Comments on: 10 questions: David Cote

By: David Cote

David Cote — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 18:05:00 +0000

Hi Mira. I’m 38 years old and fairly happy about it. Minus the hair, of course. I’m sorry to sadden you by my comment, but please understand that I’m not preventing anyone of any age from attending shows at my dream theater, simply that I would create my subscription base on folks 35 and under. After 5 years, the doors would be open to anyone. The point is simply that I want to build my audience primarily on young people. To me that isnt ageist, it’s a simple matter of survival. I want to cultivate the next generation of theatergoers. In the meantime, I deeply prize individuals such as yourself who create & support art.

By: Mira

Mira — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 17:01:00 +0000

To quote David Cote: ” Badly written reviews …just reveal the reviewers prejudice and fears” My question: How old are you David?? Are you afraid of growing old?? Prejudiced against survivors?? …
Not to worry: You may mature!! As a 70+ composer/writer/grandmother & generous contributor to the Arts, I was shocked and saddened by your dream statement in this week’s Time Out: “For the first five years I would not accept subscribers over 35.” May I suggest that growing older is better then not growing up!!!

By: Joshua James

Joshua James — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 20:47:00 +0000

This:

but the most influential critical posts in this city are jealousy guarded by a wizened knot of nostalgia-drenched mediocrities who have no idea what the next generation is doing and can barely stay on top of what’s happening on Broadway. They are advocates of nothing but their own pathetic memories of musicals or plays in the 60s and 70s; they have about as much vision as the bureaucratic philistines we call artistic directors.

is priceless and dead-on correct.

By: Praxis Theatre

Praxis Theatre — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 16:32:00 +0000

Lots of amazing insight here, David. Thanks.

To your point about theatre marketing: theatre marketers here in Toronto also have a great opportunity to step up their game, primarily at the independent theatre level. Many companies are already pretty good at it: getting buzz on public and college radio, working the Queen West poster-postcard circuit, rallying other theatre artists to come to our shows - but so far it seems like we’re having a hard time delivering our marketing messages to a wider audience.

Of the 99% of Toronto’s population that’s oblivious to our vibrant independent theatre scene, the same questions keep coming up: “Have we really tried talking to them? Have we really tried making theatre for them? Telling their stories? Do we know what they need? What they want? What they crave? What’s missing from their lives? Do we even know who they are or where they’re hiding?” (From our interview with the good folks at The Wrecking Ball.)

I keep hoping that the magic formula is going to tumble down from the heavens, unlock the audience floodgates, and inundate our shows with eager theatregoers. Emboldened by theatre’s newfound popularity, local theatre artists will start taking more risks, making even better, more confident work, and becoming an even more vital part of the cultural dialogue. Certainly, there are glimpses of that reality around every corner. But until we figure out how to open those floodgates en mass, we’ll keep chipping away at it. Maybe it’s time to bring in the heavy duty market researchers.

I wonder if NYC’s Off-Off companies have the same challenges?

Ian

By: mike

mike — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 15:48:00 +0000

wow, a critic i agree with…strange days. and i totally agree with him too. during my year in NYC i saw two shows by the National Theatre of the United States of America and they definitely inspired what i would like to achieve with Praxis. No money, everyone’s got day jobs, and they had by far the most entertaining and risk taking show playing in a store front they had renovated off of times square. I think their last show was at PS 122 (same place where Volcano is putting on Goodness as part of winning the Edinborough Fringe) so I’m glad to see they are also moving up in the world. Anyways, I digress, great interview.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 15:31:00 +0000

David Cote is the best theater critic in New York, hands down. A bad review from him is generally smarter and more thoughtful than a good review from most other critics. No critic is going to write a flawless review every time, but Cote seems to be trying harder than most.