I wonder what some of the problem now being seen in community theaters -- lack of discipline/focus/consideration for others -- can be linked to.
When I read JRand's posts about his experiences, I recall my long-past experiences and I know none of that shoddy behavior would have been tolerated past the first occurrence. And it makes me wonder if "things" have gotten to the point where theaters "have" to tolerate it, to an extent, just to get enough people to do shows.
I know most of the folks I did theater with over the years have either retired or work only on occasion in theater. Loss of experience among a veteran corps, plus this anything-goes no-discipline attitude that young people seem imbued with from birth -- and which is often nurtured in the homes and in the schools -- can really take its toll on the arts when talent isn't nurtured with discipline. I cannot imagine a symphony conductor, or a ballet director, or an opera conductor tolerating such things. There are, of course, "star" egos and diva attitudes, but one would presume that such behavior gets tolerated because of boxoffice drawing power. Do such things exist in community theater among locals?
I've known some divas, of course, but they were quite soon properly adjusted by the rest of the cast and by a sudden appearance of an understudy going through their blocking.
Are there other thoughts -- or, good ideas -- out there as to what's going on that makes such experiences as Jack's more commonplace than rare?
