards offered up a fabulous opening number featuring Neil Patrick Harris that takes a “different approach” to dealing with the audience development and financial challenges that stalk performing arts orgs. But unlike the Debbie Downer style “straight talk” adopted by some service organizations, the theater field seems to have remembered that they are filled with creative, artistic, entertaining folks…

And just to make sure you’re paying attention, the edgy opening number is laden with counter political correctness while simultaneously poking fun at all of the negative elitist stereotypes that plague our collective field. But don’t take my word for it, watch for yourself (don’t miss the tangent about audience caricatures at the 2:00 mark)…

And really, if we can’t poke fun at ourselves, then there truly is no hope. Fortunately, this business is sincerely filled with talented, creative, and motivated professionals all of who are capable of finding new ways to connect with their current and future audiences.

We just need to remember that all of this can be fun if we let it and redirect all of the self-defeatist energy surrounding what some are calling “open and frank” discussion and come up with ideas like It’s Not Just For Gays Anymore!