Terry Olson and Elizabeth Maupin interviewed

Orlando Sentinel theatre critic Elizabeth Maupin and Orlando arts scene Poo-Bah Terry Olson appeared on the local Radio Rickshaw podcast in a FABULOUS episode. It's a must-listen. (As a side-note, I was invited to appear on this episode, but I just didn't think I had anything to add to the convo.) I listened to the whole thing and here are my favorite highlights:

Elizabeth Maupin used to dream of having a job where shoes weren't required

Articles in the Sentinel is called a "chunky bit" and "charticles"

Olson questions the recent re-design of the Orlando Sentinel and doesn't realize his age might affect how he likes/dislikes a newspaper layout, as Maupin points out.

Maupin notes she does half the coverage of theatre than she used to due to less "news-hole" (space on the page).

According to the higher-ups in the company that owns the Orlando Sentinel, there is to be 50% ads and 50% news in the paper. (Wow!)

If you drop the subscription to the printed paper, it will make an impact. If 19,999 of your friends do the same, it will have an even bigger impact. And do it during September, according to co-host, Dan.

"I hate to see newspapers die." -Maupin

Major Barbara was the biggest non-musical opening for Mad Cow Theatre

Money was taken away from United Arts and given to WMFE! Wow!

Loch Haven has no visual draw to tell you that it's got a ton of theatre spaces, unlike Broadway in New York City, which tells you in, in no unclear terms, THIS is where theatre happens.

There needs to be "arts near you." (Olson). Meaning, there should be arts orgs all around the city and maybe not just in one corridor.

A 1998 Maupin article inspired the creation of the Arts and Culture Alliance by Olson. She says it's now focusing more on marketing.

There are THREE DOZEN arts festivals in Orlando and Terry got them all together for a meeting. Terry put together a festival calendar. The Florida Film Festival realized that, through a study, that their audiences cross over with the Orlando Fringe.

Terry says the goal of the Arts and Culture Alliance is to get butts in seats. John remembers the goal (when it started) being "create a world-class theatre community." Ouch!

Red Chair Affair, an annual show featuring a bunch of local arts groups performing on the Bob Carr stage, lowered their ticket prices to $20 to let the everyday man see the show. Maupin says the show is good and really worth the money. "Real Orlando. Real Entertianment.", spearheaded by the Orlando Opera, gets you $99 ticket for seven shows. (You read about it here first!) So, the Red Chair Affair is the snack tray, the "Real Orlando. Real Entertainment." is the buffet.