Art Doesn’t Pay

It was an interesting pairing of theater articles in the March 11 Calendar section-one informing us that of the $8.1-million annual budget for the Mark Taper Forum, a mere 12% is allocated to “actor-related expenses” (‘More Than Four Actors Need Not Apply,” by Michael Phillips). Meanwhile, over at Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities’ “Titanic,” we are told that of the $750,000 budget for the show, $200,000 (or more than one quarter of the total budget) is allocated for the set (‘An Overhaul That’s Worthy of the Original,” by Don Shirley). It seems clear which is deemed more essential, the actors or the set.

As an actor, I suppose the next time I’m treated like a stick of furniture I should consider it a step up.

DEE CROXTON

Santa Monica