LA Stage Alliance forms a Task Force to Shape the Future of Los Angeles Theatre

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a “task force”, it’s a “council”, it’s an “alliance”!  Whatever you want to call it, I like to call it a good first step from the LA Stage Alliance.

And it’s something I’ve been harping on for several years now. Though some disparaged the idea and called it a “power grab” of sorts, it is an absolute necessity for Los Angeles Theatre at this point in time to organize its resources and legitimize itself.

So major kudos to Terrence and Doug and all the other members who are convening today, Sept, 10, 2011, to discuss these two major themes:

1. The Theater Community of Greater LA needs an articulated vision for where it wants to go.

2. The Theater Community of Greater LA needs some sort of Leadership Body (oft referred to as a ‘Producer’s Council’) that has buy-in from the bulk of the theaters and theater artists, and who can identify issues and lead the community in taking concrete action to move the community towards the Vision.

And here’s a list of those that have been asked to join in the discussion today:

Terence McFarland – LA STAGE
Douglas Clayton – LA STAGE
Neal Spinler – LA STAGE
Crystal Diaz – LA STAGE
Barbara Beckley – Colony Theatre
Brian Kite – La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, LA STAGE Board
Bruce Lazarus – Law Office of Bruce Lazarus
caryn desai – International City Theatre
David Elzer – DEMAND PR and DEMAND Productions
Gedaly Guberek – Coeurage Theatre
Greg Abbott – Kentwood Players
Jay McAdams – 24th Street Theatre
John Flynn – Rogue Machine
Jon Cohn – KPCC, Mutineer Theatre
Jon Dorf – Alliance of Los Angeles Playwrights
Jose Luis Valenzuela – Latino Theater Company
Marissa Chibas – CalArts
Matt McCray – Son of Semele
Michael Betts – Musical Theatre West
Michael Seel – Theatre @ Boston Court
Neel Keller – Center Theatre Group
Patrick Owen – Center Theatre Group, LA STAGE Board
Shari Barrett – Kentwood Players
Sheldon Epps – Pasadena Playhouse
Simon Levy – Fountain Theatre
Suzi Dietz – LA STAGE Board
TJ Dawson – 3 D Theatricals
Wayne McWorter – Broadway LA
Wren Brown – Ebony Repertory Theatre
Lindsay Allbaugh – Elephant & Center Theatre Group

It’s a nice cross-section of the community and it bodes well for the future. Looking forward to see what comes from the meeting of minds.

You can see some of the Twitter ramblings on the meeting at #LASAtaskForce.

Stay tuned.