Here's something you might be interested in.
In San Diego, the biggest difference between a professional, semi-professional, and a community theater show is the production level.
Performance wise, San Diego is a city full of amazing performers who figure out a way to make ends meet.
The pay that local actors receive is almost embarrassing. Certainly the cost of living versus performance compensation is out of whack. It must be noted that full time actors are a rarity in any city.
As in almost any city, except Los Angeles and New York, the larger theaters hire out-of-city talent. It’s a cache thing. A prophet has no honor in his own city. It’s been true for at least 5,000 years now.
We, the audience, are the beneficiaries. We can see solid performances at almost every theater in town on almost any night.
However, the difference in production levels is enormous.
A show at The Old Town Theater or The Lyceum is going to be well acted, for the most part, but because these are smaller houses, the production isn’t going to be the star.
I find this type of theater appealing. The show is about the book, it’s about the characters and the story. Yes, there’s a set and props and lights and costumes but they usually support the actors instead of dominate.
A show at one of the larger regional theaters is going to be well acted for the most part but the production is going to be much more elaborate.
Every now and then a show will be tempted to let the production dominate. It doesn’t happen often but when it does it’s annoying. If the best thing an audience member can say about a show is that the costumes were amazing, it was a poor show. Maybe the costume department should have taken a bow instead of the performers.
Once we get to a show that comes to The Civic Theater, it’s a whole different ball game.
The Civic Theater seats 2,967. The Old Globe seats 600.
There are amazing shows that come through The Civic Theater. They are almost always large musicals.
This is where an audience can be deceived. With a show like Phantom of the Opera, the production is always going to be fantastic even if the acting and singing is inconsistent.
Some of the costumes in the three productions of Phantom, that continually tour the world, cost over $20,000. A $20,000 dress is always going to be great even if it contains an actor who isn’t worth a damn.
Every now and then, we will get a show that has tremendous performers and an equally tremendous production. This intersection is where we get theater that leaves a lasting impression.
A show like Ragtime is a great example. I reluctantly went to see it at The Civic Theater. I wasn’t familiar with the music but I knew I didn’t want to listen to Scot Joplin for two hours.
I went back the next night as well. The combination of the story, performance, music and the production created an experience so strong I had to go back for seconds.
In San Diego, the biggest difference between a professional, semi-professional, and a community theater show is the production level.
Performance wise, San Diego is a city full of amazing performers who figure out a way to make ends meet.
The pay that local actors receive is almost embarrassing. Certainly the cost of living versus performance compensation is out of whack. It must be noted that full time actors are a rarity in any city.
As in almost any city, except Los Angeles and New York, the larger theaters hire out-of-city talent. It’s a cache thing. A prophet has no honor in his own city. It’s been true for at least 5,000 years now.
We, the audience, are the beneficiaries. We can see solid performances at almost every theater in town on almost any night.
However, the difference in production levels is enormous.
A show at The Old Town Theater or The Lyceum is going to be well acted, for the most part, but because these are smaller houses, the production isn’t going to be the star.
I find this type of theater appealing. The show is about the book, it’s about the characters and the story. Yes, there’s a set and props and lights and costumes but they usually support the actors instead of dominate.
A show at one of the larger regional theaters is going to be well acted for the most part but the production is going to be much more elaborate.
Every now and then a show will be tempted to let the production dominate. It doesn’t happen often but when it does it’s annoying. If the best thing an audience member can say about a show is that the costumes were amazing, it was a poor show. Maybe the costume department should have taken a bow instead of the performers.
Once we get to a show that comes to The Civic Theater, it’s a whole different ball game.
The Civic Theater seats 2,967. The Old Globe seats 600.
There are amazing shows that come through The Civic Theater. They are almost always large musicals.
This is where an audience can be deceived. With a show like Phantom of the Opera, the production is always going to be fantastic even if the acting and singing is inconsistent.
Some of the costumes in the three productions of Phantom, that continually tour the world, cost over $20,000. A $20,000 dress is always going to be great even if it contains an actor who isn’t worth a damn.
Every now and then, we will get a show that has tremendous performers and an equally tremendous production. This intersection is where we get theater that leaves a lasting impression.
A show like Ragtime is a great example. I reluctantly went to see it at The Civic Theater. I wasn’t familiar with the music but I knew I didn’t want to listen to Scot Joplin for two hours.
I went back the next night as well. The combination of the story, performance, music and the production created an experience so strong I had to go back for seconds.