Do I Stay or Do I Go?
Nov. 8th, 2019 08:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mrdreamjeansI've attended a lot of theater in my lifetime including at least three dozen shows on Broadway, seen national tour offerings all over the place ... Houston, Austin, Dallas, Seattle, San Francisco, Washington, DC, Toronto, London, Chicago and Minneapolis ... I've played most major cities on tour in the US, Canada and Germany. The exceptions are Albuquerque and anywhere in Alaska.
However, 2019 has been a banner year in terms of attending musicals and concerts. I keep track of what I see, which theater, with whom I saw the show and yes, I rate it A+ through F; sometimes, I write a review. When I see my last scheduled production of this year - Rita Moreno in concert at The Ordway in St Paul on December 3, I will have attended 34 stage events this year. Until 2017, I usually made it to the theater about six times a year.
Thanks to thespian15, I've been to more concerts this year than in the previous 30 years combined. It's been a joy to join Jon for these wonderful evenings out. I've purchased tickets to musicals for both of us to enjoy, too ... We're seeing SIX, a new musical at The Ordway on November 29. It's slated for Broadway after it plays St Paul! To date, we have four live events lined in 2020. Besides Jon, I've also attended shows with my friends Steve, Cory, Tom and Carol. Seeing theater, listening to fine music is my favorite way to socialize. I've learned a lot by saying "yes" this year.
I'm wondering if my desire to be a frequent audience member is increasing because my time on stage has slowed to a stand still. When I worked as a theater critic for a time in the 1980's, I saw everything Houston had on offer; I was a member of the acting community, too; so critiquing the performance of friends could be tricky. I never reviewed a show I was in. Reviewing the world premiere of "JEKYLL and HYDE" at The Alley Theatre in 1989 and interviewing Edward Albee were the highlights of that time in my writing life.
It's been 10 years now since my last stage performance in a musical - HELLO, DOLLY in Seattle starring Jenifer Lewis as Dolly Levi. Though a decade has passed since I appeared at The 5th Avenue Theatre, I have maintained my union status and paid semi-annual dues to The Actors Equity Association. I've been paying dues since I joined the union in 1980. In the past three years, Equity has significantly upped the amount of the dues. For years, it was $59/ per six months; now it's $88 per six months. They are due in May and November. I'm contemplating requesting an honorable withdrawal from the union. I would still seek union work; but, if I don't handle the withdrawal properly and landed a gig, I would have to pay all back dues before I could accept and sign a new union contract.
I am reluctant to give up my dream of a return to the stage; but, my finances in retirement will not be expanding as rapidly as the union's dues structure. I've done one audition in the past seven years; yet, my desire to return to the stage hasn't lessened. I still have fire in my belly. Do I turn up the heat by performing or bank the fire by watching others do what I so love to do? Do I stay or do I go?
However, 2019 has been a banner year in terms of attending musicals and concerts. I keep track of what I see, which theater, with whom I saw the show and yes, I rate it A+ through F; sometimes, I write a review. When I see my last scheduled production of this year - Rita Moreno in concert at The Ordway in St Paul on December 3, I will have attended 34 stage events this year. Until 2017, I usually made it to the theater about six times a year.
Thanks to thespian15, I've been to more concerts this year than in the previous 30 years combined. It's been a joy to join Jon for these wonderful evenings out. I've purchased tickets to musicals for both of us to enjoy, too ... We're seeing SIX, a new musical at The Ordway on November 29. It's slated for Broadway after it plays St Paul! To date, we have four live events lined in 2020. Besides Jon, I've also attended shows with my friends Steve, Cory, Tom and Carol. Seeing theater, listening to fine music is my favorite way to socialize. I've learned a lot by saying "yes" this year.
I'm wondering if my desire to be a frequent audience member is increasing because my time on stage has slowed to a stand still. When I worked as a theater critic for a time in the 1980's, I saw everything Houston had on offer; I was a member of the acting community, too; so critiquing the performance of friends could be tricky. I never reviewed a show I was in. Reviewing the world premiere of "JEKYLL and HYDE" at The Alley Theatre in 1989 and interviewing Edward Albee were the highlights of that time in my writing life.
It's been 10 years now since my last stage performance in a musical - HELLO, DOLLY in Seattle starring Jenifer Lewis as Dolly Levi. Though a decade has passed since I appeared at The 5th Avenue Theatre, I have maintained my union status and paid semi-annual dues to The Actors Equity Association. I've been paying dues since I joined the union in 1980. In the past three years, Equity has significantly upped the amount of the dues. For years, it was $59/ per six months; now it's $88 per six months. They are due in May and November. I'm contemplating requesting an honorable withdrawal from the union. I would still seek union work; but, if I don't handle the withdrawal properly and landed a gig, I would have to pay all back dues before I could accept and sign a new union contract.
I am reluctant to give up my dream of a return to the stage; but, my finances in retirement will not be expanding as rapidly as the union's dues structure. I've done one audition in the past seven years; yet, my desire to return to the stage hasn't lessened. I still have fire in my belly. Do I turn up the heat by performing or bank the fire by watching others do what I so love to do? Do I stay or do I go?
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