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Monday, February 25, 2008

Hometown Hero

posted by on February 25 at 13:08 PM

The NYT Magazine fawns over profiles Bart Sher.

22sher-500.jpg

“Sher’s contract [with Intiman] is up in 2009; last year he spent 210 days in New York.”

RSS icon Comments

1

What is it with SLOG and NSFW ... all the women in my office just fainted ...

Posted by Will in Seattle | February 25, 2008 1:31 PM
2

that's a silly photo...doesn't even look like him.

Posted by hmm | February 25, 2008 1:36 PM
3

Paging Mr Sher:

Anton Chigurrh would like his hair piece back.

Thank you.

Posted by michael strangeways | February 25, 2008 1:43 PM
4

I suppose, IF Mr. Sher were actually from Seattle, that header might make sense.

But, since it's clear (as the article makes abundantly so, even if the folks inside Intiman won't cop to it publically), that the likelihood of Mr. Sher still being in Seattle come the end of 2009 seems rather unlikely, it would appear some other appelation than "hometown" would be in order.

Unless this was an attempt at not-so-subtle irony, perhaps a better headline would be something on the order of "Moving On Up", or, "Big Fish Needs Bigger Pond", or, "So Long - And Thanks For All The Days Off".

Posted by COMTE | February 25, 2008 1:52 PM
5

He looks like an older version of Jon Murray.

Posted by Greg | February 25, 2008 1:59 PM
6


I agree with Comte--Bart is many things, but hometown hero doesn't really work. Fuck, I think *I* spent more time in Seattle last year than he did.

Posted by Mike Daisey | February 25, 2008 2:00 PM
7

Sorry, Comte and Daisey. The header was a joke, poorly executed. The post wants a quote from the article.

Posted by Brendan Kiley | February 25, 2008 2:02 PM
8

@6 - yeah, but you didn't have the Beltway-obsessed MSM in NYC fawn over you, so you don't count, right?

They think the music scene in Seattle is dying, the fools ...

Posted by Will in Seattle | February 25, 2008 2:24 PM
9

I'm just really hoping - probably futilely - that someone local is chosen to replace him when he moves on to the brighter lights and bigger city. It's my contention that local ADs are more likely to hire local directors, who are more likely to hire local actors, as opposed to importing talent.

Posted by Geni | February 25, 2008 4:33 PM
10

I wouldn't count on it @9. Intiman is now a "player" on the national regional theatre scene (and they've got the - now three year-old Tony Award to prove it), and as such, they're going to do exactly what they did when they hired Sher; go gunning for another up-and-coming director with a few regional creds and a whole lotta industry buzz, in order to keep them on the radar screens of the national critics and funders.

And, like Sher, Edelstein, Sullivan, et al, that new AD will stick around just long enough to turn their regional creds into national ones, then move up the ladder to the next level, namely either a tony east-coast AD gig, or, as will probably happen in Sher's case, a very lucrative national/international freelance career.

Posted by COMTE | February 25, 2008 5:02 PM
11

@9 -- Truth be told, Intiman does hire lotsa local actors. Quite frankly, they (and any of the other LORT houses) can't afford not to. Sure, it's not 100%, but that's not likely to change. Problem is most of the time shows aren't big enough for that to add up to much... 66% local on a three person show is only employing two more than a 0% local show would.

That being said, the best artistic thing ACT did was nearly go belly up, causing Kurt Beattie to be promoted from within. He's a real local AD with a much more integrated, exciting vision of theatre in Seattle compared to the imports helming the two other regionals. Maybe that sets a precedent for a Shelia Daniels or an Allison Narver to take over Intiman in 2009 and take it off life support.

Posted by actual Size | February 25, 2008 10:32 PM
12

this is bullshit; the push for regional actors in regional shows is such an obvious whine and cover for why you suck, or your friends and family suck at acting. Im sure everyone in town would love to be part of a Seattle tinged "waiting for guffman" but that doesnt win awards and that doesnt make seattle seem like anything but a provincial podunk fishing village.

Posted by Bellevue Ave | February 26, 2008 1:14 AM
13

Riiight, BA, 'cause as we all know, a NYC actor with a some one-day soap gigs, a couple of "Law & Order" appearances, and a handful of off-B'way creds is SOOOOOO much better than a regional Equity actor with a solid 10 or 15 years professional experience.

Posted by COMTE | February 26, 2008 10:35 AM
14

comte, whose fault is that? the industry's? protectionism might feel nice but that helps theatre how?

Posted by Bellevue Ave | February 26, 2008 11:18 AM

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