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.