Body Politic’s Moment of Reckoning
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But Pertalion’s decision prompted the board of directors to meet last Tuesday to begin determining the company’s fate. Over the past several years Body Politic has experienced operating deficits, a declining audience, a poorly focused artistic product, and considerable administrative tumult. Notes Body Politic board president Gregg Rzepczynski: “I want to get a consensus of what the board believes is best right now.”
The finished list will go beyond actors and directors to include agents, benefactors, and even technical types. Sharoff says only about 12 people in the industry were formally interviewed–including staffers at the Goodman and Steppenwolf, Zak at Bailiwick, actress Hollis Resnick, and director and Columbia College theater head Sheldon Patinkin–but he says there was a surprising consensus about who should appear on the list. Except when it came to actors: “Everybody had a different idea of who the influential actors are,” notes Sharoff.
Suspecting Alexander was really upset because Tony ‘n’ Tina’s Wedding is pulling in such good crowds, Tomaska says, he dispatched spies to Second City E.T.C., who subsequently reported that they could not hear any bothersome noise from upstairs. Furthermore he isn’t happy about the way Alexander presented his complaint. “Instead of coming to me and telling me he has a problem, two months after my show opens I get papers from his attorney threatening a lawsuit if something isn’t done about the noise.” But in the spirit of being a good neighbor, Tomaska is making some adjustments: he has cut out some of the shouting matches that were being performed in public areas outside the wedding chapel and reception hall, and he’s ordered special padding to go under the dance floor. Will it be in place by November 15? “I didn’t agree to any date,” insists Tomaska.
