Street Cred Continued

Yesterday’s post lingered for quite a while in my mind, so a follow-up is in order.

It’s unfortunate that the words “street cred” got so much attention, as it wasn’t the featured sentiment – or at least it wasn’t supposed to be – of my last post. The main gist of what I was attempting to say was this:

Drifting away from theater is bittersweet. It’s sad, but I’m also a hell of a lot happier.

Not having “street cred” in an old world, i.e. what I call “institutional mainstream theater” simply means that I’m no longer a part it. I don’t live in NYC. I can’t tell you what the latest plays are there. I can’t talk about something I know nothing about. As well, I don’t want to go back to NYC, so my “street cred” in terms of that world is low.

When I left NYC, I said goodbye to that world. It was an active choice on my part. The statement about “street cred” was a reflection about a closed door.

The idea of sending my plays up to NYC while living in Alabama is banished. I don’t have the time, the desire or the inclination.

I’m not currently looking for any “street cred.” Perhaps people are so used to hearing others whine about theater, something like “Why am I not accepted! Why don’t people like my work!” that it’s hard for them to hear the phrase, “I don’t care one way or the other.” But that’s where I am right now.

I don’t desire credibility from anyone in theater. I’m happy where I am. My writing shows up in one of the top 100 newspapers in the country, in a publication that won a 2007 Pulitzer. Why would I need street cred from anyone in theater?

The intention behind yesterday’s post was this: Unless something strikes my fancy, I’m probably not going to be writing about theater all that much. I don’t think I have a whole lot to say about it right now. That could change, but that’s how I’m seeing it.

Comments

[Joshua James]

Funny, we must have many similar experiences . . . because I never noticed the "street cred" thing - I felt you were writing about something else entirely and the "street cred" comment was an ironic throwaway . . .

[Adam]

I think you are saying what we all fear and suspect, that we might be happier outside theater.

[megan]

So I have no experience in theatre other than enjoying plays from an audience member standpoint. However, I can totally empathize with the feeling of needing to leave the city. I can say I've gained a lot of perspective since moving back to Alabama. Things that were incredibly important to my "survival" in Manhattan aren't even on my radar today thank God.