| The Specifics on The Generic | | Print | |
| Written by Clyde Berry | |
| Wednesday, 12 July 2006 | |
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Page 5 of 20
As a director, what support did you get from the Artistic Director?DIR A Depends on the show. Eileen Boarman - a huge amount. Stacy Robbins was minimally supportive in rehearsals and was eventually terminated. Years prior to that Steve Harders provided and met all my needs when requested. DIR B The artistic director was helpful in providing the staffing needed for the production I directed. DIR C I had complete and total support from Eileen Boarman. I had experienced nothing but full support and feedback from her at all times. What support did you get from the Board of Directors?AD 2 Supporting a theater as a board member can be a difficult. I’m currently on the Board of Directors of {name of theater} and I can sympathize with board members on any organization. What support do they provide? They helped to organize fundraising events; assisted with front-of-house operations; provided financial, artistic, and emotional support; provided knowledgeable advice and insight; and assured the direction of the theater. DIR A I was one of the lucky ones. The way I was treated and approached was different from what I had seen other directors witness. They always had my back but also often they left me alone because they felt I did all my own stuff. In reality doing and wanting to do all your own publicity etc., is different. Having to do it is what I often felt like since there was minimal until this season’s artistic director. That is the reason I gave up {name of show} when they terminated the artistic director, a board member had informed me that in a meeting they felt I handle all my own stuff anyway. I can. It doesn’t mean I want to. I do this for a living so when I am brought in to direct I have no expectation of having to produce. DIR B The board was supportive without being unnecessarily involved in the artistic process. DIR C It was a travesty. I got absolutely no support from them. Just a couple of days before opening, I was informed that a certain board member did not like my set, and proceeded to bring in their own furniture. Also, because of one scathing review that was published, the opinion of the board was swayed to that reviewer’s position, and panic set in. The board was not interested in what the audience reaction had been thus far, as “the critic” knew best. The same board members liked my show until that review was released. However, when {name deleted}’s GLOWING review was released, then the board decided that maybe it was a good show after all. The artistic director was told that she needed to “reign me in”, and should not have “allowed” me to direct the show in such a fashion….whatever that means. |
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On a lighter note, thanks to all this free , controversal publicity about the Generic and The Adjustment, Denis Malone now has one of the stupendously inflated egos I have ever seen. So these stupid blogs do have their uses after all. See Denis float! Lighten up, it's only a dream.--Hank Generics are being very cautious these days about public controversy. Why? They are under litigation from the former Artistic Director, Stacy. Which is even more interesting since Ms Stacy also sued Theatre IV in Richmond for even more frivolous reasons before she came to the Generic. One can only wonder why they (Ms Xander et al) didn't check out her resume with her former employer (Bruce at Theatre IV). It is of no surprise to me that The Generic Theater gave no acknowledgement or recognition to the final show of the season, the one responsible for the majority of trafficking and controversy it received. This is the exact reason why The Generic Theater will always be a struggling theater instead of a revealing power and dominant force in our community! I don't know anything about the Generic theater nor any of the people involved, but I will say one thing. Are you sure it isn't an audition site for a reality show about the angst of a local theater? --C See I couldn't have made that posting. I don't even know how to work these darn things! Hmm?! INDEED! I am Terry Jernigan and I have recieved several phone calls asking if I was the the Terry Jern who submitted a slanderous blog on Tuesday 18 July 2006 against The Generic and persons involved. No I am not. For the record I support the Arts in all forms in Hampton Roads and I have been a fan of The Generic Theatre since origins in the early 1980's. I am also a suporter and fan of my personal friend Christa Jones. I am excited at what she will bring to the Generic Theatre and what The Generic will offer the whole of Hampton Roads. Hmm?! INDEED! I am Terry Jernigan and I have recieved several phone calls asking if I was the the Terry Jern who submitted a slanderous blog on Tuesday 18 July 2006 against The Generic and persons involved. No I am not. For the record I support the Arts in all forms in Hampton Roads and I have been a fan of The Generic Theatre since origins in the early 1980's. I am also a suporter and fan of my personal friend Christa Jones. I am excited at what she will bring to the Generic Theatre and what The Generic will offer the whole of Hampton Roads. Hmm?! INDEED! I am Terry Jernigan and I have recieved several phone calls asking if I was the the Terry Jern who submitted a slanderous blog on Tuesday 18 July 2006 against The Generic and persons involved. No I am not. For the record I support the Arts in all forms in Hampton Roads and I have been a fan of The Generic Theatre since origins in the early 1980's. I am also a suporter and fan of my personal friend Christa Jones. I am excited at what she will bring to the Generic Theatre and what The Generic will offer the whole of Hampton Roads. For the education of your writers and readers: The first actress of the season had to drop out due to personal affairs that now need her undivided attention- absolutely no firing was involved whatsoever. 'The Pillowman' had to be removed from the season simply because the publisher has not yet released amateur rights to the produciton. Hmm?! of course the board at the generic has a personal approach to the theater's running. it is well known that to be a board member one is expected to contribute financially to the theater. so-called 'checkbook meetings.' Well, where do I begin? This article says everything and yet nothing. The beginning of the end of The Generic occurred with the unfortunate death of Gerry Rowe. He was the guiding light and a powerful person who was able to rein in the Board of Directors. His end brought the theatre into the tailspin it currently suffers from. Steve Harders, a magnificant Artistic Director, was constantly harassed by the board, but luckily his brilliance and talent was recognized and protected by Mr Rowe. A small example of the Board's 'logic'-during the inception of 'the Broken Jug', Steve's personal adaption of the German playwright, the board demanded that a play without intermission wouldn't sell any candy bars or soda, so against Steve's will the play was split in two. Pettiness personified. This, and many other examples which won't be cited, only prove that if the Board of Directors, including Ms Wray want to point the finger of blame, remember you have four more fingers pointing back at yourself. Stacy, though, was a funny situation. The divine Miss X pushed her AD candidacy through, hoping to controlher, and Stacy turned right around and accused Miss X of pre-casting. The fox outfoxed! By the way, that space was used by TCC years before the Generic located there under the Dept of Dance, music and theatre.--Chip |