My Letter to the Editor

This was in the Capital Newspaper in Annapolis tonight. Obviously, I feel rather strongly about my city and it's Arts CommunityDear Editor,

The whole controversy/uproar over whether or not the space near the Westin is going to work for Annapolis performing Arts groups is a discussion worth having. I am a member of one of those groups, Live Arts Maryland, but at the moment I'd like to put aside that argument and respond to a very disturbing remark that I read in another letter to the Editor.

The letter said that [we] were forced to attend concerts at the Strathmore, Washington D.C., and Baltimore if [we] wanted to attend quality productions. I would suspect that this person has never checked out the local Annapolis arts community. I have been a proud member of a thriving arts community here for almost 30 years. We have a symphony, an opera, a ballet, a chorale, theaters, coffee house venues, smaller ensembles, and galleries. In the past three years those groups have performed Papageno, Tosca, Mozart, Elgar, Rachmaninoff, Haydn, Nutcracker, Carmina Burana, Urinetown, Sweeney Todd, The Lion in Winter, Harvey, and a host of other pieces. They have contributed well and often to our community. When called upon to sing or perform for political functions or to support the city of Annapolis I can say with certainty that they do not hesitate to offer their services. They are well-rehearsed performers who bring their talent and passion to every stage and venue in town.

Do not tell me that you cannot find art in Annapolis. I would suspect that you simply have bought the idea that the "glamour" of big city productions means they are more worthy of your time and money. However, to deny the fact that you can find amazing groups performing here in Annapolis is patently untrue. Our city is a home for artists and performers who work very hard to make ends meet in this economy and who deserve the support of the local citizens. We are the capital of the state. Our LOCAL artists deserve the support of the community in order to promote the home grown talent and keep the money in Annapolis working for Annapolis. I'm not sure that supporting a venue that will bring the "real" out of town artists here is in the spirit of community that Annapolis represents. Before you say you cannot find real performers in Annapolis take this summer and fall to go to a live production of every theater, chorus, orchestra, ballet and opera in town. . .oh, wait - maybe you should take a year to do that because we have so much to offer.