Talk to the Theater Alliance

Have you ever found yourself in a conversation with someone telling you precisely what "this theater community needs" and realizing that "this theater community" actually has that but this person you're talking with is actually too lazy, or too in love with their own contrariness, to find out? Don't be one of those people. Sign up for one of the Minnesota Theater Alliance's inaugural information sessions and find out what the Theater Alliance is already planning. Because the sessions are kept under 20 people, it's also an excellent opportunity for you to say what you think "this theater community needs" directly to the person who is being paid to listen to that stuff. I followed Leah Cooper (the Alliance's first program director and, tedious full disclosure, also my wife) around to two sessions on Monday, one at Bryant-Lake Bowl with around 20 people and one at Pillsbury House Theatre with around 8, and each one was a fascinating but different experience. Leah introduced both meetings with a summary of how the Theater Alliance came to be and what programs they're hoping to implement as soon as possible versus what ideas they looking at developing over the long haul. After around 15 minutes, she opened up the session to discussion, suggestions, and questions. The nature of the dues structure, which is based on .1% of operating budget but adjusted slightly at both the highest and lowest ends, came up in both places. Interestingly, at the Bryant-Lake Bowl, participants were most interested in how the Alliance can or should grow bigger over time, incorporating some of the functions that are perhaps done less efficiently by other organizations. (Note that this is a controversial topic that I think should be discussed in great detail before anyone makes a move to put anyone else out of business.) At Pillsbury House, the discussion revolved around various experiments the Theater Alliance might help implement in the process of supporting audience development. Also, Fractured Atlas is developing open source ticketing software for performing arts organizations around the country and, through Leah's lobbying, they'll be coming to Minnesota in mid-July to confer with our wide variety of theaters. You should contact her if your organization might be willing and able to participate. There are still a few Twin Cities meetings scheduled, including tonight at Gremlin Theatre. Plus, Leah will be taking this show on the road in the second half of the month, from Mankato to Thief River Falls. Editor's Note: As we think about what a Minnesota Theater Alliance might do for the state, I hope everyone brings a healthy skepticism to the idea that consolidation, organization, and efficiency are always the best actions in every situation. A healthy arts ecosystem cannot exist without a good amount of creative chaos, and chaos is not something that can be planned. Or, in other words, there is always a good reason to consolidate and rarely a good explanation for chaos—it's part of the nature of the chaos—except for the fact that every action has a lot of unintended consequences. For example, I've heard a lot of people talk about shared warehouse space for storage of excess set and props, etc. Forget for the moment whether this can be done in a practical fashion (which is a serious question). Consider this: At the moment, there is an informal network among designers around town where items from one theater are borrowed, moved around, and reused at a variety of other theaters in town. Many of the designers I know are constantly in contact with one another searching for things to get or give away. Sure, it can seem like a waste of time; and its informality probably means that some people are left out of the loop. But, at the same time, the unintended energy created by a creative group of people, who do very different work but constantly connect with each other, should not be underestimated. This strange, sprawling network is itself, I am absolutely positive, an instigator of unexpected creative ideas and collaborations that would not have happened if designers simply checked items into and out of an impersonal warehouse. Is the amount of time and material that may be wasted worth the amount of creative energy lost in the pursuit of greater efficiency? I'm open to arguments. I don't know how to measure these things precisely myself. But I certainly think that caution is called for regarding the idea that increased consolidation, organization, and efficiency is always good.