New York's Other Theatre [antikvár]

INTRODUCTION The Off Off Broadway Alternative by Joseph Papp Off Off Broadway is an alternative theatre. It takes the playgoer off the beaten track—not just geographically, but also artistically. At its best, it is an idea about theatre, a commitment to theatre as an art form and to theatre as a vehicle for responding to that which is contemporary. People who work Off Off Broadway don't sit around waiting for a job. Driven by a clear design and sense of purpose, playwrights, actors, and directors perform and produce, working not for monetary compensation, but because there is something they feel compelled to communicate. The alternatives Off Off Broadway offers to an audience are many. Economically, it provides an inexpensive way to be entertained. Geographically, it offers a chance to venture to some of the highways and byways of New York City. Just as one wants to see more than the Champs Elysees when one visits Paris, more than the West End when one visits London, one should not restrict a visit to New York to the midtown area. By venturing into Soho, Chelsea, Queens, Bedford Stuyvesant, the Upper West Side, Harlem, or any of the many neighborhoods where Off Off Broadway theatres are tucked away, one begins to see the strivings of people who have a serious interest in theatre beyond glitter, glamour and tinsel. There's something inherently dramatic about visiting Off Off Broadway theatre. A life force, a sense of vitality often infuses these theatres where artists frequently must struggle to stay afloat. Theatregoing becomes a more personalized experience. There's a sense of community, a homegrown spirit that you will not find in more formal Broadway theatres. You generally know who is running the store in these small nonprofit operations, and may even be greeted by the artistic or managing director as you enter the theatre. xi