June 18,2007
TALKING
TO MYSELF
Alright,
enough talk about me, what do you think of me?
Better
yet: What am I doing here???
By
way of a little explanation and in response to several calls and emails
I've received lately, I thought it might make sense to clarify a few
things before I start rambling about this and that. So, I thought I'd
talk about myself (something I hate to do.) First of all, thanks to
so many out there for the kind words of concern, support and good wishes
through some terrific notes and messages left on my answering machine
and voice mails. So, for the record, here goes:
Yes,
it's true, I have left Back Stage - after 11 years.
This
is due in part to the many changes that have taken place since the weekly
paper (and it is not a magazine!) merged with Back Stage West awhile
ago. It also involved several editorial and policy changes, some reshuffling
and restructuring as the publication expanded and evolved into a much
broader, corporate-style operation. Unfortunately, some of those proverbial
powers that be that have been referenced here and elsewhere, are not
particular boosters of cabaret. That, and the fact that they took the
time to conduct surveys and (allegedly) utilize "focus groups" who did
not support cabaret with much zeal added to cutbacks in cabaret ink
there.
The
offshoot of the aforementioned is that cabaret coverage, specifically
the much loved Bistro Bits column was ultimately cut back to being in
print only once a month and a new feature added: a cabaret "Blog," installed
on the Back Stage web site. Along with David Finkle, I contributed to
the Blog regularly for awhile. Managing editor Dabvid Sheward called
in January to tell me the Bog was not too successful and might be discontinued.
We also talked about the future of the Bistro Bits column.
In
the end, it really made little sense for this to be a shared column.
Somebody had to leave.
My
very respected colleague, David Finkle, remains the single reviewer
writing the monthly Bistro Bits column. At least, the last I heard,
it was still only in print on a once a month basis. I don't pay much
attention to promises. rumors or innuendo and am not sure if this policy
will change. For the sake of cabaret, I hope the paper will expand its
coverage. But it doesn't seem likely last time I checked.
The
great news is that the Bistro Awards are back and, as in the past, open
to the public. Those aforementioned powers that be were so impressed
with the monumental job that Sherry Eaker did as producer and the SRO
this turnout this year at Gotham Comedy Club that they will support
the popular awards and they will definitely continue. Of course, all
this and more will be announced in detail in the pages of Back Stage.
I do not presume to be speaking on anybody's behalf. These remarks are
only in response to questions I have been asked repeatedly regarding
cabaret coverage in Back Stage.
Through
the years, I wrote the Bistro Bits column alone for about eleven months
several years ago. My first cover feature for Back Stage ran in 1996.
Through the years, I have shared the column with some savvy writers:
Roy Sander, the late Martin Schaeffer, Barbara and Scott Siegel and,
of course, David Finkle.
Though
Bob Harrington and I became professional friends, we never worked together.
His formidable, truthful writings and impact on all things cabaret are
still felt today - and are sorely missed by many. Few writers can touch
his passion for and devotion to an entire community of struggling and
rising performers.
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