Call to action follow up

David has put this more eloquently than I ever could have.   Theatre and the arts are constantly being attacked, but seldom in such an overt manner.  Please make your voice heard.

Fletcher

 

You know what, my theatre and theatre-loving friends?   (This link sets the scene…)

 

http://thirdcoastdigest.com/2012/08/radio-bullies-push-around-theater-geeks-in-the-burbs/

 

The biggest fear I have in all this Reduced Shakespeare – radio preacher censorship nonsense is not protests, crank calls, or balloons filled with red paint that might stain Next Act’s pretty gold walls.  It’s this: now that Brian Faracy of Phantom Cicada has secured our venue to produce THE BIBLE, Milwaukee’s complacent self will half-rear its lazy head and dribble mediocre houses out of one side of its drooping mouth.

 

That may sound cynical and harsh — no, I admit, it IS.  But it’s based on years of experience with this sort of flash-in-the-pan agitation followed by some movement of the issue, and then a rapid drop-off of interest and action.  And as I sit here in my office at 8:15 pm Friday night, half a day after the word was given that Next Act will host THE BIBLE — hurrah, the show goes on — it’s very quiet.  …Yeah…too quiet.  Y’know??

 

Brian Faracy and Bo Johnson have been fighting this fight for weeks, while simultaneously rehearsing, producing and holding down real jobs.  I’ve arrived at the last minute and we’re happy to provide a space for the production to land.  But it’s only a minor victory to simply produce the show.  Brian could have done that one time in someone’s parking lot and called it a win.

 

The only thing to do now is to buy Brian’s tickets…all 1200 of them.   That’s less than 2 Powerhouses; it’s about 2.2 Todd Wehrs, one Pabst, 3 Cabots, 6 Stiemkes,12 Studios, about 9 Helfaers, a dozen Stackners, a Riverside…well, you get the point.  Think of the past work that has crammed these spaces to capacity over the years and then ask , “How much of that work was a direct expression of Freedom of Speech, of standing up to censorship, or answering a literal bully pulpit with the gentle but palpable protest of showing up to be counted?”  What a time to be counted.

 

This is about ART.  And it’s about speaking truth to power.  Answering ignorance with light.  Responding to fear with humor.  Which brings us back to ART.  And…this very silly show.

 

It’s 15 bucks a vote.  Do we have what it takes?

Aug 31 – Sept. 9   Friday 7:30,  Saturday 4:30/7:30, Sunday 2:00

 

And, by the way, if you’re out of town and can’t make a show, you can still buy a ticket or two and sponsor someone who can’t quite muster the dough.  A democracy sponsor…sounds nice, huh?

 

414-278-0765 if the Box Office #.  If you get VM, leave name and #, we’ll track you down.

 

Or this address gets you to the online ticket site (you have to paste it):

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/270533

 

Please pass this on to your circle.  Don’t worry if yours intersects with others.

 

Come for the Fun…stay for the Freedom of Speech.  And, you can take your drink in with you.

Thanks.

 

– David

 

David A. Cecsarini
Producing Artistic Director

 

NEXT ACT THEATRE
P.O. Box 394
Milwaukee, WI  53201

 

Admin:      414-278-7780               www.nextact.org
Box Offc:  414-278-0765
Fax:          414-278-5930

Delafield Bows to Censorship Pressure

David Cecsarini sent me this letter and I reprint it here with his permission.  I’ve been out of town and missed this whole affair, but folks, this kind of thing makes my blood boil, and given the current climate and recent events, it makes me fearful of which way we’re stumbling in this country.  I’m quite certain that no one who is up in arms about this production has even bothered to read the play.  Please read, speak up and support this venture.  I’ll post more information as I receive it.

Fletcher

Hi Fellow Travelers,

Perhaps you’ve picked up on the scuttlebutt about the radio preacher throwing an airwaves fit over The Reduced Shakespeare’s THE BIBLE: THE COMPLETE WORD OF GOD (abridged).  It was to be staged at SummerStage’s Delafield venue, Lapham Peak State Park, until preacher man riled up his base, they made calls — board members, pols — and the DNR, who controls the venue, caved in to the “pressure,” found a loophole and pulled the permission.

Another venue in Delafield was chosen, but the callers worked their special magic here as well, so, no go.  I know…it sounds like a joke.  But it’s not.

It looks like the show may come downtown to In Tandem’s Tenth Street Theatre, running August 31 – September 16.  That decision will be made very soon.

This link will bring you to a Tom Strini article for more background, and maybe inspiration.

http://thirdcoastdigest.com/2012/08/radio-bullies-push-around-theater-geeks-in-the-burbs/

I think you all know how lightweight the Reduced script is.  I find it absolutely frightening that such public-opinion censorship can occur, so swiftly and inexorably, over a piece that’s lighter-than-air and just for fun.  What might happen when we produce something that actually merits attention because it does indeed take on controversial subject matter?

I believe we all have a stake in this, as producers, as artists and as citizens.

If and when the show goes on — and I think it will — perhaps the best thing we can do is to inform our patrons and give them the opportunity and encouragement to support the production.  Why not deliver a palpable answer to this sort of mass media bullying in box office terms?

As artists in this consumerist society, we must continually prove or speak up for the relevance of our vision and the work it generates.  Taking unified action to stand up for one of our own against censorship and ignorance, seems a pretty relevant cause.

What think you?

Best regards,

David C.

David A. Cecsarini
Producing Artistic Director

NEXT ACT THEATRE