[NEohioPAL]PD Friday drops Theatre listings!

[MICHAEL NORMAN]

Hello Everyone - Michael Norman here. I'm the Arts Editor of the Plain =
Dealer. Just wanted to let you know that the theater listings were =
accidentally omitted from the new Friday magazine because of a production =
error. This, of course, did not make us happy, as we wanted the new =
magazine to have a perfect rollout. Think of it as a preview in which one =
of the stage lights falls and destroys a portion of the set. :-) Hopefully,=
 we'll get better as the run progresses.=20

The new magazine will, in fact, have more space devoted to coverage of the =
Fine Arts, and theater in particular. We have started a new theater column =
in the magazine that will be written weekly by Plain Dealer Theater Critic =
Tony Brown. Arts Reporter Carolyn Jack will also be doing a weekly column =
of Critic's Choice picks in the magazine, which, of course, will frequenly =
concentrate on theater. She's also doing a separate Family and the Arts =
column in the new Family section at the back of the magazine, which will =
give all of the arts groups doing children's programming another shot at =
coverage.

The Fine Arts listings in the magazine will be at least a page each week, =
sometimes more as space allows. These are will "curated" lists in the =
magazine, with Friday Mag/Fine Arts Editor John Kappes, making selections =
each week for what gets printed. We will continue to prepare much larger =
listings that will be published online at cleveland.com.

We did make a difficult decision to stop publishing the Audition listings =
in the Plain Dealer. However, we will continue to put those together and =
will display them online at cleveland.com. Hope that answers your =
questions. And thanks for reading. Please feel free to email or call me if =
you have any other questions or concerns. 216-999-4109.



=20

Michael Norman
Arts & Entertainment Editor
The Plain Dealer
1801 Superior Ave.
Cleveland OH 44114
Phone: 216-999-4109
Mobile: 330-416-7968
Fax: 216-999-6269


>>> <Maysie929 at aol.com> 11/11/05 08:50PM >>>
Help!=20
The Plain Dealer  rolled out their new Friday magazine format today. =
Guess=20
what? There were a few theatre offerings promoted, but no listings. Anyone =
who=20
might want to attend a play must now go online to see what is playing. =
This=20
will not do!!!
=20
In the past few years we have seen less and less coverage for local =
theaters;=20
almost no preview articles except for  professional offerings, and few=20
photos. Even with the best publicists working on a show, and the best =
photos, how=20
can we attract audiences when the paper will not print our basic informatio=
n and=20
promote theater in this town. This decision comes from the top, I am sure. =
I=20
know Tony's space is limited by his editors. If the theatre is to survive =
in=20
Cleveland, our only major newspaper must help inform the public.=20

Please start a letter writing campaign to reverse this terrible =
policy!!!=20
Those listings were crucial to letting potential audience members know =
what was=20
playing, where, when, and how to buy tickets, etc. Printing free listings =
and=20
audition notices (also missing) is the least they can offer to theatres =
that=20
cannot afford the PD's expensive ad space. Start at the top and email =
letters to=20
the editor at letters at plaind.com=20

It is just not fair to the wonderful theatre artists working so hard in =
this=20
community not to have some visability. And it is not fair to assume=20
Clevelanders are not interested in anything besides movies, comedy, and =
rock concerts!=20
Kick and Scream!!!!
Love to you all!
Sarah May