“During the 1970s and 1980s, Seattle enjoyed the benefits of a tremendously rich and healthy theatrical ecosystem. Below the canopy of the big theaters, there was a diverse network of mid-sized and small theaters driven by imagination, youthful optimism, and excitement about new forms. Seattle earned the reputation of being the best theater town west of Chicago. Then, with greater budgets and more competition, ‘the business of theater’ started upstaging the creative side… Now, the Seattle area has lost eight small theater companies in the past few years.”