WBEZ Chicago: Lifeline Theatre occupies a sprawling brick building in Rogers Park, a former energy company substation converted into a midsize neighborhood theater. It’s the classic example of Chicago’s unique brand of theater — a community staple with a long history.
2 comments:
As someone who is hoping to work in or adjacent to the theatre industry, the topic of this article is something I have been paying close attention to. I remember hearing about Broadway shows that had to shut down after the height of the pandemic, because they weren’t selling as many tickets. I didn’t know about the other causes, or the local theatres around the country, and it deeply saddened me to read that philanthropists are slowly decreasing their contributions to the arts. The arts and outlets for creative expression are so important for a society to grow and thrive.
I am proud that the theatres were able to adapt in a changing environment and survive despite the challenges, even though some struggles are ongoing. This is an ever-changing industry that has existed for so long, and has deeply influenced cultures around the world. I am confident that even though there may be changes and difficulties ahead, the theatre industry I eventually join will still be a lively center for creativity and community.
This is unfortunately quite the common experience for medium sized theatres nowadays. However as saddening as it is to see these theatres close down, it's in times of struggle that we see innovation. Whether it be through new marketing tactics or a change in the style of performances done, it's in times of struggle that we see the most growth in our industry. This is quite similar to the circus industry for a long time as it was getting less and less popular, companies like Cirque du Soleil changed the way they performed in circus entertainment, and now they are still extremely successful and popular form of circus entertainment. I hope that the same kind of growth and development occurs within theatre, and companies like Lifeline are trying to make that happen. If they were to sacrifice quality for the quantity of shows they produced it would end up very poorly very quickly as most theatre goers are not starving for content. By decreasing the quantity of shows produced it allows for resources to be concentrated on the fewer shows, which in theory should increase repeat audience members.
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