The U.S. Congress began debate July 8 on two plans -- one to increase funding to the National Endowment for the Arts, another to give it just enough money to shut itself down permanently. The NEA provides funds to dozens of U.S. theatres. Should government be using tax money to fund theatre? Should theatres be completely self-supporting? Has public funding affected the kind of theatre we've seen during the past three decades? Would a public-funding cutoff change that? If the cutoff comes to pass, where will new funding for theatre come from?
Please post your opinions to Playbill On-Line's Message Board under the topic Playbill Poll and the subject Government Funding. Playbill thanks in advance all those who take the time to write.
-- By Robert Viagas
