theatre for the other 91%

Theatre isn't dead, despite the fact that only about 9% of Americans currently watch non-musical play performances.  As Bob Hayden reminds us in a recent article, every theatre movement runs its course, dies, and is replaced by another form that better speaks to its time. The linear construct known as character-based realism has been hearing the opening bars of its eulogy for so long now that we can all hum along. The good people of the world have moved on to other art forms that better reflect the world right now. But they will come back.

Already another theatre has begun to wend its way up through the sewers, slither in through the cement cracks, and surge into the basements of our decaying stages--a multinational, multicultural theatre of expressionism and symbolism,
skyscraping themes and epic narratives,
jaunty, powerful warriors of the stage,
dark and fiery battles,
joyful laughter,
immense hope.