Click on pics. Theater supported by a State of Minnesota tax money grant.

Click on pictures for larger "press release" photos http://www.hardcovertheater.org/2008/johnny_press.pdf

The source story is from the new City Pages. http://articles.citypages.com/2008-05-14/performing-arts/a-sex-farce-for-the-ages/

A synapses states: "This activity is made possible, in part, by funds provided by the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council through an appropriation by the Minnesota legislature." http://www.hardcovertheater.org/2008/johnny_main.php

It was just this weekend that I wrote a blog post on government funding of art and theater.
http://freedomtoact.blogspot.com/2008/05/look-to-past-depression-era-federal.html

I tried to look over the complete website and could find no information on weather the cigs in this play were props or smoked onstage. Cynicism is in order after another "B theater" the Jungle Theater staged plays with smoking after the state so called "freedom to breath act" and did not have any signage or advanced warning.

To go back to my weekend post http://freedomtoact.blogspot.com/2008/05/look-to-past-depression-era-federal.html I did try to help get some grant money to chronicle the history of Sears catalog homes and other pre-cut homes but we got nowhere. These taxpayer funded grants seem all about "connections" rather than content.

Another quote from the City pages article "City Pages "After the intermission, Hansen relays a tale about her cousin Sophia (Wexler), a would-be nightclub singer who enthusiastically belts out a tune about her promise to provide her love with an "apple and a plum, and gonorrhea, too!" http://articles.citypages.com/2008-05-14/performing-arts/a-sex-farce-for-the-ages/ (Hmm! some useful work for the MN Department of Health.) .

Sheila Kromer emailed me: "I noticed the cigs in their mouths but no smoke....maybe they are pretending to smoke since their is no notice...what do you think? If this is good enough for the Arts Council perhaps we can get them to fund some of our theater nights! Sheila"

Greg Lang (I will try to put my comments in a "red rant".)