Sunday, December 04, 2011
The Joys of BAM
NYTimes.com: Twenty-five years ago my husband and I moved to Brooklyn, lured by the promise of more space than we could afford in Manhattan. We loved our big, sunny apartment and its proximity to Prospect Park, but if we wanted to eat in a restaurant that was not a pizzeria, or see a movie whose protagonist was not a superhero, we had to return to our old neighborhood, the Village.
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4 comments:
I absolutely adore BAM and all the incredible work that goes on there. I have seen a number of different things there (including plays, dance pieces, etc) and while I haven't liked them all equally (or at all), they have all had a sense of professionalism and acute artistic identity that, surprisingly, I don't see as much in Manhattan. It's somewhat of a different audience, since Manhattan tourists and theatregoers may be less inclined to hop on the 2/3 train all the way out to Nevins St. when they can just take it to 42nd and find enough theatre to get their fix, but for me the trip out to Brooklyn has always been a valuable one. They have incredible relationships with international companies, and are always bringing in work that the theatre world has been (or is soon after) all abuzz about.
I agree with Becca that BAM isn't for your everyday NYC theatre going tourist, but it does offer up some of the more interesting out-of-the-box work being done in New York. I've also seen a few things there, also with mixed success, but I think what makes the shows there great is the risk the artists are willing to take. Not all the risks pay off, but they are at least taking a strong point of view. With such a whirlwind history, BAM is a testament to how by making themselves a part of the community, a theatre can survive even the toughest economic hardships. By providing this part of the city with some rich culture that until recently had few options, BAM secured its place as in institution and necessity of the community so it is of no surprise that people have found ways to keep it funded and running.
BAM is absolutely wonderful. It's nice not to have to take a train to see theatre always. Being close to my house, I love having such a cultural staple in the vicinity. The work they put on is very different from a lot of other theatre in New York, so it's always great to see something that isn't strictly commercial. I also love that BAM is so widely supported despite its differences. It also brings more attention to Brooklyn, especially to people not from the city. Most visitors to New York stay in the confines of Manhattan, when, as BAM, proves, there is so much going on outside of the tiny island.
I grew up attending shows at BAM, and one thing I have always adored about BAM is that I have seen productions there that I loved and will never forget, but I have also seen others which I really didn't like at all, much like Becca. I love that BAM has always made artistic integrity lead their works, rather than the need to make money. BAM is such an asset to Brooklyn. I never realized that BAM is the oldest performing arts center in America, but this doesn't surprise me. BAM is all about showing a wide range of works, and this has definitely helped in keeping it alive for so long.
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