I was named after a 15th-century composer, whose name bears no mention after the following lyrics (that's right, Monsieur Josquin des Prez):

El Grillo

El Grillo é buon cantore Che tiene longo verso. Dale, beve, grillo, canta, Ma non fa come gil altri uccelli, Come li han canto un poco, Van' de fatto in alto loco, Sempre el grillo sta pur saldo. Quando la maggior el caldo Alhor canto sol per amore.

The cricket is [a] good singer Who holds a long note. Go ahead, drink and sing, cricket But don't be like the other birds, Who after having sung a little Take off for someplace else, The cricket always stands firm When it is hottest, He sings alone for love.

This song is still fairly commonly used today, in choirs, soundtracks, and... well, those two pretty much cover it. While it is a silly little ditty, I chose it not only as an homage to my namesake, but also because it applies to the very purpose of this blog.

Like "The Cricket", I strive not to be like ALL the other birds (bugs?) who, after having sung their song, transfer to West End and Shanghai and Vegas in an attempt to siphon even more money out of my "art". Nay, instead I stand firm, and sing everywhere in an attempt to no longer sing alone.

Confused yet? Maybe it's hard to follow... but here is a brief History, and current State of, the Art:

Theatre was once an integral part of American living, not bound geographically to major metropoli; of course, I would not argue that such theatre hubs are, were, and continue to be the mecca of each and every true artist (on or offstage)... Who can blame them? These locales provide the greatest venues in the world for showcasing one's talents and artistry... New York City, Chicago, San Fransisco... these cultural centers are the hearts of the nation's cultural circulatory system. The problem? Bloodflow is constricted... Creativity is still pulled in, but it is no longer being sent out to the rest of the cultural body. Art is certainly different than it was in say, the 1940's. Whether it was indeed better than it is now (I would submit that, at least from a musical theatre perspective, spectacle takes the place of the art that once existed) is up for discussion.

The plain fact of the matter is that live theatre, the only inherently American form of music besides jazz, no longer pervades the country's sympathies. Such a digression is evident

• Fiscally, rooted in the sky rocketting price of live entertainment in comparison with art forms such as the motion picture, resulting in a small percentage of Americans being able to afford any sort of live entertainment (Broadway or regional theatre)
  
• Intellectually, in that water cooler fodder is now found in Grey's Anatomy, Desparate Housewives, and American Idol rather than the latest work of the newest dramatist to grace the stage and the page (I challenge you to name 5 playwrights who have penned at least one new, original drama in the past 10 years)
  
• Emotionally, as even movies (which can be a poignant and effective medium for storytelling) now survive on the spectacle of high production budgets, eclipsing the spectacle used in movies produced some 50 years ago. Furthermore, no list of box office smash hits in the past 30 years is complete without a visually stunning work (which may or may not have a plot).

In this state, a creative mind enraptured with the glory of The Golden Age of Broadway looks around at the world around him, and wants to synthesize the elegance and fellowship of the "Good 'Ol Days" with the expanded horizons of today. There is no reason we cannot have both.

How is this going to come to be? Well, this blog seemed like a logical starting point. I am seeking out kindred spirits from around the nation, talented souls willing to evaluate the State of the Art fairly, with respect for both modern and traditional aesthetics, and any who will work with me to move stagecraft back into the spotlight.

Sempre el grillo sta pur saldo!