| The Specifics on The Generic | | Print | |
| Written by Clyde Berry | |
| Wednesday, 12 July 2006 | |
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Page 12 of 20
How would you rate the publicity of your show?AD 2 Adequate publicity was difficult to achieve. We were listed in local newspapers, but often buried and it was difficult to get a feature article in the paper. Most of the big local performing groups spend thousands on publicity efforts. When I began at Generic, the budget for publicity was 0. Slowly, over the years, the board began to increase this amount as we struggled to keep financially afloat (even with the city’s support). When times were tough, the budget was cut. We depended considerable on word-of-mouth. DIR A When I did it, great. Only show I ever saw really advertised that wasn’t me or the cast where extra effort was put in was Bright Ideas. All other ideas I came up with and promoted myself through email blasts, etc. The cast also assisted in that. {When} there was no artistic director I was to fend for myself. DIR B I felt more could have been done in the area of advertisement; however, my thought was that money could be a major factor in this. I believe the success of the show I directed was geared toward word-of-mouth made by the cast members. DIR C I was satisfied with the amount of publicity that I received, and the houses reflected that. Patricia Wray I felt the same way. Partly again not having a big budget. Its difficult to have all bases covered from artistically and marketing and growing the audience, etc. One of the things we’re looking at is making the managing director position a bigger, full-time position. We would then hire the Artistic Director on a part time basis. We have not thought to replace Eileen with the next year still uncertain. We are evaluating last year, but we will not be hiring until September. We are still in that process. |
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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 |