The Future of Theater in American Culture
Ken Davenport is rally doing something phenomenal. It seems he is the first major producer, or among the first, to produce a Broadway show funded by community investors. With median investments between $20-40, and demographics including priests, teachers, and truck drivers pitching in for Godspell. He is also the utilizing social media in real ways, and has published 4 books on producing. His streamlining seems to find an audience that establishes a greater attraction to the actual story and not all the special effects. As producer Lauren Bies put it, “This he found to be true, and when shows closed, went on the road with bare bones. Suddenly, they began to make money…and better reviews.” The stremlining and pre-audience involvement is quite salient, I suspect… And his results demonstrate. People begin to pre-immerse, and then also carry that of the dramaturgy into their daily lives. They tell stories to their friends, try to immerse others in moments that inspire them, and represent some of the facets of the staged-divine in their relational character with friends and coworkers. Imagine a social ‘flash’ event where all those captivated by a forthcoming production wore a certain accessory that was component to the production. It passes in public, but also is a social hook to talk about Theater, and the event in which they are ‘audience-wise’ involved. Or changing your Facebook profile image to one of several illustrated character vignettes. These would be provided by the production, and would be familiar based upon the yearly Facebook ‘doppleganger’ event, where people make their profile images at of a famous person they most resemble. Ken is part of the future of theater I society.
