They closed the Epicenter of the Northern Hemisphere? Oh noooooo!
But seriously, Ryan, I really like the idea of it being a music venue, like a Webster Hall, perhaps? Bands playing, dancing, sometimes musical acts. That would be cool. But if you’re getting complaints enough to move the Fire Marshall, the Police Dept. AND the Town Attorney to shut down the place, what is it about your plans to get it back open again as a music venue that will not generate yet more complaints? Must be the neighbors doing the complaining, I’d imagine. So much for community support!
Thank you bluesky, for your thoughtful response. Though I don’t believe you can speak for all (“I can assure you that no one has perceived anything you have posted as constructive”), I have to disagree with this:
“your judgmental attitude defines your own personal character more effectively than it highlights any shortcomings this project may contain.”
Maybe what you sense isn’t judgmental, but dismay over this debacle, and from being misled and disappointed, a channeled assertiveness which gives a tone sharp and purposeful in underscoring the severity of those shortcomings you mentioned.
From what I’ve read here, no one much pointed out these evident shortcomings during the prior management’s time, the few that did, when they did, were deleted or railed against. On the other hand, we read a great many posts with this type of sentiment to them: “Hey it would be great to keep the theater open! Hey it’s going to be awesome!” – but there was no basis to believe anything positive like that would result when what we were seeing was the actual direction it was going right in front of our eyes, namely, south.
You had a guy in charge who had run several theaters down and put on some pretty poor productions. NOW you call him “ineffective”. But he was ineffective back then, that was the hard fact that no one much wanted to accept, people still wanted to believe. Then the whole thing crashed as the logical conclusion given the circumstances. The shows were poorly done, word of mouth was bad, attendance drifted off to nothing, and nothing was promoted well and perhaps maybe makeshift signs and xeroxed playbills with typos in them don’t give too much confidence in the quality of the shows, and cash dried up. Then the head honcho disappears, without warning, with a very questionable excuse, packing all his life’s belongings along with him, leaves everyone up in the air, leaves thousands of dollars of debt behind in his wake – and you still have people who say he was a great guy! This is not a judgment, this is factual. When would you have preferred the alarm bell ring?
People would rather believe the emperor has fine clothes. Well, the mark of a good con job is that afterwards, you still don’t believe that you were conned. So at this point, I don’t see any good in posting along the tone of rah, rah, yay team, let’s put on a show! things will be great, watch out world because here we come! posts, I’d rather point things out directly and not pull punches, thank you. If it bothers you, then don’t read my posts. But I’m not going to coddle the Islip Theater. That’s the worse thing you could do for it right now.
As such, I believe I’m part of the solution, not part of the problem. And I don’t think mere volunteers are the solution. I think part of the problem is having volunteers without quality leadership and direction over them from a knowledgeable, experienced director. I think part of the problem may be that the theater needs more then the bandaid you can give it. So many theatrical troupes on long island struggle with box office yet they have integrity and strive to put on first rate productions. Not Ed Wood type productions where substandard is acceptable, such as having actors who don’t know their lines or technicians who don’t observe their cues. These groups get out there and promote those good shows. It keeps them alive so they can continue to do what they love to do and it serves the community well. That’s what you have to do. I don’t see it happening. I haven’t seen it happen. I just hear “rah, rah”.
In fact, I keep asking for someone in management to step forward and explain realistically what they’re going to do and why they believe their plan has a chance, but no one has. Is that asking so much? Instead, I’m in return challenged to become a volunteer, as if that’s the solution. And I don’t think that saying you’re a small group of volunteers with busy lives who see this uphill climb as being akin to a miracle of turning water into wine is a pragmatic solution to the situation. And certainly, taking the time to instead write about my posts or to give your armchair psychologist diagnosis of my character isn’t going to do squat for the theater. In fact, it only comes across more as if you’re trying to quiet the person asking pointed questions.
One last point, bluesky: “Perhaps what you see as hype is merely optimism.”
