Rogue Report -March 9 - Don't thank me...

... thank the current crop of organizers, the volunteers, the performers and artists, the audience and all those who have supported the Rogue in cash or kind. And this is not from any sense of false modesty... but it is YOU who made the Rogue what it is this year.

This will be my last posting here for this festival season and I want to share a few thoughts.

ON RETIRING MY POSITION (which I did last year)
It just has to be if the Rogue is to continue to evolve. If it is truly to be a community event... then it should not be tied to one person or group of individuals. It went from the efforts of those involved in Theatre J'Nerique to it's own entity to where we are now... and you will take it forward.

ON WHERE IT WILL GO
Hopefully with a little restructuring... a better organisation... a vibrant organisation... an annual event that embraces and encourages talent and creativity year round.

ON WHAT I HOPE NEVER CHANGES
It's founding principles... non-curated, non-juried and 100 percent to the performers. The phrase "freedom of expression" is bandied around a lot these days... until it becomes inconvenient. May this NEVER happen to the Rogue.

ON WHAT I HOPE CHANGES
That the amount of talent that is highlighted in the festival inspires:

• More (and affordable) performing venues to open.
• The realization that the ARTS is good for business.
• So much more can happen and be supported year round!

ON WHAT I LIKE THE MOST ABOUT THE ROGUE NOW

1. The ability to hop shows once a year WHERE I LIVE! I would walk the Fringe in SF for years wondering when the day would come when I could do it without paying for a hotel room. Well, that day is here.

2. Watching the evolution in confidance & creativity of local performers bloom.

3. I am most pleased this year with the number and quality of ORIGINAL LOCAL SHOWS in the festival. Nothing wrong with the tried and true (and playing it safe)... but the bold and new is really where it's at. Why shouldn't WE be the first place introduce to the audience what they will want?

4. Also, this year more local performers are considering taking their shows out of Fresno to other festivals. That is so cool!

5. The sense of community that it's building.

6. Not being in charge and being able to watch ENTIRE shows in the festival for the first time in 6 years!

7. The out of town acts who come to share and hopefully spread the gospel of the Rogue in their continuing adventures!

So, there you have it. LA, Joel, Jen, Jodi, Paul, Jag, Blake, Terri, Cindy... our baby is on it's feet now... those trips to the SF Fringe were sure fun... but this is a lot closer and is something to be proud of. To the wave of Core that came next... you guys ROGUE! So, Rogue On... it is in capable loving hands now. may it flourish.

Cheers!
marcel