Zev Buffman, the impresario of Owensboro, weighed in on my post a few days ago about selling the arts in Kentucky short, and I thought I would share:
My comment Rich, is that yes, there is much going on in our state on the "regional" level, but still, this is a perfect time for change and thinking/creating out of the "box."
A new model of 'The Regional' is evolving nationally, mostly out of sheer financial necessity (money is drying up), PLUS a true need to generate more economic development opportunities and tourism to help those who always help us.
By creating a new "clean industry" (YES BROADWAY MUSICALS) here, that generate some 90 days a year of the actual production (jobs, hotel room, restaurants) for shows that then tour the US, Canada & the world (yes Japan too, is a regular recipient of "made in Owensboro" "product)it becomes a more even "trade" - they sell us Toyotas -- we sell them Broadway. When you attach to each new Tony award winner guided "product, then bring in hundreds of KIDS to YATA: the new and hard to duplicate "Young Adult Theatre Academy" to work for weeks, shoulder to shoulder with the "Tony pros" and receive college credit for their intense summer month -- you create EDUCATION that will soon become a staple in KY colleges and universities in Western KY.
Finally, when you produce ORIGINAL mystery and thriller plays, screenplays, teleplays, children's mysteries and the extension on "Books on Tape" with full companies, original music, full reading cast, sound effects (both old & new) all in front of live audiences learning and loving their first time in a BIG SCREEN AUDIO theater, you then teach, you entertain and you produce innovative NEEDED product for the sweepingly growing XM and SIRUS plus NPR re-emerging radio programming. That's is how you anticipate a new market need and beat the competition by being there FIRST and with a big Library.
Rich, I swear I could go on for columns. Eventually our colleagues will see the opportunities and expand the wonderful product they already create to more "commercial and Educational" way.
We are standing ready to go anywhere in the State and help in the early beginnings.
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