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PROVINCETOWN GUIDE
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| DIRECTORY |
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Provincetown :: Friday, March 12th 2010
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Notes from Land's End: Oct. 17
The Business of Theater
By Laura Shabott
October 19th, 2009
The Women’s Week annual play by Meryl Cohen, “Insatiable Hunger”, was moved from its traditional spot at The Provincetown Theater to Wellfleet’s WHAT. This happened due to a scheduling error with Counter Productions. What is going on in the business end of our community theater?
| But, how does a group of actors, artists and volunteers pay for the discovery of the next Tennessee Williams? |
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There was standing room only for Wednesday’s annual meeting to navigate the cumbersome process of running a theater by consensus. The 2010 objective is to produce new works; plays that take a risk with emerging talents. But, how does a group of actors, artists and volunteers pay for the discovery of the next Tennessee Williams? This is a serious matter because it takes as much talent to run a theater as it does to perform on its stage.
The New Art Cinema downtown took a large financial risk and created professional stages in its two movie theaters. Then, these entrepreneurial whizzes added a restaurant, a real bar and made it fun. Today, the venue is utilized by talent of all persuasions and is a huge success. “A for profit business is a dictatorship,” says Tom Boland, co-owner of Farland Provisions, “while a non profit is run by its own membership.” Boland, nominated for president at the annual meeting of the Provincetown Theater, held his cool in the hot seat, not even knowing he would be contending for the position.
In steps the new president, the poised Karen Billard. Through a series of tough questions from an emotional audience, she established herself and her vision for the theater. Billard cited Robert Cardinal’s fundraiser as the cornerstone of her plan. There is also grant writing, educational programs, user friendly rental agreements and seats to fill where the community is your boss. This is no small task.
Former President Tim McCarthy said that “the theater wins, no matter what, by the large turnout for the annual meeting.” Provincetown is home to some of the brightest minds in Art and Theater and we will figure it out.
Provincetown Theater
Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater
Counter Productions
New Art Cinema
Laura Shabott loves to write about Provincetown. Graduate from the School of the MFA, Boston, she is practiced in writing, painting and acting.
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