KC Dinner Theatre Defies Union Guidelines to Reopen, Sends Nasty Email in Response to Concerns

“While regional and local theatres all over the country are delaying or canceling their upcoming seasons, one Kansas City-area theatre is forging ahead to open next month, ignoring health concerns and union guidelines in the process. To make matters worse, they sent a nasty email to other area theatres listing the names of actors who are speaking out against the reopening date. Which many are calling ‘blacklisting.’”

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When It Comes to Grappling with American History, Celebrate 'Hamilton', But Don't Forget About '1776'

“Theatre fans will celebrate the 4th of July in part by watching Hamilton on Disney +, and hopefully, non-theatre fans will give it a watch as well. It is a beacon for those that are looking for ways to explain history using modern music and diversity. But, when it comes to musicals that celebrate history, we shouldn’t forget 1776 either.”

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Live Accompanist Auditions are Counterproductive Gatekeeping and They Need to End at Community Theatres

“Theatre is already full of social justice hypocrisies. We make cast members sign forms committing to an absolute rejection of inequity-based bullying while simultaneously listing the colors of leather Capezio character shoes the actors will be expected to provide for themselves. Track-based auditions are a no-brainer step in the right direction: a simultaneous concession to modernity, move towards inclusion, and advantage in terms of finances and convenience to struggling community theatres.”

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Why Are Playbills Abandoned?

“After the audience files out, the usher sweeps through the rows of seats to tidy up before the next performance. There are discarded drinks, wrappers, headphones that will live in the lost and found for a while, and, if the world is fair, at least a little bit of fallen money. But none of that confuses me like the abundance of playbills I see picked up and headed for the garbage after a show.”

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