#facrbook finds

[minyicho]

Well that’s good to know

[rndyounghowze]

Why I became a Theatre Reviewer: Part One

By: Ricky Young-Howze

I looked at my Facebook memories just recently and had the realization of "Dang, I have known John Stephan for two years now." I first reviewed John when he directed "Addams Family Musical" at Cedar Creek High School. And I know without a doubt that I was struggling as a reviewer for a year before I met him. And so that's when I realized that what started out as a gig to get a little money turned into 30+ reviews on my own blog and a passion for South Jersey Theatre. This Blog Series is going to help me tell you how I got here and what I'm looking forward to in the future.

First and foremost I started reviewing to get to know theater people. I first started doing this just to expand my network and start talking to people. I was thinking that I was going to be getting a teaching job or a Theatre Administration job in a year (which I think was 2016) so this was a good way to populate my email list. You have to be in contact with theatre admins and directors to get permission to review a show so that's a foot in the door. Those were the exact same people in more professional theaters that weren't returning my calls until I started saying I was a reviewer.

Pictured: John Stephan and the Cast of Grease at Cedar Creek High School Picture stolen lovingly from johntstephan.com

You might not know this but there is a whole lot of research and detective work that goes into this job. Before I ever walk into the theater I've spent about six hours tracking the director down, making sure I have their correct contact info, and making sure I get to the right place. If you are ever wondering why I'm not reviewing your show then it's because of one of two things: someone missed the two emails, Facrbook message, and voicemail message of me begging to see their show or I didn't know about them until it was too late. Even after the show I'm poring over the program to make sure I've spelled names right, find any announcements for other shows in the area, and looking for any artists I can add to my list of potential contacts. I found John Stephan through a list of shows upcoming in the Greater Egg Harbor District and he became a contact that got me into theaters that had turned me down at first.

You may wondering why theaters are so hard to find. Aren't the shows like public or something? Well yes the theater companies and information about the show are public. But most theater in South Jersey isn't used to being reviewed. In fact I doubt most of them are used to being Googled that closely. As a result there are no public press previews of most shows or visible PR people. An email from me asking to review them is the first such email they've found. And visibility is relative. To a grandma whose kid is Third Spearchucker On The Left this is all they've been talking about for weeks. To a reviewer with no connection to the show you may as well be hiding the show like you're committing a crime. That's why I have to put on the detective hat.

So in three years I went from someone who didn't know any theatre artists in the area to having a list of colleagues I'm on a "hug and run" basis with when I see them at shows. A reviewer lives and dies on how he maintains his contacts. And it's the quality of those people that made me fall in love with New Jersey Theatre.

Have you ever read one of my reviews before? Do you know what show I should talk about next? Talk to us on Instagram and Facebook on the hashtag #dragynsteen ! Like what we do? Then the best way to help us is to like and share the articles.

[maybealighthouse]

where is the which social network charactwr/facrbook founder are tou buzzfeeed quiz??? cant find it and it is my birthday