STANDALONE THEATRE

Is theatre in Los Angeles merely a showcase for movie talent? A ghetto where actors toil until they get discovered by the movies or TV? Not hardly. “Local stages are a resource that the industry has been able to exploit with virtually no outlay of cash.” But the thriving LA theatre scene exists quite apart from the commercialism of the Industry. – Los Angeles Times

LOSING MONEY IN SUCCESS

Judging by most of its statistics, the musical “Footloose,” which closed last week on Broadway, was a pretty good success. It staged 737 performances, played for well over a year and half, was seen by hundreds of thousands of people, and produced a cast album, a national tour (with another planned) and the possibility of future companies in London and Australia. So why did it still lose money? – The Star-Tribune (Minneapolis) (NY Times)