Comments on: Frugality in Practice: Cheap Neighborhood Entertainment

By: Joel

Joel — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 16:47:46 +0000

I have to agree, guardedly, with morydd- community arts programs often torture their media (the music or script being presented) into a barely-recognizable form during performance. High-end professional performances USUALLY provide a level of pleasure and inspiration far beyond what can be gleaned from the local efforts.
But the joy of seeing your local pastor/sullen teen/state senator onstage as a principal trumpet player or murderous gangster or tragic lover cannot be rivaled by your professional group. Even when the production is terrible, if you’re willing to find the fun in a fiasco, ecstasy is at hand.

By: William Mize

William Mize — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 15:03:18 +0000

I think we should all start our own Guerrilla Drive In.

So subversive.
So filmy.
So good.

By: Seth Kramer

Seth Kramer — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 03:07:19 +0000

Exactly. I went to see a local high school production of “Urinetown”, a hit musical. It cost my boyfriend and I a total of 12 bucks plus 4 dollars for two waters. It was a great production, and I dunno how much it would have cost me to see an off-broadway production.

By: Angie

Angie — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 21:24:52 +0000

The only thing better than watching community theater or music groups is being in one yourself!

Lots of fun and personal growth, for relatively little investment (maybe a costume? Or the price of an instrument, which you probably already have if you play…). And think of how much time you *won’t* be out spending money when you’re at rehearsal!

By: morydd

morydd — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 21:16:29 +0000

While community arts programs are fantastic, and should be given as much support as you’re able, there really isn’t a direct comparison between something like a high school production, and a full scale professional opera.
To torture an analogy, it’s like the difference between cash in your wallet, and a 401(k). They’re both your money, but they fill very different roles in your life. From someone who’s put food on my table with both ends of the theatrical spectrum, there is a vast difference. Small theaters are fed and kept alive by the audience, which allows the artists to develop themselves and the art. The large theaters return that art to the community in it’s peak form. We need both I think, but the reasons are different.

By: J.D.

J.D. — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 20:45:56 +0000

English Major, I’m not sure what’s going on with the spamfilter today. At first it was letting *everything* through, which made a behind-the-scenes mess. Now it’s been tightened down so that there are a lot of false positives. Things seem to be okay now, though.

By: Poorer Than You

Poorer Than You — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 20:33:50 +0000

Major props for the Guys and Dolls picture! =)

By: Trent

Trent — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 20:07:49 +0000

Spot on! Let the community calendar be your entertainment schedule! In a town near ours, during the spring, summer, and fall, there is a free bandshell concert on Tuesday evenings. We take our kid there, spread out a blanket, have a picnic, and enjoy the music. Our only cost is about a gallon of gas and the cost of whatever food we bring from home. Pretty good for an evening’s entertainment /and/ a meal.

By: English Major

English Major — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 19:54:15 +0000

The comment I just left didn’t show up, I think–if it did and I’m somehow missing it, feel free to delete this–but I wanted to tip you off to this events calendar. Most of these events are free and open to the public. (The best lectures, generally, are the ones that take place in Kaul Auditorium.)

By: English Major

English Major — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 19:50:46 +0000

Most of these events are free and open to the public (quick tip: generally, the lectures in Kaul Auditorium are the best ones).