If you’re like me, you don’t like spending your hard-earned (or pretty much stolen) money on the same thing you can get everywhere. And I’m not sure about you, but I can’t afford $150 for 2 hours of theater. Even if he could, he’d probably use that same money for a weekend binge of DVD rentals, Chinese takeout, and cheap booze.
But I still need my dose of live theater. So independent theater is my favorite hustler. Of course, it helps that it’s awesome. If you think about it, there are many reasons why independent theater (aka off-Broadway, independent, experimental, equity showcase, small theater, black box theater, or whatever term anyone can make up that means “anything but Broadway”). ) is the best form of entertainment there is.
1. It’s cheap.
Many independent theater shows cost as much as a movie ticket. Of course, you also have tickets in the $20-$30 range. But you never have to budget or save to see something. And if you’re lucky or help them, you might even see something for free. Which gives you more money to eat too rich food and drink too strong alcohol.
2. It is quality theater.
Most independent theater shows don’t have a huge budget for costumes, sets, or special effects. So they have to focus on minor details like story, character, and ideas. And if you’re sick of Dead White Man theater, many independent theater groups put on original plays.
3. It’s intimate.
In a small space, you can sit inches, not feet, inches away from the action. Of course, this may be obsolete in a few years once we have full 3-D HDTV movies with surround sound, smell vision, ghost touch. But there’s something about being up close to real human bodies that our high-tech toys can’t match.
4. It is unique.
Where else will you find something like this? Not on Broadway, that’s for sure. It’s hard to beat independent theater for finding things that actually push the boundaries of taste and decency or completely distort our understanding of who we are. Not unless Kevin Smith and David Lynch made a movie together.
5. He never shows the same thing twice.
Independent theater doesn’t do pathetic revivals. The independent theater does not repeat stupid movies. Independent theater doesn’t insult your intelligence by regurgitating the same old crap. Every independent theater show is something new that will not be seen again. Every show they put on is a once in a lifetime event.
6. It could make you ugly.
Because saying things like “postmodern critique of traditional permutations of masculinity” makes you sound deep and sensitive. Being deep and sensitive is the aphrodisiac of a thinking person. And if you have a problem with drugs or alcohol, it’s even better because then you become deep, sensitive and complex!
7. He is passionate.
It’s easy to be excited about theater when you can really make a living. Or if you still live from your parents. But if you’re working for nothing but praise and peanuts, especially if the peanuts are stale and the praise doesn’t come, that’s love.
8. The actors are real people.
I know I said 7 reasons, but I am adding one more because I want to give you something extra.
One of the best things about independent theater is that you get to meet the people behind the show. Hang out after the curtain goes down, and you may very well meet the handsome hero or charming leading lady you just saw moments ago. And unless he’s a complete psycho-stalker maniac, he won’t have to worry about security getting him out of the building.
How to find these things
There are plenty of online sources for finding independent theater shows. But if you’re a wage slave like me, you don’t have time to hunt them down. So the first place I go to is StageBuddy.com. I really like it because I can search for shows in my area (the center of the universe, aka New York City) by date, price, genre, and location. There are tons of other places to go, and I’m sure you can find more through Google.
With that, you can get a pretty good idea of how much money your friends will have to find you food and drink. But if you’re one of those squeaky clean guys who don’t do anything that’s bad for me, you can put the extra money in your pocket and just have a good time.
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