<p>I have seen shows like Flossy describes. For example, several years ago we took a chance on a Man of La Mancha, brought by a major touring company, with a Don Quixote who couldn’t sing (he did the Henry Higgins method), a Sancho Panza who refused to use a character voice, and was at least 8 inches taller than Don Quixote, and a pit that consisted of a drum set and two synthesizers, which we could see from the very expensive balcony seats I’d splurged on because my D adores this show. There was no way we could have known how poor and honestly insulting this production was, based on the websites and the advertising. Reluctantly, I have been leery of those kinds of productions ever since.</p>
<p>I’m not convinced American theatre is going down the tubes, but I do think there is a homogenization where someone thinks audiences are going to give standing ovations just for being given the opportunity to spend a ton of money and sit in a big theatre where someone is singing and dancing. I try to support regional professional and community theatre as much as possible - I feel they honor the contract between performer and audience with more consistent respect and dignity.</p>