It is no secret that theatre has been a safe haven for the more liberal side of communities, dating all the way back to the 1800s. It has been more welcoming of other cultures, genders and sexualities than other industries and that is incredible in it's own right. But we are now faced with a dilemma as a community that started during the 2016 presidential election. I'm sure many of you remember the Hamilton performance that Vice President Mike Pence attended and the hostility from the audience that he experienced. We also saw the "performance" put on by Robert de Niro at the Tony Awards when he yelled "F*ck Trump!" that received a standing ovation by the people in the audience. While I share my frustration with these fellow members of the arts community, I am also concerned. By creating this safe haven, have we made a hostile environment for our conservative audiences? Have we lost those audience member for good? This is obviously very difficult for me ...
As an actor in the DFW community, I am finding there are many people who need help figuring out this strange business called show-business. From helping you make a budget to interviewing influential people in the industry, I hope to help people understand this industry a little better.