excerpts of two of the many reader responses to
careful the things you say:I feel like a man without a country.
I'm contracted with the Skylight verbally. I'm keeping my head down and waiting for the chaos to return to order...somehow. At the same time, I'm hearing from people telling me what I should do -- "I would have resigned by now," "If things don't work out, you'll be hearing loud and clear from a LOT of people."
How do I feel? I want to resign, but I'm trying to be hopeful. I want Bill back. I want Jamie back. I want Diana back. I want, so desperately, to have our Skylight back.
Something has to give, doesn't it?
However, I cannot -- will not -- do this production without the people who believed in me more than I ever could. What's the point really? I'm just not announcing it yet.
I want you to know that there are some of us -- the ones in the shadows -- still out there 100% behind our friends. But we're so very confused, and waiting patiently for the storm to subside.
Thank you so much for what you're doing...and for listening.
and then there's this:
Your last blog post, careful the things you say, has put a lot of people like myself, who may not have the choice to drop out of the 2009/10 Skylight season, because of either being without insurance or just trying to pay next month's rent, a little more at ease.
The past month has been eating away at me. I don’t agree with what is being done to this theatre company. But come the start of the season, I have to walk through the doors if I want to live, eat and sleep.
I have to leave behind all the problems I may have with the move Skylight is making, and walk through that door and try and make the best of it. Try to make a living. Try to smile and not cry. I think there are a lot of people in my shoes who don’t know if they should follow the crowd, or follow their wallet.
I’ll be walking into and working along side a company I no longer understand. Some of the people may be the same old folks I’ve known for years, but the family will be broken in heart and soul.
I just hope and pray that someday the Skylight Opera Theatre can be the place everyone can call home....again. Where we can share our laughs and our tears, our thoughts and our dreams. I don’t know when that will be. That is up to the powers that be.
If you ever wanted to make a statement with your resignation, tonight would be the night. Especially if all you had was a verbal contract. Have you talked with Eric Dillner to see if your verbal contract is still being honored? I would do so immediately, unless he has already contacted you.
ReplyDeleteTony, First of all, thanks so much for keeping us all up to date.
ReplyDeleteI just want to say that I am also in the same position as the other two responses you posted.
For many years I have worked with family at the Skylight. Skylight has been my home away from home. That home is now dysfunctional. What is happening now is just a nightmare that I can't wake up from.
I do not agree with what management has done. But that does not necessarily mean I can just walk away like so many before me.
I have noticed that many are saying they will not "out" anyone for the need to still work at Skylight. I also know many of the artists that have pulled out of contacts. I know they are good people. But I still worry that what they say now and what might be said once the season starts (if it ever does)and artists start crossing the "line" and walk into the building, will they still stay supportive of the ones that need to work?
Such a difficult decision and dilemma.
The one and only good thing that has come from all of this is our coming together as a strong artistic community, yes some have been passionate, yes some have asked others to make a statement - but I am convinced - withut a moment of doubt - that as a community we will support our fellow artists no matter what they choose to do - today and in the future - so no fear my friends - SO let those of us who can do the screaming do so - you will find your own way to help get us back to what we were!
ReplyDeleteI definitely empathize with all those stuck in the precarious position of 'should I stay or should I go?'...but please be assured, I'm sure any protests/rallies/etc that occur will NEVER be directed at the new blood or the remaining employees; it has never been about that. It's about the Dillner administration and the slow massacre of the Skylight Opera Theatre.
ReplyDeleteKeep your chins up.
Posted July 26,2009: Jamie Johns Blog
ReplyDelete"The season will be filled with artists that are loyal to Dillner and the board will love that they work for nothing"
so let me get this right? so that means: Ryan Bertelson, Andrew Booher, Carri Dahl, Gary Ellis, Steve Gillingham, Barry Link, Jennifer Lyons, Lisa Schlenker, Rob Wagner and even Ray Jivoff who drop out of the show but still works at the skylight...all of them are loyal to Eric and the board.
I thought this was NOT about the artist. Can someone please clear up want we are fighting for now? To me the quote on jamie johns blog makes it out to be not only a fight about eric and the board but also about the actors, directors and staff working under eric and the board and saying they are all loyal to him. When in fact they may not be.
Donia- I fear this is a will be directed at the new blood and the remaining employees with Johns saying things like this.