Nevada Conservatory Theatre needs to pick a purpose

During the nearly 10-year existence of Nevada Conservatory Theatre, I've never had a clear idea of why it exists.

The NCT is the performing arm of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The possibilities for its raison d'etre are many, if the folks there would make some decisions. Here are a few questions worth wrestling with:

Does the NCT exist ...

To give students performance experience?

If so, then we should be seeing more students in major roles. A guest union artist now and then might be helpful to give young actors exposure to a professional's working process, but the real education would be in the doing.

To present the community with the best possible and financially profitable production?

If true, then students onstage should be a rare occurrence, since professional actors and faculty members are often at a higher level of proficiency. And the amateur often doesn't match up well the pro. For the sake of box office, drop the classics and sell lots of tickets with more productions of the likes of "Grease," "Annie," "The Sound of Music" and "Oh! Calcutta!" A director from the Utah Shakespeare Festival was paid 10 grand to put together the recent "Count Dracula" (plus the right of first refusal). Ten grand could have gotten someone with Broadway credits. And if the NCT can spend that kind of money in these financial times, then let's have them go all the way and get a slew of name actors who will have audiences begging for tickets.

To benefit the faculty?

If yes, then, again, dump the students and allow the teachers to give us their whole repertoire. Instructor Michael Tylo's done a major role in two of the three productions that have been presented within four months at the Judy Bayley. Professor Phil Hubbard, a staple in every season, had a leading role in the recent "Count Dracula," a show whose title role was played by a student who looked woefully out of place. Later this year, artistic director Robert Benedetti is directing a script of his own, which may be great for Benedetti, but what does it do for students?

To be a beacon in the local arts community?

If so, the NCT should make some kind of effort to get off its ivory tower and get to better know locals. Benedetti initially asked a professor and a local actor who has worked repeatedly at NCT to play the leads in his original play. If the community is important, why didn't he go to our local playhouses and do some scouting? The talent is there. Of course, Benedetti only lives in Vegas six weeks out of the year, so how could he have time to get to know locals?

I wish at the very least NCT would pick a purpose so that we could all get to know what it is we're dealing with here. And NCT might get to know too.

Anthony Del Valle can be reached at vegastheaterchat@aol.com. You can write him c/o Las Vegas Review-Journal, P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125.