[Winona Online Democracy]
C.E.
The actor you're referring to is Chris Gerson - he's an amazing actor, one of the best I've ever seen onstage, though I could say that about several of the GRSF actors who are returning for their 3rd year here.
I would guess the actors are paid weekly a standard actor's equity wage - they're not collecting movie star wages here in Winona. Most summerstock theaters deduct room and board from the actor's paychecks, as well as income tax, medicare etc. They don't live here free and then take their big checks back home. They spend their money here on food, gas, clothing, drinks, cigarettes, shampoo - same as you and me. The married actors/staff bring their spouses and children to Winona. They spend money too. I've heard they go to movies, steamboat days, the swimming pool, places like that. After volunteering two years ago I saw that almost all the actors/staff brought in many family & friends to Winona to show the area off to them and to have them see the production. The actors all expressed such pride in Winona and such a feeling of warmth to the community. I'm just sickened by some of the comments here. All of those friends and family members purchased gas, ate out, and stayed in hotels. I'm sure most also purchased flowers for their cast member.
At least 3 homes have been purchased by GRSF members. Several local people have been employed. Considering GRSF brings in a good 30 people to work on a production and they all have to purchase necessities I don't see why this is considered a drain on our community resources.
I've yet to hear of someone driving down from the cities, or flying in from L.A, going out for dinner and staying in a hotel just to see the Wilkie.
Cherisa Templeton
From: "c.e.w." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
CC: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Winona] Wilkie/Shakespeare
Date: Fri, 16 Jun 2006 13:35:01 -0700 (PDT)
>[Winona Online Democracy]
>
Janice,Nice to talk to you again. I couldnt agree with you more. since when is it okay for our local tax dollars to fund/underwrite live theater? I really wouldnt have a big problem with it if they were working thier way toward self sustainability, however, when I read about a $500,000 study on the feasability of building a theater for this I really start to wonder. I would LOVE to see the breakdown of how this study comes to $500,000( think about it, $500k for a "study" on building a theater for the GRSF and we argue about $200k in tangible goods< you can touch the Wilkie, the "study" will be nothing but theory> for a city landmark, and yes, that is a landmark just like those old buildings next to Merchants are "historic") furthermore, I would love to know if anyone running the GRSF knows what a P & L statement looks like, let alone knows how to read one.Also, I read the article in the newspaperlast weekend about the actor coming in from L.A. for his third season...like this is some sort of shocker? why wouldn't he? this is easy money for a short summer stint. He's flown in, kept and fed for the duration, and then gets to leave with a fat check. Why on earth would a struggling actor NOT come here if he could ride this gravy train? We're blessed to have him? Ha, he should feel blessed to be eating off of my paycheck.Like you stated Janice, I am ALL for the arts, 110%, however, we are being taken to the cleaners here and the local arts and artists (and ESPECIALLY the taxpayers) are being taken advantage of.c.e. woodford
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Quoting "c.e.w." :
> [Winona Online Democracy]
>
> Finally people are starting to get it! Shakespeare is just like Walmart, it
has become a small town killer. Other arts events that the City does not deem
important has suffered tremendously since Shakespeare came to town. Every year
this group expects to come into our town and raise well over $600,000 (the
first year the goal was over a million dollars). I understand they raised about
$800,000. How much of that was left in Winona or brought in from other sources?
Very Very little. How many hotels rooms need to get occupied, meals bought
and suveniers purchased to bring well over $600,000 back to this community each
year? It's a no brainer.
Over $600,000 (and I believe this is a very low figure from what I hear) goes
out on goods, producers, directors, costumes, actors and is removed from our
town. The City gives GRSF taxpayer money and supports no other arts. Other
events and arts in this area have suffered emencely since Shakespeare came to
town. Sponsorships and donations for other art events has declined, I know this
first hand. The City has become the promoters and producers of the Shakespeare
Festival, all on taxpayer money. When did the City get into the business of
theatre, because they have. The unfortunate part of this, is this city and
businesses in it are not supporting their own. Instead, they have been
bulldozed into believing a non-self sustaining very high buck business deserves
more than all the other arts in this community put together. I believe it is
called the "Music Man Phenominon" (sp)
The media has done a great job in bulldozing people as well.
Now we have gone to the level of spending State tax money on this. I highly
support the arts in this town as anyone who knows me will tell you. Because I
support them, I see Shakespeare not a contributor to this town but as a taker.
Out the money goes. Will this be the saving grace of Winona as some of our
City lea ders have said - oh come on!! I wish people would speak up more on
this. I hear rumblings in the community all the time. I see arts activities
drop out.
Do the numbers. Even if Shakespeare sold every single ticket, every
single night, they would still only raise about a third of the money they need
to do their productions. That means every year, HUNDREDS of thousands of
dollars
of handouts are needed to sustain Shakespeare. I don't care how much money is
in this town, there is only so much to go around and unfortunately their is
very
little left for others, We are not Minneapolis and this type of money is a lot
of money in Winona (or anywhere for that matter).
The Wilke is an example of this. Money is being poured into an event that lasts
5 weeks, devours resource money, and uses very few businesses or people in our
town for support. Do you know the first year they did not even print the
programs in Winona? Not sure wher e that stands now, but it would not surprise
me if they are still taking this service (and therefore the money) out of this
town as well. Janice Turek
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