The League of Indepedent Theater is Official

Kudos to everyone who made this a reality, but especially John Clancy and Paul Bargetto and John Pinckard -- and double kudos to them for including moi in the process.

If you want to see the document that makes the League of Independent Theater official, click on this:

http://appsext8.dos.state.ny.us/corp_public/CORPSEARCH.ENTITY_INFORMATION?p_nameid=3732451&p_corpid=3684809&p_entity_name=%54%68%65%20%4C%65%61%67%75%65%20%6F%66%20%49%6E%64%65%70%65%6E%64%65%6E%74%20%54%68%65%61%74%65%72&p_name_type=%41&p_search_type=%42%45%47%49%4E%53&p_srch_results_page=0

More information forthcoming on what the organization will be doing.

Sphere: Related Content

Giving the Liberty Theatre Liberty

I strongly advise everyone to give John Clancy's blog post about the Liberty Theatre a read. Yes, John, the Liberty needs to be saved.

And a photograph of the Liberty is one of the 240 photographs in my book -- which, I am pleased to announce, can be preordered on Amazon. (The cover image will be forthcoming and the issue date is May, not March 14.)

Anyway, here is some of the caption copy I wrote on the Liberty:

The 79 performances of the Ziegfeld Follies of 1907 played in three theatres: the Jardin de Paris (part of Oscar Hammerstein I’s Olympia Theatre complex), the Liberty Theatre and the Grand Opera House, a now-forgotten West 23rd Street venue. Of these, only the Liberty’s façade is still extent. Built in 1904, the Liberty hosted Cohan’s Little Johnny Jones (1904); a Shubert-produced, Ada Rehan-starring revival of The Taming of the Shrew (1905); George White’s Scandals of 1921, one of George Gershwin first shows; and Lady Be Good (1924), pairing George with his lyricist brother Ira Gershwin. But the Liberty, as pretty as it was, was hardly a distinguished house, and was converted to a movie theatre in the 1930s, which it remained for over 50 years. This photo shows it dark in the early 1920s, its marquee advertising silent films.

Of course, if we -- IF WE GET UP AND DO SOMETHING -- have a chance now, as John says, to make it a distinguished house.

The images are from the NYPL's collection. I love the one from the perspective of the stage door.

Sphere: Related Content

League of Independent Theater Update

Not from me, but from John Clancy as of a few days ago. Been meaning to link everyone over to John's blog, as I'm suddenly getting a lot of questions like:

1) What's happening with the League?
2) What's not happening with the League?
3) Why can't I be involved? Why can't I be obstructionistic?
4) Why am I out of the loop?
5) Why can't I raise enough money for a showcase? (Ooops, wrong subject.)

Anyway, go visit Clancy's recent posting here. And stop whining.

Sphere: Related Content

Announcing The Leonard Jacobs Show

As promised, I'm now taping monthly podcasts for Martin and Rochelle Denton. Right now, in a nod to legendary folks like Dick Cavett and Virginia Graham, it's called "The Leonard Jacobs Show," but we want a snappy name. Please send suggestions to admin@nytheatrecast.com.

My first guest was none other than the amazing John Clancy. You can visit my corner of the sun on the nytheatrecast blog, leading you to the podcast, here. You can download the podcast by clicking here.

We had a rollicking good time, Clancy and I. And yes, we're taking our act on the road, baby. Chillicothe, here we come.

Sphere: Related Content

My New Monthly Podcast

Today I taped the first podcast of The Leonard Jacobs Show for NYTheatrecast.com. Look for the podcast to be available toward the beginning of every month, starting in January.

And because I was far too much of a dolt to actually remember to say this "on the air," I'd like to give a big shout-out to Martin and Rochelle for being so kind to me and providing me with this opportunity. Thank you, thank you.

And the more I think about it, the more I think my first guest -- John Clancy -- is right when he suggests that I actually call the show "The Clyde Fitch Report." I just might do that going forward.

John was on the show talking about the League of Independent Theater, whose steering committee I'm on, and which is being promulgated by none other than John -- and especially Paul Bargetto.

Sphere: Related Content

News from the League of Independent Theater

John Clancy, on his blog, put up the latest version of the Statement of Purpose for the League of Independent Theater. Do send any comments to me so I can pass them along.

The League of Independent Theater (LIT) is the association of theater professionals working in New York City theaters of up to 99 seats. LIT's mission is to organize and protect its members to ensure that independent theater is economically viable for all of its practitioners. We will advocate on behalf of the decades-old tradition of off-off Broadway theater to ensure that it remains, and grows, as a thriving artistic and economic sector in New York City.

Sphere: Related Content