3-16-07
SOC Benefit Postponed
Just days before the March 5 benefit performance of Working at the Harris Theatre for Music and Dance (reported in this space in the March 2 PeformInk), the Actors’ Fund and Season of Concern announced they were postponing their first-ever joint event until Sept. 10. Actually, the New York-based Actors Fund made the decision and made the announcement, demonstrating who’s in the driver’s seat on this one.
“By doing it later it looks like it will be a whole lot more fruitful, and they’ll be able to plan it better,” said Stephen Rader, executive director of Season of Concern. He acknowledged, however, that the Actors’ Fund gave him exactly one day’s notice on the postponement, promising to issue an e-mail press release that explained everything.
Since the e-mail press release gave no explanation for the postponement, we called the Actors’ Fund in New York. They said there were some last-minute cast conflicts with the company of two former-Chicago stars (Liz Callaway and Malcolm Gets) and a dozen or so leading local performers. Also, they said, they had wanted to honor Studs Terkel at the event, but the author of the non-fiction work upon which the Broadway musical is based wasn’t available. At first the Actors’ Fund looked to reschedule in April, then in June, and finally settled on Monday, Sept. 10, a date congenial with the Harris Theatre.
The Actors’ Fund spokesperson said Callaway, Gets and all other participants remained committed to Working for the September date. However, there are likely to be conflicts similar to those for the original date. For example, in early September announced cast member Greg Vinkler is likely still to be in Door County, where he is artistic director of the Peninsula Players.
The Actors Fund New York headquarters acknowledged that they will be able to put the longer lead time to good advantage, and that initial planning may have been too hasty. They contend, however, that ticket sales were going well even at the top tier of $500; and that the Actors Fund has a base of high-rolling ticket buyers that’s different from the Season of Concern base, much of which contributes in the $5-$20 range.
However, the New York office has decided to sell lower-priced tickets. For the Sept. 10 performance, they’ve added a $25 ticket for theatre professionals and students. Tickets continue to be on sale through the Harris Theater box office, 312/334-7777.
On performink.com, you can find the recently-announced winners of the 2006 Orgie Theatre Awards, given by an anonymous committee of self-proclaimed collection of theatre artists and patrons. We do not question the merits of those who have won the Orgies, or the sincerity of the Orgie Committee, but we do believe they are overly coy about who and what they are and just a touch self-righteous.
Protected by the anonymity of the Internet, the Orgie Committee assured PerformInk last year that they would cover and recognize all types of theatre throughout the Chicago area; an assurance we questioned then and question now. Even the 45 members of the Jefferson Committee cannot see everything and set certain limits and restrictions, yet the smaller Orgie Committee claimed they would be comprehensive. They patently are not.
We pointed out last year that the first Orgies went exclusively to smaller Off-Loop and Off-off-Loop theatres and theatre artists, all located on the North Side. We point out that such is the case again, with Teatro Vista the only troupe that uses Equity performers. For the second year in a row, there is no large theatre among the winners, no for-profit theatre and very little geographic spread. Our necessarily opaque image of the Orgie Committee is of a group of relatively young and callow theatre folk. We might even say young, callow and white theatre folk.
As we did last year, we publicly urge the Orgie Awards Committee to be more forthcoming. You wish to preserve your anonymity? Fine. But at least tell the world how many of you there are, how you nominate and arrive at your choices and something about your credentials in theatre.
Former League of Chicago Theatres CEO Marj Halperin is calling on theatre folk to join her at The Second City, March 28, to participate in a new political endeavor, the Bread and Butter Forum, designed to influence Democratic Party policy. Messages Marj, “I joined with several friends to set up the Bread and Butter Forum to promote grass-roots-level discussion of key policy issues. What matters to you? We can’t wait till the next presidential election, only to find out that the Dems still don’t understand what moves voters in the Heartland. So, we’re inviting progressive folks to speak out now about what’s important to them. And, we hope to have a little fun along the way.” Members of the Second City also will provide entertainment. Free admission; cash bar; more info at Breadandbutterforum.com.
Under the leadership of Alex Gelman, the revived Organic Theater Company has launched its month-long calling-card 2007 season of four plays performed in rotating repertory, at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts. The March 16-April 8 season offers Bartleby the Scrivener (based on Melville), Man with Bags (by Ionesco), The $30,000 Bequest (based on Twain) and The Dressing Room (by Shimizu Kunio).
At the Mercury Theater, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story has dropped Wednesday night performances but extended its run through April 29. Meanwhile, two long-run shows have set closing dates: the indie production of Leaving Iowa at the Royal George and Fat Pig at Profiles Ensemble, perhaps that troupe’s biggest hit ever.
We’ve all attended plays that stink, but how about a theatre that stinks? Premiere Theatre & Performance had to cancel the Feb. 27 opening performance of Keith Huff’s Gray City at the 2nd floor Peter Jones Gallery when fumes from the freshly-painted first floor rose through the ceiling and threatened to sicken everyone who breathed. Premiere Theatre & Performance is the company founded by Patrizia Lombardi Acerra, formerly called the International Theatre of Chicago. The Huff world premiere, continuing through March 31, is the first show under the new name.
On Sunday, March 4, the Chicago Tribune carried an excellent and heartfelt page-one feature story on Dan Proctor and his long struggle to recover from the nearly-fatal gunshot wound he received June 26, 2005. Tribune staff reporter Josh Noel was the writer. Proctor continues to make slow but steady progress, living with his tirelessly dedicated mother in Northwest Indiana. The injuries robbed Proctor of both motor and cognitive skills, so he literally is relearning to talk, read and walk at the same time. Proctor remains dedicated to remastering his physical skills, and then relearning his musical skills as well. He’s come a long way, but he has a long way to go. His strength and patience are astonishing.