The city that I live in (Stamford, CT) has already lost one professional theater this year. Another theater, the Stamford Performing Arts Center, declared bankruptcy a few months ago.  They have two theaters – the nicer of the two hosts a line-up of Broadway musical and theater. Well it is was with a mixture of interest, amusement and sadness that I read in my local paper yesterday that NBC Studios is in final negotiations to convert the theater to a TV studio, which will be the new home of the Jerry Springer, Maury Povitch and the Steve Wilcos Shows.

The good news?  This brings about 200 new jobs to the city.  (I’m sure many of those jobs are for carpenters, as they’ll need to repair all the broken chairs that get thrown across the stage). And I guess Jerry and his likes have proven that they offer sustainable entertainment (I guess that means recession-proof), kind of like nice greasy, cheap french fries.  I have to admit, it might be fun to take in a Jerry Springer Show – girl’s night out maybe? (Although I’m sure once will be enough).  But I am sad, because another excellent theater is exiting the market.  

So now, we’ve lost our two professional theaters.  Luckily we still have a community theater – and while offering enjoyable productions – I will certainly miss the caliber of theater that once existed in our city.  

Have there been any significant changes to the landscape of your town since this recession started?  I think of how much this city has thrived and developed over the past few years, and just hope that it can stand guard against this recession, without losing too much else.  

And, damn, why couldn’t it have at least been the Ellen Show?