Post by Rosie B on Oct 18, 2012 12:17:02 GMT -5
One of the things I think we are missing in Richmond is a central, frequently updated location (print and online) to find information on Richmond area performances, including schedules (dates and times), cast and ticket prices (or range), web addresses and phone numbers.
There are publications that list productions, but do not include show dates/times, or may include the phone number but not the website (or vice-versa). Some split new/opening out from "ongoing" -- which makes no sense. (Yes, feature the opening on your calendar, but include the new shows in the master list as well.) One print source will feature a show with several performances that week on ONE day's calendar, not even listing that there are any other performances; that same publication frequently lists shows for dates when there are no performances, relying on outdated scheduling information. What about the websites of the various theatres that include links to other theater companies' websites? That's a nice gesture, but a check of many will turn up dead links. So, don't just give the link, but the phone number as well. If one doesn't work, hopefully the other will.
If I'm going to NY, I rely on Playbill.com, TDF.org, TalkinBroadway and the NYTimes listings. What is the closest equivalent in Richmond? What is required to get Richmond theater productions listed under "regional" on the Playbill.com website? (The Virginia theatres listed there are LORT, but not all VA LORT theatres are included.) Nowadays, I get most of my information about Richmond productions from friends' and theaters' facebook posts and the Richmond theater FB page, but that's "inside baseball." At one time, I thought Cultureworks was talking about doing a master calendar, but when I looked most recently, I only found a list of websites.
So, how does the average Richmond theatergoer, who is not plugged into a dozen performers' FB pages, find out about what shows are open for them to go see on any given night? "Hey, honey, lets see a show Friday night" "What's playing?" "I don't know...Let's check the movie schedule instead."
There are publications that list productions, but do not include show dates/times, or may include the phone number but not the website (or vice-versa). Some split new/opening out from "ongoing" -- which makes no sense. (Yes, feature the opening on your calendar, but include the new shows in the master list as well.) One print source will feature a show with several performances that week on ONE day's calendar, not even listing that there are any other performances; that same publication frequently lists shows for dates when there are no performances, relying on outdated scheduling information. What about the websites of the various theatres that include links to other theater companies' websites? That's a nice gesture, but a check of many will turn up dead links. So, don't just give the link, but the phone number as well. If one doesn't work, hopefully the other will.
If I'm going to NY, I rely on Playbill.com, TDF.org, TalkinBroadway and the NYTimes listings. What is the closest equivalent in Richmond? What is required to get Richmond theater productions listed under "regional" on the Playbill.com website? (The Virginia theatres listed there are LORT, but not all VA LORT theatres are included.) Nowadays, I get most of my information about Richmond productions from friends' and theaters' facebook posts and the Richmond theater FB page, but that's "inside baseball." At one time, I thought Cultureworks was talking about doing a master calendar, but when I looked most recently, I only found a list of websites.
So, how does the average Richmond theatergoer, who is not plugged into a dozen performers' FB pages, find out about what shows are open for them to go see on any given night? "Hey, honey, lets see a show Friday night" "What's playing?" "I don't know...Let's check the movie schedule instead."
