YOUNGSTOWN AREA COMMUNITY THEATRE ALLIANCE

The following letter has been submitted as a Letter to the Editor at The Vindicator and the Warren Tribune as well as some other papers. This is the letter in its entirety. The papers will probably print an edited version.  Let us know your comments.

EDITOR:

In response to the July 14 article in The Vindicator, “Keeping the Arts in the Picture,” by Ben Donenberg (Los Angeles Times). Mr. Donenberg was apparently told recently, by some no-name philanthropist, that the arts are not an essential part of life.

His above mentioned article is an excellent retort to the stupidity and ignorance of too many people (particularly in government and education), who feel the same as that wayward, misguided philanthropic “do-gooder.”

No, the arts don’t put “points on the board” or Budweisers in your hand (for a small loan at the ballpark), but they do put purpose, integrity, motivation, fulfillment, education, empathy, guidance, dreams, imagination and an all around sense of accomplishment into its participants. And this is not just true of kids but also adults. And although, I am speaking mainly of the performing arts, this is true of every facet of the arts.

The Youngstown / Warren area is blessed to have as many local theatres as it does. Many larger cities cannot boast of more than 16 theatres and performing arts organizations. Everybody raves about the athletic talent in this area but ignores the amount of artistic talent in this area. Yet, with all of this art happening in this relatively small area, the Youngstown Playhouse had to close for nine months. Granted, some of the problems were their own. But many of those problems stemmed from diminished support. Congressman Ryan did not even know that they had closed even though it was all over the news. But he would have been right there had one brick fallen from Stambaugh Stadium with a thumb plugging up the hole until repairs were made.

Government leaders need to “lead” in this area. You’ll find almost all of them glad handing at a Penquins game but very few attending a show at the Oakland Center for the Arts, Victorian Players or Youngstown Playhouse. Why? Because they must know our “friendly philanthropist” from Mr. Donenberg’s article.

Art reflects our lives. Art IS our lives. And the performing arts play out some part of everyone’s life at one time or another. And if the arts are our lives ----- then the arts ARE ESSENTIAL!!! For if we lose the arts, then we lose our lives!

Many things in our society need help right now. But the arts are in drastic need and have been for many years. It is time for the government, as well as the rest of us, to step up and take responsibility for the arts in our community and in so doing, you are taking responsibility for the enrichment of your own life as well as the lives of all of the people in this valley. For who are we without art? Take a look at any third world country. Is that who we want to be?

The new season is about to begin ----- SEE YOU THERE!!

J.E.Ballantyne, Jr.
Youngstown Area Community Theatre Alliance