This years National Performing Arts Convention has as its message "Taking Action Together". This reflects one of the primary purposes of all these different groups getting together in one place for four days - finding ourt how much we have in common and using a collective wisdom to set an agenda for the performing arts for the next generation - Generation Y or the "Millennials". Our opening session yesterday was hosted by Anna Deavere Smith in fiery form, a force of nature indeed. And the platform was shared with the eloquent Bill Rauch, now director of the Oregon Shakespeare at Ashland, OR., and Artistic Director of the Cornerstone Theater Company, which he co-founded, for 20 years from 1986.
Between them they provided a stimulating prelude to the core joint activity of the conference which is participation by every attendee in a process devised by America Speaks, and which we began yesterday afternoon and will continue daily until Saturday. I have no idea whether this will work in defining a set of action steps to ensure that the performing arts prosper through the next century. But I am not discouraged so far at all. I will report back and I am sure that the America Speaks website will report in detail on the results. The whole idea of 4,000 individuals actually participating effectively in such a process is mind boggling. But amazingly enough it seems to work - excitement ahead!
We had another Board dinner yesterday evening at The Red House, (left) hosted by its generous opera enthusiast owner Jan Mayer. This is a beautiful place full of extraordinary diverse things including pre Columbian gold, Ming Dynasty furniture, and 19th and 20th century American paintings, all in a comfortable lived in home where we enjoyed a splendid dinner and good company. It was good to see my old friend Gerard Mortier safely arrived for his keynote speech this morning. He had flown from Frankfurt yesterday and was looking as fresh and bouncy as ever. I am sure we are in for some provocative things from him today!
More later but now to breakfast and a long day which will end with a visit to Central City where we will see a performance of The Rape of Lucretia this evening.
And if you have a moment check out this - it will make your day.
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