The Long Goodbye

The last year or so has been pretty painful for the arts and theatre-related media in Akron.

The Beacon Journal has been on a long slide toward oblivion. It's demise is always the elephant in the room. It seems to touch everything media-wise. That's what makes it all a long goodbye for arts coverage in Akron.

The local broadcast outlet --featuring an arts-friendly Eric Mansfield -- was let to wither on the vine and eventually be cancelled do to lack of viewership and advertisers. We at least have the benefit of seeing a story from him most nights on channel 3 news and to read his almost daily blog. He has even been known to post a video or two related to the current Weathervane Playhouse production. I hope he keeps it coming.

Today, I saw in print (for the second time) that Elaine Guregian is leaving the Beacon Journal and (for the first time) that she is to assume a post in the communications department with the Cleveland Orchestra. This is surely a good chair for Elaine to sit in . . . but Akron loses yet another voice that regularly supports the local arts and writes for publication about the local theatre scene. As the Beacon continues to purge its news staff, it is hard to imagine that anyone will be hired/re-assigned to take her place on the arts desk.

I suppose it is possible that Kerry Clawson will (re)ascend and make the move from the copy editor's desk to a full-time writing position . . . but it doesn't seem likely. Kerry did start a blog and writes on it about as often as I write here. (Although, I am sure that, like me, she has vowed to write more often over and over again). She has not posted on her blog since May 3, 2008.

One can only assume that arts coverage will become very scarce in local daily paper.

There is a little good news. David Ritchey is still writing reviews for the West Side Leader. We can read his reviews nearly every week and he may be left as the last writer standing when it comes to Akron theatre criticism. He is often a tough critic and seems to save his most savage reviews for the play selection committees of area theatres.

I must admit that I recently noticed the Irv Korman was writing reviews puplished in the Akron Jewish News. I am happy for Irv because I know he loves to write reviews and be active in the local theatre scene. This is a somewhat limited audience, of course, but it is another voice to be heard in the darkness.

Tony Brown now has his own blog . . . since the Plain dealer gave him a sideways "promotion" and rarely prints a review or feature under his byline. He focuses on Cleveland, of course, and like most everyone only writes about the so-called professional theatre.

It all begs the question: where does one turn for its arts related information? the internet seems as likely as the next . . . but there is no central location to locate arts information. For now, arts and local theatre information is scattered about the internet like the leaves that dot my back yard.

Village Green writes a lively blog that sometimes includes theatre insights. I am eagerly awaiting her response to the Ray Davies musical she was to see in London this weekend. find her blog here. It's a great read.

I have read reviews by Shannon Dailey on the Akron News Now website. Until recently, Shannon wrote only about shows at the Bang and the Clatter. However, she recently published a review of Steel Magnolias at Coach House. Is this a sign of more theatre coverage to come?

I am sure there are others. But where?