Comments on: Creative DC Profile: Gina and Jack http://www.creativedc.org/2006/07/creative-dc-profile-gina-and-jack/ Showcasing and inspiring creative living in Washington, DC Sat, 06 Feb 2010 21:47:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: john a http://www.creativedc.org/2006/07/creative-dc-profile-gina-and-jack/comment-page-1/#comment-40 john a Fri, 21 Jul 2006 12:29:00 +0000 http://dev.creativedc.org/?p=29#comment-40 We had a brief, productive period of DC playgoing a few years ago. (i.e. when we lived there.) I was fairly impressed by what we found. If you're willing to look, there's almost always something on the horizon worth seeing. <br/><br/>The key difference between DC and NY or London is really suburban accessibility. If Jack & Gina lived where they do relative to DC in NY (i.e. Jersey or Long Island), theater going becomes extremely impractical from a cost and inconvenience factor. (In some ways, it's easier on the mind to take a train in for the weekend and see a bunch of plays than to deal with the commute in and out, parking, etc... Last time we saw a play in NY while living in NJ, the whole experience cost us upwards of $400 and was a logistical nightmare...) In DC, you can drive or Metro in to most spots pretty easily. It may not have the same depth of choices, but there's more than a person can reasonably experience going on at any given time.<br/><br/>I got very involved in the local theater scene in London, and found that really enjoyable. Loved the intimacy, but missed some of the showiness. Broadway or the West End can offer things that the 2nd floor of some pub can't offer, and vice versa.<br/><br/>The stuff I find best in theater is stuff that either shows off good acting chops (anything by Mamet), wows you with production (Lion King) or just presents something you wouldn't see on film (Avenue Q). I'm a movie guy, so I'm always looking for something different from that medium. Otherwise, why bother?<br/><br/>Now that we're in WI, I find it easier and more fulfilling to be supporting the local arts. It's not nearly as competitive or inclusive as larger city scenes, and I've been suprised at the depth of stuff available. (Partly due to it being a college town, I think.)<br/><br/>Good stuff all around. We had a brief, productive period of DC playgoing a few years ago. (i.e. when we lived there.) I was fairly impressed by what we found. If you’re willing to look, there’s almost always something on the horizon worth seeing.

The key difference between DC and NY or London is really suburban accessibility. If Jack & Gina lived where they do relative to DC in NY (i.e. Jersey or Long Island), theater going becomes extremely impractical from a cost and inconvenience factor. (In some ways, it’s easier on the mind to take a train in for the weekend and see a bunch of plays than to deal with the commute in and out, parking, etc… Last time we saw a play in NY while living in NJ, the whole experience cost us upwards of $400 and was a logistical nightmare…) In DC, you can drive or Metro in to most spots pretty easily. It may not have the same depth of choices, but there’s more than a person can reasonably experience going on at any given time.

I got very involved in the local theater scene in London, and found that really enjoyable. Loved the intimacy, but missed some of the showiness. Broadway or the West End can offer things that the 2nd floor of some pub can’t offer, and vice versa.

The stuff I find best in theater is stuff that either shows off good acting chops (anything by Mamet), wows you with production (Lion King) or just presents something you wouldn’t see on film (Avenue Q). I’m a movie guy, so I’m always looking for something different from that medium. Otherwise, why bother?

Now that we’re in WI, I find it easier and more fulfilling to be supporting the local arts. It’s not nearly as competitive or inclusive as larger city scenes, and I’ve been suprised at the depth of stuff available. (Partly due to it being a college town, I think.)

Good stuff all around.

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