Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Backstage: Peoria has a chance to make a difference - Peoria, IL
pjstar.com: "It's a once-in-a-decade, planets-in-alignment opportunity, if Peoria's cultural leaders want it: A chance to make a thoughtful case about why the health of small arts communities in places like Peoria should matter to a national arts leader concerned with the nation as a whole."
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Anyone who has been near the theatre has probably heard the phrase "Will it play in Peoria?". This is a carryover from touring vaudeville shows testing their shows in Peoria and is a reference to Peoria, IL being the epitome of mainstream, working-class American culture. The last time I was in Peoria, however, that stereotype was breaking steadily. While the corporate offices for Caterpillar and other tractor/construction companies still tower over the skyline, Peoria now maintains a fantastic Convention Center which functions as a touring house for national touring shows, as well as hosting cultural events such as the Illinois All-State High School Music Festival (which I was honored to be a part of this past year). I'm rather glad that Peoria has the chance to revitalize its image for the National Endowment for the Arts chairman and to show that with dedication and a little support from grants provided by foundations like the National Endowment, cities fostering small arts populations can continue to grow and develop.
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