Out to play
June 16, 2008
Idea Waitress is on vacation from today until Wednesday, June 25. I’ll be floating down a river in Utah for most of that time, during which I’ll no doubt be thinking about beautiful settings for arts performances. Happy summer!
Tomorrow’s arts audiences are almost here
June 10, 2008
If you believe, as I do, that people who participate in the arts as students are likely to become arts patrons, then this article in today’s Chicago Sun-Times is a reason to cheer. The article, titled “Major Shifts,” says that, although business still dominates, the performing arts are flourishing on college campuses. Who says the fine arts audience is diminishing?
Between this article, and the recent MetLife/Arts & Business Council Forum about “The Cultural Renaissance Generation,” I’m positively giddy!
Here’s the article:
http://www.suntimes.com/news/education/995410,CST-NWS-majors09.article
Props to Colleen Flanigan, the marketing director at Chicago Opera Theatre, for demonstrating amazing patron service. The problem was this: I rounded up some friends to attend COT’s recent (and remarkable) performance of Don Giovanni. The friends are eager to introduce their 10-year-old daughter to classical music, so she was among us. If you’ve read any reviews of that show – which you probably have at this point – you’ll understand why my friends felt compelled to leave shortly after the Spandex-bound Elvira appeared on stage. That, and the breast-fondling. It was a fascinating and compelling event, but child-appropriate it was not! I called Colleen to see if she could help me make amends with my friends, and she immediately offered tickets to Orlando. My friends now believe I am capable of miracles, whereas I believe Colleen is an opera star. Thank you, Chicago Opera Theatre!
