Theatrical News Coverage in Houston
by Anna Fay Williams
In the Houston area there are over 70 theatrical groups and the Houston Chamber of Commerce claims the second largest number of theater seats next to New York City. But if you follow theatrical news in the Houston Chronicle you wouldn't have a clue about activity in the theatrical community.
The fact is that you won't be able to locate theatrical production listings on a daily basis as you can with films or sports events. The lists for stage shows appear on Thursdays in the Preview Section and on Sundays in the Zest Section. Seldom do the theaters in the area have enough budget to purchase advertising. Film houses continue to get the largest coverage throughout the daily Entertainment pages with stories and their advertisements.
You can check the Chronicle's website for entertainment and a few other websites such as www.theatreport.com, but coverage on these sites is often spotty and does not include the wide variety of shows that are being performed. Stage shows at community theaters compete with all kinds of other musical events, standup comedians, church touring choirs and university productions.
Can you get your productions covered in the Chronicle in feature stories and the news columns? Perhaps in the neighborhood sections, which may be enough since the circulation is large in these editions, but they only come out once a week as insets for regular Chronicle subscribers. You might go to some of the suburban papers (Village News, Southwest News), which are free publications delivered on the lawns and often difficult to find later in the week. The weekly Houston Press covers the theatrical scene but it may be difficult to find their free copies.
What are the chances of getting a review for your new production? The Chronicle reviewer doesn't venture outside the loop much (other than New York City). The critics are particularly generous in their coverage of touring productions (Broadway Series at the Hobby Performing Arts Center) and a favored few (The Alley, Stages, Theater LaB, Infernal Bridegroom, Masquerade and Ensemble theaters). While others, even theaters in their 50th year such as The Country Playhouse, rarely get reviewed in the Chronicle.
An extensive analysis of what has appeared in the Chronicle over a two-year period (2004-2005) has provided some insight into the coverage for live stage productions in Houston. With search engines, it is possible to make an extensive inquiry into the habits of reviewers and writers. We will continue to discuss coverage of the theatrical community in these columns.
In the Houston area there are over 70 theatrical groups and the Houston Chamber of Commerce claims the second largest number of theater seats next to New York City. But if you follow theatrical news in the Houston Chronicle you wouldn't have a clue about activity in the theatrical community.
The fact is that you won't be able to locate theatrical production listings on a daily basis as you can with films or sports events. The lists for stage shows appear on Thursdays in the Preview Section and on Sundays in the Zest Section. Seldom do the theaters in the area have enough budget to purchase advertising. Film houses continue to get the largest coverage throughout the daily Entertainment pages with stories and their advertisements.
You can check the Chronicle's website for entertainment and a few other websites such as www.theatreport.com, but coverage on these sites is often spotty and does not include the wide variety of shows that are being performed. Stage shows at community theaters compete with all kinds of other musical events, standup comedians, church touring choirs and university productions.
Can you get your productions covered in the Chronicle in feature stories and the news columns? Perhaps in the neighborhood sections, which may be enough since the circulation is large in these editions, but they only come out once a week as insets for regular Chronicle subscribers. You might go to some of the suburban papers (Village News, Southwest News), which are free publications delivered on the lawns and often difficult to find later in the week. The weekly Houston Press covers the theatrical scene but it may be difficult to find their free copies.
What are the chances of getting a review for your new production? The Chronicle reviewer doesn't venture outside the loop much (other than New York City). The critics are particularly generous in their coverage of touring productions (Broadway Series at the Hobby Performing Arts Center) and a favored few (The Alley, Stages, Theater LaB, Infernal Bridegroom, Masquerade and Ensemble theaters). While others, even theaters in their 50th year such as The Country Playhouse, rarely get reviewed in the Chronicle.
An extensive analysis of what has appeared in the Chronicle over a two-year period (2004-2005) has provided some insight into the coverage for live stage productions in Houston. With search engines, it is possible to make an extensive inquiry into the habits of reviewers and writers. We will continue to discuss coverage of the theatrical community in these columns.
posted by Anna Williams at 9:30 AM
3 Comments:
"but coverage on these sites is often spotty and does not include the wide variety of shows that are being performed. "
I agree, but I find theatreport to be the most comprehensive with coverage for the performing arts in Houston. From Community theatre to Professional to university to upstarts, they have it all. It certainly has the most variety. Its a volunteer effort though. So if people don't participate they dont get covered.But its free too, I think all one has to do is get off their lazy butt and submit stuff. LOL.
Good luck with this new works project. It's a great cause! I've submitted some shorts already.
Fortunately, we are gaining some ways to publicize shows through such websites as theatreport, but I am still concerned that there is no way to find a daily calendar in the press on theatrical performances as you can with films. Will look forward to getting your shorts on www.showgab.net. AFW
Several years ago I tried to get the small theatres to band together to 1) provide a stage at the International Festival and each theatre would have time slots to staff it, provide handouts and offer a performance short throughout the two weekends, and 2) get every theatre's season compiled into one ad to be published in the Chronicle's summer arts and entertainment insert. I thought sharing the cost among the theatres would benefit all.
I could muster no interest from the small stage theatres.
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