by Ron Iannone
Why aren’t we talking about a subsidy or a stimulus package for the arts today? If we lose the arts in this country we lose the soul of the country. Sure we have the music and songs on our iPhones, radios and CDs. Of course, we also have paintings on the internet.
But what about experiencing live performances in theaters, which for the most part have gone dark on Broadway and in regional theaters? Some museums and art galleries have attempted to open on a limited basis, but because of the lack of funds, they cannot sustain their operations unless they are connected to a large university.
Millions and even billions of dollars were given to large Wall Street corporations, airlines and even to large franchises in the last stimulus package, but very little was given to the arts organizations.
In talking to several artists I have worked with over the years in the theater community, I found their thoughts very significant. They all mention the connection between the economics and the presentation of the show is strong. It is estimated that Broadway brings in close to $16 billion a year in the New York City area, and right now close to 100,000 artists are out of work and all the Broadway theaters are closed.
Stephen Machame, a New York director and choreographer wrote: “I am in fear my entire adult (and teenage life) has been as a theater professional and educator, those worlds are gone. Many NYC actors have left the city — most for good. There is no thriving arts community in the country for professionals to move to and sustain a living. Ninety-eight percent of summer theaters canceled their seasons.”
Gavan Palmer is a longtime friend who was with me when I founded Lakeview Theatre in 1985, which then became West Virginia Public Theatre. He is now a director and marketing person at Temple Theater. “We are struggling financially but mostly the weight is mental. It’s tough not being able to do what we love to do.”
I certainly feel for the many artists who have been out of work for so long. It’s very difficult to stay on top of your craft when there is truly no light at the end of the tunnel and really no direction from the current administration that demonstrates any kind of compassion for the country’s wellbeing.
Another director and Broadway actor, Michael Licata, said to me, “Ron, have you ever considered what this country would be without Hamilton, South Pacific, West Side Story, Rent, Angels in the America, to name a few? We are the most powerful nation in the world and the survival of the arts doesn’t even rate a serious discussion in Washington.”
In the end, how could we live without the arts in our lives? We can’t. It’s like asking if we can live without food for our health. The arts nourish that part of us that makes us laugh, sad, joyful and angry. Art isn’t what you see; it’s what you will remember.
Ron Iannone is a WVU professor emeritus in the College of Education and Human Services and the founder of West Virginia Public Theater (WVPT).
