Open letter to Theatre Companies, artistic directors, directors, and producers.

When you decide to do yet another production of Annie, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, or Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, I learn two things about you as a group. First thing I learn about you is that you're lazy. That's right I said it. You Are Lazy. You show an absolute lack of creativity, and a seeming refusal to rectify that. You do not go to see what other shows there are. You don't read plays. You don't listen to music of anything else that may be exciting. You're lazy. You don't have the ambition to look for something new, and honestly in my opinion that lack of ambition indicates more than anything else that perhaps you shouldn't have the job that you have. You're too old, too tired, and too blind to continue working effectively in your position. Give it to someone willing to do what you are not.

The second thing I learn about you is an extension of the first. You just want to make money. Everyone knows that those particular shows are "money" shows. When I see your audition post for yet another production of one of said shows, the first thing I think is that you just need a box office guarantee. You're too lazy to try to find something that could be just as effective, and too scared to take a risk. So you settle. You settle for the same, tired, rehashed, done to death shows, that will almost guarantee butts in seats. This says a lot about Utah audiences as well, but trust me, that's a whole other blog, and a subject I do intend to address, but I put a large part of whats wrong with Utah audiences on you. Yes. Take responsibility you lazy, money grabbing pseudo artists.

You see that's my ultimate complaint. You are destroying the progress of art. Art should say something. Should speak to us. And yes, there is nothing at all wrong with it entertaining us, or making money for you. I honestly do not have the slightest problem with you wanting to turn a profit for what you do. I applaud it. I simply criticize the way in which you choose to do it.

You are not helping Utah theatre at all. You are simply helping to stagnate it. You are contributing to its slow death. In cities where the art is alive and flourishing, there are people always, ALWAYS, looking for whats new. Trying new things. Exploring new works. And sometimes, its a complete failure. Which is fine. Wonderful in fact. At least they're trying. They're growing. Learning from mistakes, instead of beating to death 30 year old successes.

There are groups out here that are moving forward. That do perform new works, exciting works, or work that has been done in other places, but still actually relevant. Most of you however, do not.

You're too lazy.

And too afraid.

Fear and laziness have no place in art, and perhaps...neither do you.

Not Guilty

I love the verdict in the Casey Anthony trial. I know a lot if not most people will disagree, and I welcome any comments to support your feelings about it, however, let me at least justify my own.

To preface. We live in a faith based society. So much is taken as absolute fact in America, based on nothing more substantial than the idea of "I believe." It is so much a part of who we are that most things about daily living are taken as pre supposed fact with no evidence of support beyond that simple sentiment.

I for one believe nothing. I either know, or I don't know. That simple. No amount of anyone...and I truly mean ANYONE, can convince me of fact no matter how strongly they believe anything, without some point of evidence to support that belief.

So many people believe that Casey Anthony is guilty of murdering her child. They may even be right. But to condemn a person to death based solely on belief is the greatest of injustice. How many people in our American History have been condemned to death simply because someone believes they are guilty?

The fact remains that beyond belief...nothing was provided to actually PROVE her guilt. No evidence was ever presented that proved beyond doubt that not only did she murder her child, but she did so with forethought and pre-meditation. No piece of undeniable evidence ever came forward that proved beyond doubt that she even accidentally killed her child. She may have, but the evidence that she DID either does not exist, or was never presented.

I cannot in good conscience condemn a person to DEATH...based on what I or anyone BELIEVES. It was written and stands that for a conviction, the crime must be proven BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT. Prosecution did NOT do this. I am actually glad that there were people on the jury smart enough to understand the difference between knowledge, and belief.

Faith is NOT nor should it EVER be considered strong enough evidence to provide conviction. If Casey Anthony is indeed guilty of the crime, then the fault of the conviction lies with everyone responsible for providing actual tangible evidence, and presenting that to a jury. It is not the fault of the jury for recognizing that the evidence was never presented.

I truly felt a moment of hope for reasonable people everywhere, that in this case, twelve people sitting in a box were able to recognize the difference between faith and knowledge.