Sue's News

My Letter to Our Elected Officials

January 21st, 2009

I’m normally not one for politics, but I’m happy to see so many people finding hope again, and believing change can happen. Yesterday’s inauguration brought us together, as a nation, just as good theatre can bring communities, and nations together.

Last week I posted a template letter for readers to use to send to their elected officials in Congress. This week, I’m posting my own letter. Let’s hope our letter writing campaign is getting the message across!

–Sue

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Dear ,

I am writing to you today about an issue of vital importance: Saving America’s Theatres.

As politicians serve the masses to give them a voice and act as conduits for change, as a playwright, I have dedicated my life to telling the stories of those who may not always have the courage or voice to express themselves. I tell intimate stories, the everyday stories of families, the families we’re born into and the ones we choose.

Though I hope, as many playwrights do, to see my work mounted on a Broadway stage, some stories need smaller spaces… stages where the kitchen table takes up a lot of room, and the audience feels like they’ve gathered around it. These smaller stages are in our local, regional theatres… Regional theatres are theatres where families can see a show as a family and talk about it during the car ride home, without breaking the bank to do it.

Realizing the world I imagine when I put pencil to paper takes time, talent, passion, and resources.

I could never do it alone — creating a piece of theatre is so much bigger than any one person could be. Just like the birth of this nation, which was nurtured and borne in the minds and hearts of so many…

It’s in living rooms, church basements, and offices after hours where theatre is born — and it is on the stages of our regional theatres where American Theatre’s potential is realized.

Please insure the survival of America’s Theatres by protecting the current funding in place and securing additional funding to be allocated to theatres and the arts in general.

Thank you for your time and continued efforts to preserve one of the most vital means of expression we as Americans have, and the theatres that house it.

Sincerely,

Susan Hodara
Playwright, Lyricist, Librettist

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