Off Broadway Is Local!

In a country as vast as the United States, we often forget how much talent there is here. For all the good actors that make it on Broadway or the original off-Broadway venues in Queens, Connecticut and New Jersey, there are many more, almost as good, perhaps as good, that for thousands of reasons will never stride the Northeast stages. Fortunately, they don’t surrender their dreams, and we get to see them in hundreds of community playhouse productions all around the country -- mature, proficient, convincing actors who thrill us with the depth of their craft.

That makes all the world a stage, which means that in almost every sizable town across the country, especially ones near colleges and universities, you’ll find a core of good theatrical players. The result, especially as college-educated Baby Boomers seek out stimulating places to retire, is that community theater is enjoying a strong revival. We’re not talking about the local high school play, but legitimate local theater, whose thespians are often as dedicated and dynamic as any you’d see on the great stages of the world.

As people look closer to home for arts and culture, the old definition of “off-Broadway” is changing. Where it once meant all the little fringe theaters just off the “Great White Way,” it now means professional theater troupes in general. “Off-Broadway” productions are now found in every major city and most small towns, as well. As Off-Broadway has extended its geographical reach, the nature of theatrics has changed, too. Not only are many towns boasting permanent resident theater companies in dedicated performing arts centers, the rise of dinner theaters and murder mystery nights attest to a hunger for drama and live performance among millions of Americans.

This trend to greater casualness ironically leads to greater authenticity. In the summer, when outdoor performances abound, settings perfectly suit the staging and atmosphere as dramatists like Shakespeare originally envisioned. The folks watching a Shakespeare play in Ashland, Oregon, or the Berkshires in Massachusetts, are continuing a tradition that began with London’s Globe Theatre in the 16^th century. The American penchant for informality extends the venues for plays to local parks and even wineries and farms. Stinson Beach, just north of San Francisco, even has a yearly “Bard at the Beach” series!

Off-Broadway comes in all shapes and sizes. Don’t overlook your own backyard: your local community theater can offer you a great cultural event. For example—Platteville Community Theatre (Wisconsin), a site rich in links to almost anywhere.