Optimism is not hype. Optimism is not about looking toward the west and being hopeful that one day we’ll see the sunrise soon enough, rah, rah! Optimism is a positive state of mind, but underlying one’s optimism has to be a realistic, very workable plan. Otherwise, you’re just insane, according to Einstein, doing the same old thing but expecting different results. You can be as optimistic as you like. But “the cultural center of the upper hemisphere” classifies as hype, not optimism. And when what we’ve heard for the past year has been hype, and hearing it from a man without a resume for establishing thriving theaters, but whose resume consisted of quite the opposite, only to be left with such a serious degree of failure, then to now hear one drop more of hype coming from anyone associated with the theater rings loud alarm bells and we very well should inquire as to the new management’s qualifications for running this enterprise. Especially given, to paraphrase a song, that the new boss sounds same as the old boss. We don’t want to be fooled again.
Oh I see, it was a dig you posted! Thanks for explaining that you posted a dig. I guess the best defense is a strong offense, huh? I guess that’s because you have nothing else substantial to say so you result to pure digs.
I’ve already explained how there’s at least 4 points of constructive criticism in my posting, and how we’re all tired of the hype of the past year, disappointed and would like to see results instead, but because you don’t agree, all you seem to do is post digs and keep on daring me to volunteer, as if that’s really the answer to the Islip theater’s troubles, avoiding detailing exactly what steps you’re taking to turn things around. It’s like the same stuff as before is still happening.
I think that says a lot right there.
You know, you talk about how I spend my time, but if only you spent your time and energy actually improving the quality of productions in your theater instead of spending time on this board reading posts and making outlandish claims and striking back whenever someone has an honest opinion that you don’t like, maybe the Islip Theater would actually benefit from it. Maybe.
“Congrats, Islip Theater”… for what? They haven’t done anything. They only thing they’ve accomplished so far was to hype the theater and use up monies funded them and bring the theater back to nothing again and deep in debt. They saw the bills pile up but kept digging the hole deeper doing the same old, same old that got them in debt in the first place. That’s called a scam at worst, mismanagement at best. Bottom line is, that’s the track record.
We’ve heard all the hype from Glassberg before, and this is like a continuation of that. Glassberg had a lousy track record, running down several theaters before, and it was no surprise that things didn’t work out. What basis was there to believe this time he’d be successful with that poor resume? None. I posted about that earlier in the year, but the post was deleted, which only shows some Pollyanna attitude here among some, preferring to believe in something when all the evidence points otherwise. Giving money to someone who didn’t have the right resume. I recall Glassberg responded by challenging me to volunteer, same as you’re doing. I see you learned from your mentor. Stare down the watch dog.
(Or are you Glassberg behind the scenes? Still in town but hiding?)
So what’s your track record? What’s your resume say? Ever run a successful theater before? Do tell. Give details. Your website’s selling subscriptions. I’d like to hear how that’s warranted, what your story is, rather then your digs about my critique and hiding behind screen names. And if you don’t like my critique, all you really have to do to change that is to warrant it. I’m a fair person: run a successful theater with great productions, I volunteer to post great reviews.
Oh, I see, Islip15… you can chide me and you see that as okay to do, but you don’t like me saying my piece?
You want to paint my criticism as being negative? Hey, I’m suggesting the new management have 1. standards of quality and that 2. they not repeat the errors of the past management and 3. not hype that pure BS as Todd and you are already so doing. I also pointed out 4. what the Engeman theater found they needed to do to make it work. That’s all constructive criticism.
And what is it with this “why don’t you pitch in and volunteer” type response when someone has a criticism? Theater critics aren’t asked to shut up and stage a show. We can criticize the dry cleaners in town without seeking employment there. We can demand that our schools do a better job without becoming state certified teachers. Be real. More volunteers won’t equate to quality productions if first and foremost management isn’t committed to quality and leads the way, period. So let those who wish to take on these responsibilities just do a great, quality job, instead of giving a repeat performance of the hype we’ve all heard before with nothing to show for it or back it up. It’s as simple as that.
