Letters | Theater size and location don't determine "legitimacy"

I'm the production director out at Whidbey Island Center for the Arts and read Misha Berson's article, "Smaller theaters are thinking big," with great interest. We just fought for and won the rights to David Lindsay-Abaire's "Rabbit Hole" for April 2009. We've never had to fight so hard. Dramatists really wanted the first Seattle production to be professional, and we had many conversations with them about "legitimate" theater.

Which got me thinking: Aren't we all legitimate? Isn't every level of theater a steppingstone to the next and part of the entire art form? Doesn't everyone have to start somewhere?

Those with training, talent and experience who don't get that "lucky break" still have a desire to do professional-quality theater and may have to choose to keep their art in the fringe or community level in order to have a career at all. But isn't it still a legitimate career in the American theater?

Thank you for your comment, "I hope they wind up on whichever stage can truly do them justice," and I would like to add, "and in whatever community most needs/wants to hear that story."

— Deana Duncan,

production director, Whidbey Island Center for the Arts

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