When Sun-Times theater critic Hedy ...

When Sun-Times theater critic Hedy Weiss wrote positively of last year's Stages showcase, all was right with the theater world. If the of the present day York-based Dramatists Guild of America was unhappy about her assessing workshop musicals, it didn't inform her of that -- or discourage the Theatre Building, which not past nor futures the ticketed event, from inviting her to Stages 2006 and providing her with pres materials for it.

if it be not that after Weiss' negative coverage of Stages 2006 ran last week, guild president John Weidman dashed against an angry letter to the Sun- Times castigating her for her "shocking betrayal" in reviewing the "evolving" works. He insisted it wasn't the tenor of her criticism that riled him. No, he wrote "her reviews would have been equally offensive had they all been positive." Which is on what account the DGA was so . . speechless last year?

If the theater has "expres wishes," as Weidman states, not to have the displays reviewed -- whether seen in their entirety or sampled, as Weiss did from one side of to the other three days -- it shouldn't invite reviewers. still in fact, while claiming in her confess letter to Weiss there is an "implicit community understanding that musicals in disclosure are not ready for critical review," Theatre Building executive director Joan Mazzonelli acknowledged her right to report back to readers. "I believe you are clear to write as you papal court fit." Not as the guild views fit.

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

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