Strange New York Dog

Posted on February 20th, 2010 by Peter in
This is a strange time for art, any kind of art, whether it’s visual or plastic or even more ethereal than performance, or as concrete as a glass owl.  It’s always difficult to be an artist, and in certain parts of the world, it’s next to impossible.  Of all the arts, theatre is probably the least lucrative operation anyone could venture into, where the overhead and production costs will always outweigh any profits a production might bring.  Even if it does take in a little money, after the producers are paid, there’s probably not much left for the actors, director, or the writer.  These days, then, the more economically sensible thing to do in this country is to find a musical that’s based on a bestselling novel or film, and add a zombie twist to it.

These are strange times, indeed, but there’s still plenty of reasons to find one of the top hotels in New York, and settle in, prepared for an exciting time seeing live theatre.  Because there are plenty of new works about zombies.  Lots of revivals.  Lots of large-scale productions that are running for weeks.  In this current atmosphere, there is also StrangeDog, and this might be some of the best news for awhile.  This New Jersey-based company is doing works for NY/NJ audiences, and it’s interesting drama and comedies, and the kinds of works that people like to talk about.

In the midst of all of these larger companies taking in some revenue, and smaller theatres just trying to stay afloat, no one would recommend to anyone that this is time to start a new theatre company.  But that’s exactly what these young men decided to do.  It’s a dream that lots of young actors have.  You find yourselves about to graduate, looking for a theatre to work with, and realizing that the one you want doesn’t exist.  You have very few choices here, ranging from panicking in a state of vertigo, or making your way on your own.  Raw theatre might not be a money-maker, but it’s something that a culture needs to survive, and get through a dark time, so these folks deserve a lot of karma points to make their trip around the wheel of fortune as splendid as it can be.

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