Let me tell you about the very rich. They are different from you and me. – F. Scott Fitzgerald
You may have heard that the rich are getting richer, and that income inequality is expanding. They say you can’t take it with you, and according to scripture, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. So it’s up to the rest of us to help the wealthy spend their money. After all, this is the giving season.
One guy who made it big was Avery Fisher. His fortune came from electronics – anybody remember transistors? – but he was an amateur violinist and a philanthropist, and in 1973 he gave $10.5 million to the New York Philharmonic at Lincoln Center, which now bears his name. But not for much longer. His children recently agreed to relinquish the name – for $15 million – to allow another well-heeled donor to get his or her name on the place.
Here in Queens we’re still looking for those in the upper brackets to build us some theaters for their chance at immortality. (You may want to read a sonnet by Percy Bysshe Shelley, “Ozymandias,” to see how long such permanence may last.)
For you economic conservatives, you should understand that art and culture can be big business. A study made by the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership of 60 cultural institutions in that borough found that more than 4.5 million visitors in 2013 generated more than $300 million in economic activity.
Here in Queens we’re still waiting. Give us some good performance spaces and we’ll be your best friends.
This column focuses on local theater. Of course, Broadway isn’t far away, but even a discounted ticket there may cost as much as a $100, and Off-Broadway can also take a big bite out of your credit card. Producers in the city have added to their bottom line by catering to the wealthy – the best seats in the house now command a “premium” price, almost $500 for “The Book of Mormon”(a show, by the way, with humor best suited for 12-year-old boys). “Wicked,” now in its 11th year and cashing in on its pre-“Wizard of Oz” story, grossed more than $3 million in one week during the last Christmas season.
By all means, take a bridge or tunnel, mingle with the tourists, and see some superior theater, but don’t miss out on some really good productions here at home, where you can sit close to the stage, avoid the hassle and lengthy travel time, park close by, pay no more than $20 a ticket, and have enough money left over for a fine meal at a nearby restaurant.
If you’re concerned about quality, two shows come to mind that I saw in Queens after seeing them on Broadway. One was “Ragtime” by the Astoria Performing Arts Center, the other “Talk Radio” by Variations Theatre Group. Each compared favorably to the one in Manhattan and was a terrific experience.
And there are many more worthwhile plays and musicals right here with home grown talented actors that you are sure to enjoy.
If you’re up to the challenge of writing a play, check out Theater Resources Unlimited which is now accepting submissions (through Jan. 19) for its 2015 Tru Voices New Plays Reading Series. Also look into The Venus/Adonis Festival where there are money prizes for Best Play, as well as acting and directing awards. You won’t get rich, but maybe you’ll get to heaven.
Contact Ron Hellman at RBHOFC@gmail.com.
