The Theater Needs You

This is Anthony Byrnes Opening the Curtain on LA theater for KCRW.

It's been said that the role of the theater is to synchronize the audience and the artists in time and space.

Traditionally that's been pretty straight forward. Show up at the theater - the space - at 8 o'clock - the time - and we'll begin the show. When the curtain goes up we're all in that moment. Easy.

You can see how creating theater is creating community. It's not like that with a lot of art. A novel can be read or a painting viewed at any time in any space. You can read the book or look at the painting alone and if community is formed - it happens afterwards. "Hey, have you read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo?" "Did you see the Baldessari show?"

When you walk into the theater at that set time you become a part of it - creating a bond with the audience and the artists - and it's that bond that is really the art.

That connection between art and audience isn't just a choice in the theater. It's the foundation of it.

A painting sitting in an attic is still a painting. A play without an audience is just a rehearsal.

So given the geographical challenge that is Los Angeles and the ridiculous speed of our lives in the digital age - how can we connect with artists and with our community? Where's the theater that can connect this wonderfully diverse and disparate city?

You know where I'm going with this. I'm talking about KCRW.

You turn to KCRW and you're instantly a part of the community; you're in the room. In that moment, you're there with the artists, musicians, designers, architects, chefs, filmmakers, thinkers, authors - you're connected with the cultural heartbeat of this city - whether it's a live performance on Morning Becomes Eclectic, an amazing interview with Warren Olney, or a mouth watering morsel from Evan Kleiman and Jonathan Gold. And you're also connected to 1,000' of people in LA who are also listening on the radio ans folks around the world via the web.

KCRW provides the stage for the constant theater that is Southern California.

And like the theater . . . .KCRW can't do it without you. Please help this unique station continue to connect you with the arts and ideas in LA. Play your part by calling 800-600-KCRW or pledging online anytime at KCRW.com.

This is Anthony Byrnes Opening the Curtain on LA theater for KCRW.