If I had been watching the movie at home, I definitely would not have teared up. But sitting in a theater with about 3,000 other people, watching the Beast turn around and see Belle at the top of the stairs near the end of Beauty and the Beast, I couldn’t help it: I was verklempt. That was not the only surprise of my theater season that wrapped up yesterday when I saw the national tour of The Notebook. My theater menu this year included a subscription to the Broadway series at Durham … [Read more...] about Field Notes from a Soft-Hearted Theater Snob
Engagement
Nostalgia and Familiarity Oversimplifies What Audiences Want
I have no illusions that a New York Times feature in the Theater section will be able to tell the full story of the incredibly far-reaching theater sector, but I bristled more than usual at a recent New York Times article that profiles Milwaukee Repertory Theater and Gulfshore Playhouse as regional theaters that are “defying the odds”. The article sets out to prove that success comes from leaning into familiar, upbeat programming and seeing strong attendance and financial results. Given the … [Read more...] about Nostalgia and Familiarity Oversimplifies What Audiences Want
Show the Miles, Not Just the Medal
I didn’t run the New York City Marathon yesterday, but I felt like I was standing on the sidelines cheering just like thousands of New Yorkers —thanks to a young woman on TikTok who made me care about her race as if it were my own. Content creator Amanda Luckie set a huge goal for herself: to cut two hours off her marathon time. For months, she shared every long run, injury recovery, and tough speed workout with her followers. On race day, she didn’t hit her goal; she shaved off forty minutes … [Read more...] about Show the Miles, Not Just the Medal
When to Hold, When to Fold, When to Play a Different Game
Leading an arts organization right now can feel like sitting at a blackjack table on a bad night. The stakes are high, the cards aren’t great, and the audience—the one group you can’t bluff—can see every move you make. When to Hold (on to your values) All we really have with our audiences is trust. That’s why the Smithsonian needs to hold its independence like a winning hand. No bluffing needed – smile, look the other players directly in the eye and let them know you’ve got a winning hand. … [Read more...] about When to Hold, When to Fold, When to Play a Different Game
From Village Voice to TikTok: Rethinking How Audiences Discover Art
Like clockwork, every couple of weeks or more, I see artists lamenting the need to promote themselves in the current fractured media environment, mostly complaining about how much time it takes. I get it (and I’ve written about it on this blog before). Let's reframe that perspective—both by reminding ourselves of what really existed when a few media outlets held more power over the arts, and by pushing back against the learned helplessness I see all around us when it comes to connecting with … [Read more...] about From Village Voice to TikTok: Rethinking How Audiences Discover Art