“I assure you it will the cultural epicenter of the world by early next month. ”
Now it’s “the world”, not just the upper hemisphere. Early next month too, that’s a little over a week from now… Okay sir. Going to turn the whole debacle around by then? And your resume has examples of where you’ve established world class theaters before and turned these situations around? Yeah, right…
I don’t recall the Engeman theater making outlandish, exagrerrated claims before they opened, but I do recall that they simply stated what their very do-able intention was, which was to bring NY level productions to long island.
Looks like you’re more into hype then anything else. You’re really insulting the intelligence of the community with statements like that. Not only the community, but every earnest, hard working, theatrical group in the area too, by making such obviously outrageous claims.
Who wants to hear such unsupported boasting? Just make it happen first. I don’t think that’s too much to ask. THEN you can lay claim to it.
Hey Todd, then maybe don’t make claims that you need to come back and say you were only kidding about. I think you can understand that the community is a bit tired of hearing how great things are going to be yadda, yadda, and yet things never are. Really, I hope you make it work.
“We all are expecting 2009 to be HUGE… the theater is aiming to be the cultural epicenter of Islip if not the upper hemisphere.”
Todd, a word to the wise: Way less hype, much more action. The cultural epicenter of the upper hemisphere? C'mon, man! Instead of blowing smoke like some hack carnival barker, produce some consistent great, quality productions with top notch parameters that don’t tolerate substandard work, and people will say, “Wow! Those shows are amazing! This is great!”. You know in your heart where things are slipshod. If you see it, we see it too. Don’t turn a blind eye to it. Miscast actors, bad acting, low production values, inept staff, whatever, it all gets noticed whether consciously or not. They had refurbished the Northport theater, for example, but the productions were lacking. This is why after Glassberg was kicked out of that theater, the new owner’s strategy was to stage equity-level productions there, casting experienced actors from the NYC theater arena, not produce more high schoolish level plays.
“The calendar is a port from the old site. It needs to be updated yet, My apologies.”
Doubtful that the cultural epicenter of the upper hemisphere makes blunders like that. This is exactly why you need to stay away from such bravado. Makes your slipups look even worse. Your actions will always speak much, much louder then your words.
I wish you luck. And a fence. And a couple of gorilla-like bouncers. I’d agree – if you run it real tight, you just might do it.
They closed the Epicenter of the Northern Hemisphere? Oh noooooo!
But seriously, Ryan, I really like the idea of it being a music venue, like a Webster Hall, perhaps? Bands playing, dancing, sometimes musical acts. That would be cool. But if you’re getting complaints enough to move the Fire Marshall, the Police Dept. AND the Town Attorney to shut down the place, what is it about your plans to get it back open again as a music venue that will not generate yet more complaints? Must be the neighbors doing the complaining, I’d imagine. So much for community support!
Thank you bluesky, for your thoughtful response. Though I don’t believe you can speak for all (“I can assure you that no one has perceived anything you have posted as constructive”), I have to disagree with this:
“your judgmental attitude defines your own personal character more effectively than it highlights any shortcomings this project may contain.”
Maybe what you sense isn’t judgmental, but dismay over this debacle, and from being misled and disappointed, a channeled assertiveness which gives a tone sharp and purposeful in underscoring the severity of those shortcomings you mentioned.
From what I’ve read here, no one much pointed out these evident shortcomings during the prior management’s time, the few that did, when they did, were deleted or railed against. On the other hand, we read a great many posts with this type of sentiment to them: “Hey it would be great to keep the theater open! Hey it’s going to be awesome!” – but there was no basis to believe anything positive like that would result when what we were seeing was the actual direction it was going right in front of our eyes, namely, south.
You had a guy in charge who had run several theaters down and put on some pretty poor productions. NOW you call him “ineffective”. But he was ineffective back then, that was the hard fact that no one much wanted to accept, people still wanted to believe. Then the whole thing crashed as the logical conclusion given the circumstances. The shows were poorly done, word of mouth was bad, attendance drifted off to nothing, and nothing was promoted well and perhaps maybe makeshift signs and xeroxed playbills with typos in them don’t give too much confidence in the quality of the shows, and cash dried up. Then the head honcho disappears, without warning, with a very questionable excuse, packing all his life’s belongings along with him, leaves everyone up in the air, leaves thousands of dollars of debt behind in his wake – and you still have people who say he was a great guy! This is not a judgment, this is factual. When would you have preferred the alarm bell ring?
