To the editors:
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“BIG MISTAKE. In Section 2 of the December 9 Reader a listing and publicity photo for Theater Oobleck’s current show was placed in the ‘Special Occasions Brought to You by Special Export Beer’ advertisement without Theater Oobleck’s knowledge or permission. VERY BAD. The Reader’s policy of mentioning artists in display advertisements paid for by G. Heileman Brewing Company without those artists’ consent is ludicrous and dumb and should be halted immediately. Corporate sponsorship sponsors nothing but corporate interests. Sincerely, Theater Oobleck.”
I feel a little dorky having to transcribe these words four years of Bush later. I feel like I’m typing out some grotesque deja vu; one which seems to confirm Marx’s cranky joke that all history’s events occur twice, “the first time as tragedy, the second as farce.”
A side issue, but one of some significance to people trying to find our show, is that your ad writer lists our performance for October 19. We open October 23. When we canceled our show originally scheduled for the 19th, we called the Reader listings staff to let them know. We did not bother to contact your advertising department, Heileman Brewing, or Anheuser-Busch. We had no idea they would be interested. Unfortunately, their interests extend farther than we can imagine.
