These all sound like positive things--especially to someone like me. I have been involved in the theater industry in one way or another for the past 27 years. I would love to see a downtown that thrives here in our community. These lines of bringing businesses downtown sound remarkable. Much like what was hoped and thought and discussed during the Craterian renovation. The cornerstone of downtown -- right? Since 1997 the Craterian has brought in art and entertainment to the Valley that one would have to travel hours away to experience. Season after season, the Craterian entertains and enriches its' audiences. Does the community even understand what they have in the Craterian Theater? Do they understand how technically amazing the facility is? Do they understand the level of passion that continues to pour into the building on a daily basis? I would say that the theater has a solid core group of people that understand these values. There are community leaders that support and would do anything to see the Craterian survive. But, as a whole, the support is down, the attendance is down. During these tough economic times everyone is tightening the belt one more notch.
"We want to plant our flag and make this community as successful as it can be," says Kramer. Kramer said an authentically restored historic theater could invigorate another section of downtown Medford." Don't we all want this? Shouldn't we 'invigorate' one portion of downtown first? It is interesting in a time when the staff of the Craterian continues to work on a reduced salary and when funding and ticket sales of the lone performing arts theater downtown are down, that this is the time to ask the community to support an empty condemned building. This should be the time for community support to bolster the arts community that it has! This is the time to continue to make sure that downtown doesn't lose the jewel of the community! This is the time to understand and appreciate what a beautiful and amazing venue already exists in downtown!
Don't buy into the empire building of JPR. Support the theater that has brought you to laughter, to tears- support the theater that enriches and entertains. If not, perhaps in five years yet another building with a for lease sign can be sitting vacant at 23 S. Central Ave.
I like the article. And no, I don't think the arts are necessarily appreciated by locals. At least not in Medford -- although if you go to Ashland @ OSF - I believe attendance was up there, even during the recession.
ReplyDeleteOf course, that's just Shakespeare too. So perhaps that's not the most fair comparison.
To be honest -- I don't know that the Craterian markets itself or markets itself well for that matter. I don't ever hear much about it personally so not sure if that's my lack of understanding/appreciation of the arts or Craterian's lack of getting the word out about their quality venue.
My other concern with that old theater building on Holly St. -- and I am not a Medford Historian but wasn't it previously a theater? It also LOOKS like an older style theater -- in fact, it reminds me of this:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3221/2646266337_9433e726e1.jpg?v=0
That's the historic Tower Theater in Fresno. Sort of reminds me of that... in a slightly different way. I think it's great that JPR (or anyone really..) wants to revitalize it and turn it into a Performing Arts Venue. It has that old historic look and feel -- something the Craterian lacks. So from that stand point, I like the idea.
Although as that article states -- maybe we should have some appreciation for the theaters we do have -- that's quite true. So I do see a problem with the 'competition' aspect. I'm a big fan of competition although sometimes I think if it's not done right - that competition ends up hurting everyone. That's not cool -- but, it is what it is. Perhaps it will cause the Craterian to market itself better and then they'd make more money... right? That's not going to happen without some competition which they don't really have.
Also, even if the Craterian is a first-rate, first-class venue -- you can't argue that acoustics and seating may be more appealing at one venue versus the other. So you now have the potential of drawing acts that would pass on Medford because X artist prefers X acoustics that only X building can provide. At least now you have 2 venues to choose from which could cause a bigger draw to the Rogue Valley and that wouldn't have existed with just 1 of them alone.
So in the end - I think they'll all get along. I'm not too entirely worried. None of the gas stations put the others out of biz, Winco didn't put Safeway out of biz or Food 4 Less. Best Buy doesn't appear to be hurting WalMart or CSA or Fred Meyer next door. So, why would this be any different? Competition, in general, is very healthy and I think it'll work out fine here, too.
Steve,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the comment. I appreciate the time and energy you put into the response. I do have to respectfully disagree with your point of view.