People would rather believe the emperor has fine clothes. Well, the mark of a good con job is that afterwards, you still don’t believe that you were conned. So at this point, I don’t see any good in posting along the tone of rah, rah, yay team, let’s put on a show! things will be great, watch out world because here we come! posts, I’d rather point things out directly and not pull punches, thank you. If it bothers you, then don’t read my posts. But I’m not going to coddle the Islip Theater. That’s the worse thing you could do for it right now.
As such, I believe I’m part of the solution, not part of the problem. And I don’t think mere volunteers are the solution. I think part of the problem is having volunteers without quality leadership and direction over them from a knowledgeable, experienced director. I think part of the problem may be that the theater needs more then the bandaid you can give it. So many theatrical troupes on long island struggle with box office yet they have integrity and strive to put on first rate productions. Not Ed Wood type productions where substandard is acceptable, such as having actors who don’t know their lines or technicians who don’t observe their cues. These groups get out there and promote those good shows. It keeps them alive so they can continue to do what they love to do and it serves the community well. That’s what you have to do. I don’t see it happening. I haven’t seen it happen. I just hear “rah, rah”.
In fact, I keep asking for someone in management to step forward and explain realistically what they’re going to do and why they believe their plan has a chance, but no one has. Is that asking so much? Instead, I’m in return challenged to become a volunteer, as if that’s the solution. And I don’t think that saying you’re a small group of volunteers with busy lives who see this uphill climb as being akin to a miracle of turning water into wine is a pragmatic solution to the situation. And certainly, taking the time to instead write about my posts or to give your armchair psychologist diagnosis of my character isn’t going to do squat for the theater. In fact, it only comes across more as if you’re trying to quiet the person asking pointed questions.
One last point, bluesky: “Perhaps what you see as hype is merely optimism.”
Optimism is not hype. Optimism is not about looking toward the west and being hopeful that one day we’ll see the sunrise soon enough, rah, rah! Optimism is a positive state of mind, but underlying one’s optimism has to be a realistic, very workable plan. Otherwise, you’re just insane, according to Einstein, doing the same old thing but expecting different results. You can be as optimistic as you like. But “the cultural center of the upper hemisphere” classifies as hype, not optimism. And when what we’ve heard for the past year has been hype, and hearing it from a man without a resume for establishing thriving theaters, but whose resume consisted of quite the opposite, only to be left with such a serious degree of failure, then to now hear one drop more of hype coming from anyone associated with the theater rings loud alarm bells and we very well should inquire as to the new management’s qualifications for running this enterprise. Especially given, to paraphrase a song, that the new boss sounds same as the old boss. We don’t want to be fooled again.
So I ask again. What’s the plan?
Oh I see, it was a dig you posted! Thanks for explaining that you posted a dig. I guess the best defense is a strong offense, huh? I guess that’s because you have nothing else substantial to say so you result to pure digs.
I’ve already explained how there’s at least 4 points of constructive criticism in my posting, and how we’re all tired of the hype of the past year, disappointed and would like to see results instead, but because you don’t agree, all you seem to do is post digs and keep on daring me to volunteer, as if that’s really the answer to the Islip theater’s troubles, avoiding detailing exactly what steps you’re taking to turn things around. It’s like the same stuff as before is still happening.
I think that says a lot right there.
You know, you talk about how I spend my time, but if only you spent your time and energy actually improving the quality of productions in your theater instead of spending time on this board reading posts and making outlandish claims and striking back whenever someone has an honest opinion that you don’t like, maybe the Islip Theater would actually benefit from it. Maybe.
“Congrats, Islip Theater”… for what? They haven’t done anything. They only thing they’ve accomplished so far was to hype the theater and use up monies funded them and bring the theater back to nothing again and deep in debt. They saw the bills pile up but kept digging the hole deeper doing the same old, same old that got them in debt in the first place. That’s called a scam at worst, mismanagement at best. Bottom line is, that’s the track record.
