THEATER: INCREASING THE DEMAND

According to the New York Times online, "At a conference about new play development at Arena Stage in Washington, Rocco Landesman (the new chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts) said: “You can either increase demand or decrease supply. Demand is not going to increase, so it is time to think about decreasing supply.”

More creatively, he should be thinking about increasing demand by...

(a) increasing the quality of the productions (for example, with more development resources);
(b) improving the relevance of productions to their potential audience (not just same-old same-old popular old plays, but new plays to cater to a young and fresh new audience);
and
(c) educating and motivating the audience to appreciate and want to see the productions.

There is a reason that movie studios spend a lot of money on advertising, and great effort on promotion, including arranging for interviews with the films' actors and directors. The reason is that people have many alternative ways to spend their time. To go to a particular film, or play, or read a particular book, or watch a particular TV show, people have to be motivated and interested. Learning about the importance of the work, understanding the work, having personal contact with the creators and even just hearing a lot about the work all generate interest, and interest generates an audience.

There is no captive audience for any particular entertainment (nor do audiences suddenly appear as if by magic), the audience must be impressed into spending their time there. Note: "Impressed" here is being used both in the sense of "affected strongly, often favorably" and "compelled to serve (as in a military force)".

"Decreasing supply" (instead of building an audience) is a disturbing phrase coming from the head of the National Endowment for the Arts.
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Coming: THE WITCH OF EDMONTON

THE WITCH OF EDMONTON
By Thomas Dekker, John Ford, and William Rowley
Adapted and directed by Jesse Berger

RED BULL THEATER
Limited Run starts performances January 25, 2011

A witch, a fool, a young man, his two wives, an angry mob, and one very devilish dog take the stage in the first major Off Broadway production of this fantastical tragicomedy. In a new adaptation of the original Jacobean play, this rarely-performed classic rips open the dark underbelly of a small town with humor and pathos. As the lives of its inhabitants intersect in spellbinding ways, the power of a community for both good and evil is revealed. A once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience this fascinating and disturbingly timely tale.

CAST
Craig Baldwin — Justin Blanchard — Adam Green — Christopher Innvar — Christopher McCann — Carman Lacivita — Christina Pumariega — Amanda Quaid — Everett Quinton — André De Shields — Miriam Silverman — Derek Smith — Raphael Nash Thompson — Sam Tsoutsouvas — Charlayne Woodard

PRODUCTION TEAM
Designs by Anka Lupes, Cait O'Connor, Elizabeth Rhodes and Peter West, featuring Original Music by Daniel Levy, with additional designs by Deb Gauoette, Erin Kennedy Lunsford, Jessica Scott, and Dan Scully. Casting by Stuart Howard, Voice & Text by Dan Pardo, Choreography by Tracy Bersley, Aerial Effects by Paul Rubin and Stage Violence by Rick Sordelet. Stage Manager: Damon Arrington. Production Supervisor: James E. Cleveland. Associate Producer: Renee Blinkwolt. Publicist: David Gersten.


TICKETS - On Sale Now
http://www.redbulltheater.com/ or 212.352.3101
$20 and Up ***Prices vary according to availability

SPECIAL RATES
-$100 Benefit Opening Jan 30 $250 for VIP Opening Night Party*
-All seats $10 off Regular Price on Preview Perf’s Jan 25-29
-Unique "On-Stage" seating $10 Off Regular Price at all Perf’s
-Student $20 Age 30 & Under & Industry $30 Senior $40 (w/ID at Box Office)
-$20 Tuesdays: Jan 25, Feb 1, Feb 8
-20 Rush Tickets released 1 hr prior to Tuesday perf’s at Box Office - cash only
-Group Discount: 40% off for groups of 10 or more. Call (212) 414-5168 ext. 1 or write jerry@redbulltheater.com

EARLY BIRD OFFER – 20% OFF
-Buy tickets before Jan 21 and receive 20% discount using code PRE0121. (some restrictions apply)

*BENEFIT OPENING NIGHT PERFORMANCE - JANUARY 30 @ 7pm
VIP Opening Night Party with Special Guests: Tim Carroll, Michael Cerveris, Veanne Cox, Daniel Davis, John Douglas Thompson, Jennifer Ikeda, Dana Ivey, Brent Langdon, Robert Emmet Lunney, Jan Maxwell, Roberta Maxwell, Jeff McCarthy, Kathryn Meisle, Kristine Nielsen, Matthew Rauch, Roger Rees, Christina Rouner, Jay O. Sanders, Erica Schmidt, Michael Torke, Marc Vietor, and more.

Theater at St. Clements
423 West 46 Street
New York

Link: WIKIPEDIA on "The Witch of Edmonton"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Witch_of_Edmonton