The point of my blog was not about a fear of ‘healthy competition’ or lack of marketing. The reference to OSF is a good illustration that you don’t see what is going on. Comparing OSF and the Craterian is like comparing apples to chocolate. This is not about a decision on where to find Cheetos for a dollar cheaper at Wal-Mart. This is not about competition on where to buy your next external hard drive at Best Buy or the local electronics store. My point is about a company that gets government funding (they purchased the Cascade Theater using Oregon Higher Education bond funding—how does that work?) and that has the promotional and revenue advantage of owning its own radio station that covers 70,000 square miles, building another theater in our community under false pretense. Empire building is all this project is. The Holly Theater is not about community support or revitalizing downtown—it’s about routing with the Cascade Theater, it’s about money, it’s about expanding a brand, and it’s about a long-lasting obsession that the Craterian should have been the Holly Theater.
The Craterian has been here bringing arts to the community since 1997. We will continue to support the area by fundraising to have the most state of the art theater for our patrons. We will continue to fundraise to provide programming that is enriching for the heart and soul. We will continue to be a home for the local and national tours alike. We will continue to be the cornerstone of downtown Medford.
I challenge you Steve, to become a member. I challenge you to be invested in your local theater to support the arts that downtown already is so fortunate to have in place. I challenge you to find family and friends that have never been to the Craterian and buy them a ticket for a birthday present. I challenge you to support our community and truly help revitalize our downtown.
I challenge everyone to do the same.
-Feel free to contact me on Twitter @followthefiesta or comment for the Craterian @Craterian-
Great discussion ; Although competition is a fact of life, I oftentimes "through the grapevine" learn of individuals benefitting from an organization immensely, and then a "new flavor of the month", so to speak, comes along, and these same individuals quickly rally behind this "new" thing, IMO, because it becomes the latest "buzz" word and "hip" to do so ( for some reason ). The said individuals then appear to effectively lose sight of support / ignorant of the need of (?), the first organization that has given them so much in the first place. This scenario has recently, and sadly, become an observation of various individuals around me.
ReplyDeleteI'm incredulous as to how disposable valuable entities have become in our society, simply because something "new" comes along, and with it, lots of hype and candy-coated promo... To me, it takes a lot of integrity and depth of character to remain true to those things that have been so good to you, at least in my view.
As time marches on, new entities inevitably crop up, becoming intoxicated with the fame and fortune promised by "me too" syndrome. I wish in my heart of hearts that those so quick to "jump to the new ship" would stop before jumping, and ponder just what the tried-and-true ship truly has given them before they so easily switch their support to another entity.
There's a lot to be said for "new" and "progress". There's also a lot to be said for "loyalty", "appreciation", and "thankfulness".
One of the problems I see is: what can the Holly offer that the Craterian doesn't already provide besides larger seating? They would be competing for the same shows the Crate offers - they don't have a performance company and nobody is like OSF reperatory theater company - which has taken 75 years to build. There is no documented need for an additional venue to justify the cost to the community. We need to support the one we have - it's fabulous.
ReplyDeleteI feel SteveO's gas station analogy is not applicable here. ( as Brad also brings to light as well ) ; We're not talking gasoline - something that most people have but no choice to purchase, and something that is priced in a seller's market. We're speaking extreme apples-to-oranges here - the fine arts ! Not gasoline, or grocery stores. To make this analogy, downplays the commodity that is the fine arts in our community. History has shown that resources, especially in smaller communities, are limited and precious for arts organizations to survive.
ReplyDeleteI think Lisa James encapsulates it all very well when she illustrates just how redundant the Holly Theater would / will be, in light of the already-in-place and exemplary Craterian. The Craterian truly has it all - a talented staff, state-of-the-art facility, an exceptional in-house theatre company, and so much more. A true "Center for the Performing Arts".
Why reinvent the wheel, for self-indulgence's sake ?