Wednesday, November 25, 2015
New York Times Agrees to Restore Production Credits in Theatre Reviews
Playbill.com: Following letters, emails and social media protests from Broadway's craft unions and their allies, The New York Times reportedly has agreed to restore the list of designers and production members to its printed and online reviews and listings.
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7 comments:
I am so pleased to see that for once, our voices were heard by a larger entity. Designers deserve as much credit as everyone else involved in the theater, and the fact that we are often pushed under the rug as unnecessary or unneeded is quite saddening and untrue. I’ve never actually gone to a Broadway or Regional Theater show and said, “Wow that acting was so incredible that I forgot to look at the set, costumes, lights, media, makeup, hair, sound, or anything else!” The design of a production isn’t just extra junk on stage; it’s the world of the play and helps bring the audience into the story. I’m mostly mad that we had to have that argument at all. With sound design no longer being part of the Tony awards, did people think that no designer needs any credits? I feel like in this generation, all designers are having to constantly defend themselves and their work as being art, and an actual career.
This is so interesting because enough people said something and the New York Times listened to them. Only if the Tony Awards could do the same and pay attention to the people who are creating what they are judging. This is a great example that if enough people speak up on an issue that they care about, their small voices can become one large voice and may push hard enough against those in charge. Party of me really hopes, that the choice to omit designers from the review, was a mistake by someone who did not understand all that goes into a production or maybe an editor that was simply looking for somewhere to cut words off of a total, but part of me also fears that this was purposeful by someone in the theatrical community. I guess we won’t know until someone from the Times speaks out. Also, holy moly that list is long.
This is fantastic! I imagine the list was originally cut in an attempt to lower the word count, which I totally understand, but the decision was clearly made by someone who does not really understand the impact of the designer (which is unfortunately many people). I think there are some very real dangers in not including the designers in print. One of those is the obvious invalidation of a designer's work as well as its impact on the production as a whole. The other, I think, is the greatest danger: the lack of exposure to young people. As the article states, there are so many kids around the country who have the potential to bring great things to the theatre community, but if they don't see themselves reflected in the paper, there is a serious chance they will not consider the opportunity. I personally did not ever consider theatre production an actual profession until I met real stage managers. That was a huge turning point in my life. If I had seen more videos like this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dU3RlYQIVM, or met more people like the professionals at the Cherub Program, I would have known what I wanted from my life a whole lot earlier. Keep design and production people out in the open!!! You never know whose lives you're going to change.
This is fantastic news. Now if only the Tonys would be as willing to listen as the New York Times. Its more than just designers wanting to be recognized for the work they do (which really should be enough of a reason by itself). If there’s no recognition for these designers, then it takes away role models and inspiration for younger people who want to work in theater. Actors, directors, and playwrights can all find people in their field to look up to. But without little things like the production credits at the end of a review its much harder for designers to do the same. In addition to that if there’s no recognition for designers and the awards for their fields keep disappearing then what’s to encourage people to keep wanting to do it? Sure there will still be people that want to do it, some certainly will. But if all the forms of public recognition go away it will become so much harder for them to be able to get jobs and support them selves that we would be in danger of loosing a very important part of theater.
I really do have a lot of thoughts about this.
Sure, it's great that the Times heard our outcry and restored designer credits in reviews. Absolutely. It's good to know that some of the media still has our backs, and won't just cover us when a stage collapses or a fire starts. I think it's great that designers get credited for the work they put into a production. There is no doubt that everybody deserves to be recognized for their work.
I do, however, wonder if perhaps maybe the industry got a little bit too upset about losing credits in media reviews. The newspaper has a bottom line too. Every inch they fill with designer credits is another inch that they can't fill with advertisements and other content. If they can't meet their bottom line, they can't operate, and if they don't operate, we don't get any coverage at all.
We're in an age now where there can be unlimited web pages, and each one generates revenue. Media coverage published in this way can afford to post designer credits. Media in print is on it's way out, but I have a feeling we'll lose designer credits before we lose the print paper all together.
This is excellent news! I remember that when the initial Times decision made the news, it caused quite a bit of backlash in the theatrical community and especially here on this blog. It is reassuring to hear that the Times was willing to listen to the theatrical community, especially for rescinding a change that had already been so publicized. When the initial decision came out, I stated that it was important that the New York Times make a decision on the matter wisely, because it is a very well-known news source and many other news sources take inspiration and ideas from it. The decision to keep the designer credits and to listen to the theatrical community sets a precedent and an example for other newspapers and news sources who may have considered taking the same step. I believe that if the newspaper has enough room to credit the cast, writers, and directing team, they should be able to spare one more line to credit the design team, because the work that the design team puts in is absolutely just as important as the work put in by the other participants in the show.
YES YES YES YES YES!!! I love hearing this! I love reading theatre reviews and while the reviews on the actors and the show as a whole is nice, I want to hear about the designers and the production team. How everything came to life. Many people forget that there is a whole other world than the one you see onstage. a whole other team than the one whose name is printed on the bottom of the poster. It is great news that the New York Times, like Aileen said, a very influential news source, is bringing back credits for designers and so forth. I believe this will influence other newspapers and news sources to include reviews for what happens behind the scenes. Now let's see if the Tony's can follow the same idea and maybe choose to give out designer awards not during the commercial breaks. And also let's being back the award for sound design. Well, I know this is a great start and i can't wait to see what this decision influences.
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