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Apparently, $20,000 doesn't mean that much
Published: 8/17/2008 8:35 AM
Last Modified: 8/17/2008 8:35 AM

Last week the Tulsa World announced the creation of the TATE Awards, a project funded by the George Kaiser Family Foundation to honor and reward the best in locally produced and created theater.

The awards (an acronym for Tulsa Award for Theatre Excellence) range from a top prize of $10,000 for outstanding production of a play -- either comedy or drama -- to $2,500 for outstanding children's production. All told, $20,000 in potential prize money.

The reaction to this news by the Tulsa theater community: well, pretty much silence.

It could very well be that the majority of the people involved in theater in Tulsa have been away on vacation for the past week and will likely learn of the awards through word-of-mouth, or reading last Sunday's story about the TATE awards online.

Or it could be that the possibility of winning $10,000 -- a figure that easily represents the annual budget for several years of most of the community theater groups in the area -- has taken the Tulsa theater community's collective breath away, and once respiration recommences, they'll be all for the awards.

It's also possible that the majority of theater companies in Tulsa believe they are not likely to be considered for the awards, since most of the shows these companies present are musicals, and musicals are not being considered as part of the TATE awards first season.

What I hope is NOT the case is that local theater groups decide that the work they do isn't worthy of being considered for the TATE Awards. Because to take that opinion is to defeat the purpose of offering the prizes in the first place.

Theater has long been the "red-haired stepchild" (full disclosure -- I have a wonderfully lovely niece named Stephanie who has red hair, is the step-child of my sister's husband and is thoroughly loved and appreciated by all who have the privilege of knowing her) in the Tulsa arts community.

There was a time in the 1980s when local theater had great ambitions and the means and talent to achieve those ambitions, to be taken as seriously as the larger, professional organizations of ballet, opera and orchestra. For whatever reason -- lack of money, the loss to other locales of people with vision and energy, the domineering influence of television, among others -- theater in Tulsa never has managed to do much more than exist on the fringe of people's awareness.

Still, there is -- and has always been -- very talented people in Tulsa who, in spite of everything, have devoted their lives to creating theater in this town. And it is the efforts of these people -- who are trying to make audience laugh and think and feel, who offer like-minded artists the opportunity to use their talents regularly to these ends -- that the TATE Awards wants to recognize.

Let me toss an idea out there for those who are thinking of submitting their shows for judging in the TATE Awards:

Should you win the top prize of $10,000, put half the money in the bank to be used however you see fit. But take the other half, and use that to create a completely new work of theater. Commission a script from a local playwright. Hire the best actors this town has AND PAY THEM FOR THEIR WORK with something more than free tickets to the show. Offer as part of the next SummerStage, a world premiere play -- a work of art created by Tulsa artists for Tulsa audiences.

Use the money to show this city what you can do in the art form to which you've given yourself.


Reader Comments 3 Total
Liz (5 years ago)
Well, the news has certainly been passed around online. I, for one, am pleased to hear that someone is willing to throw a bit of money in the direction of local theatre (and it's about friggin' time), but what "reaction," exactly, was expected? Cartwheels in the streets?

I think the "reaction" will come in the form of applications, as theatre companies determine which shows to submit. (Something of a delicate proposition, for the companies who do the most shows--how do you decide whose show is most "worthy?")

And oh yeah..thanks, George!
To whom it may concern,

As I sat at my computer to enter this wonderful contest and thank Mr. Kaiser for his ongoing support of the arts. I dowloaded the eligibility rules - I was astonished, hurt and outraged to find that the educational theatres (there are only 3 in Tulsa) are not eligible.

As the Chair of Theatre at the University of Tulsa I am officially protesting the decision of the committee of the Kaiser TATE awards to exclude "educational theatre". And requesting a hearing before the committee to allow the 3 Educational Theatres to present our case for consideration as part of the Tulsa Theatre Community.

We are a part of the community.

Perhaps there is a mistaken perception that we are "rich theatres" running on unlimited resources. Like everyone else we produce on limited budgets. We are ineligible for Arts Council grants to assist our productions. TU has had the same production budget for over 10 years despite inflation. So, the award would mean a lot - not only in allowing us to do a special project or bring in a guest artist we would share with the community - but in recognizing the high level of work we do and have done year after year.

The Tulsa World now says it will not run anything on educational theatre or community theatre. We are a strong contributor to the arts in Tulsa. A majority of the artists who are making theater in Tulsa have had some training or influence from one of these 3 institutions.

The University of Tulsa Theatre has been performing continuously in Tulsa for over 80 years. We are committed to bringing a wide variety of the canon to the city and our community. The challenging plays that we present often could not be produced by by area theatres. We present production with fully realized sets, lighting and costumes and some of the best directing and acting in the state.

Please reconsider you decision.

Sincerely

Lisa Wilson
Chair of Theatre
University of Tulsa
Starr Hardgrove (4 years ago)
I would say that the reaction of Lisa Wilson is warranted. But speaking as a person who has thrown his heart and soul and most of his money into a musical for the past month and a half, I share the same sentiment.

But to clarify, I would have to say that the TATE awards are the first major award that has come down the pike for the individual theater, independent theater or community theater. We have seen the theater community for too long place the standard for theater and what it is on the shoulders of community theater. Forgetting that there is this thing out there called a professional theater world.

The point is that we all share the same audience. I go to see TU shows because they are good. And I would say that TU has at times been unresponsive to the community theater world as well, and I would say that if we all wanna play in the same fish bowl. We must realize that we have to work together to get the food.

The Kaiser Grant is a good thing, but we have to realize that for too long, we as community theater's have acted just like the "red headed step child" in the sense that we are not willing to go out there and finance our theaters, and those who do want to change are met by constant opposition from those who don't.

We in the arts in general, must become funders and financers. The Tulsa Ballet seems to have no problem doing this. The Tulsa Opera doesn't either. Why should it be different for any arts organization?

Just some thoughts.
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ARTS

James D. Watts Jr. has lived in Oklahoma for most his life, even though he still has people saying to him, "Don't sound like you're from around these parts." A University of Oklahoma Phi Beta Kappa graduate, Watts has received the Governor Arts Award, Harwelden Award and the National Conference of Christians and Jews Beth Macklin Award for his writing. Before coming to the Tulsa World, Watts worked for the Tulsa Tribune.

Contact him at (918) 581-8478.

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