If at first you don't succeed

I read an interesting article on delancyplace about the beginnings of the hit Broadway musical Oklahoma. A huge success and one would think a "no brainer". What I didn't know is that they could not get the finance to produce it.

It got me thinking about the freelance nature of the South African performing arts industry. How many amazing productions never see the light of day because they can't get backing finance? I was in a workshop with Marianne Thamm and she said that artists must be mad because they work when there is no promise of payment - doing it for the passion of creativity.

I am inspired by the Oklahoma story because it means you have to stick to your dream and make it happen even when no one around you is supporting you. Persistance pays off. To all our mad artists out there keep the faith.