National Public Radio (09/21/22) Mondello, Bob

The pandemic has forced regional theaters to transition to new paradigms. Director Molly Smith at Washington, D.C.'s Arena Stage said when the pandemic first struck, "We immediately started doing programming online, because we knew we needed to maintain our connection with our audiences, our artists and our patrons." The Arena's offerings included actor- and director-led theater classes, weekly interviews with artists and films. The pandemic's interruption also brought about a rethink of long-term policies, particularly regarding racial equity. Chicago playwright Ike Holter highlighted the issue during a radio show in 2020, which spurred hundreds of prominent theatermakers of color to make demands that resident theaters correct their operating model. Theaters also began reconsidering subscription plans that prioritize affluent patrons who can buy a season's worth of prime seats in advance, as well as a nonprofit governance model that makes artists subservient to an unaccountable volunteer board of directors. Another key development is greater interconnection among theaters via a network of producing organizations, to ensure that new plays do not have to rely on a single production to find success.

Read the full story on NPR.