We’ve heard all the hype from Glassberg before, and this is like a continuation of that. Glassberg had a lousy track record, running down several theaters before, and it was no surprise that things didn’t work out. What basis was there to believe this time he’d be successful with that poor resume? None. I posted about that earlier in the year, but the post was deleted, which only shows some Pollyanna attitude here among some, preferring to believe in something when all the evidence points otherwise. Giving money to someone who didn’t have the right resume. I recall Glassberg responded by challenging me to volunteer, same as you’re doing. I see you learned from your mentor. Stare down the watch dog.
(Or are you Glassberg behind the scenes? Still in town but hiding?)
So what’s your track record? What’s your resume say? Ever run a successful theater before? Do tell. Give details. Your website’s selling subscriptions. I’d like to hear how that’s warranted, what your story is, rather then your digs about my critique and hiding behind screen names. And if you don’t like my critique, all you really have to do to change that is to warrant it. I’m a fair person: run a successful theater with great productions, I volunteer to post great reviews.
Oh, I see, Islip15… you can chide me and you see that as okay to do, but you don’t like me saying my piece?
You want to paint my criticism as being negative? Hey, I’m suggesting the new management have 1. standards of quality and that 2. they not repeat the errors of the past management and 3. not hype that pure BS as Todd and you are already so doing. I also pointed out 4. what the Engeman theater found they needed to do to make it work. That’s all constructive criticism.
And what is it with this “why don’t you pitch in and volunteer” type response when someone has a criticism? Theater critics aren’t asked to shut up and stage a show. We can criticize the dry cleaners in town without seeking employment there. We can demand that our schools do a better job without becoming state certified teachers. Be real. More volunteers won’t equate to quality productions if first and foremost management isn’t committed to quality and leads the way, period. So let those who wish to take on these responsibilities just do a great, quality job, instead of giving a repeat performance of the hype we’ve all heard before with nothing to show for it or back it up. It’s as simple as that.
“I assure you it will the cultural epicenter of the world by early next month. ”
Now it’s “the world”, not just the upper hemisphere. Early next month too, that’s a little over a week from now… Okay sir. Going to turn the whole debacle around by then? And your resume has examples of where you’ve established world class theaters before and turned these situations around? Yeah, right…
I don’t recall the Engeman theater making outlandish, exagrerrated claims before they opened, but I do recall that they simply stated what their very do-able intention was, which was to bring NY level productions to long island.
Looks like you’re more into hype then anything else. You’re really insulting the intelligence of the community with statements like that. Not only the community, but every earnest, hard working, theatrical group in the area too, by making such obviously outrageous claims.
Who wants to hear such unsupported boasting? Just make it happen first. I don’t think that’s too much to ask. THEN you can lay claim to it.
Hey Todd, then maybe don’t make claims that you need to come back and say you were only kidding about. I think you can understand that the community is a bit tired of hearing how great things are going to be yadda, yadda, and yet things never are. Really, I hope you make it work.
“We all are expecting 2009 to be HUGE… the theater is aiming to be the cultural epicenter of Islip if not the upper hemisphere.”
Todd, a word to the wise: Way less hype, much more action. The cultural epicenter of the upper hemisphere? C'mon, man! Instead of blowing smoke like some hack carnival barker, produce some consistent great, quality productions with top notch parameters that don’t tolerate substandard work, and people will say, “Wow! Those shows are amazing! This is great!”. You know in your heart where things are slipshod. If you see it, we see it too. Don’t turn a blind eye to it. Miscast actors, bad acting, low production values, inept staff, whatever, it all gets noticed whether consciously or not. They had refurbished the Northport theater, for example, but the productions were lacking. This is why after Glassberg was kicked out of that theater, the new owner’s strategy was to stage equity-level productions there, casting experienced actors from the NYC theater arena, not produce more high schoolish level plays.
“The calendar is a port from the old site. It needs to be updated yet, My apologies.”
Doubtful that the cultural epicenter of the upper hemisphere makes blunders like that. This is exactly why you need to stay away from such bravado. Makes your slipups look even worse. Your actions will always speak much, much louder then your words.
Break a leg.