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What do you call a web site that allows searching, shopping, chatting, and free email? In the rest of the web world it would probably be called a portal, but if it's regarding theatre then you're probably looking at the:
AmericanTheater Web
The site's founder and creator, Andy Propst (whose background includes involvement at many levels in community, non-profit and commercial theatre), started up the site to response to what he saw as "incomplete listings on other sites and incomprehensible searches in major engines." His intention was "to create a site that would allow theater professionals and theatergoers to find information quickly about theaters throughout the United States." And do so, he has. At present the AmericanTheater Web maintains links to more than 1700 theatre websites, featuring over 3500 productions. Central to the ATW site are its two huge databases, one for theatres, the other for productions. Each allows direct searching or utilizes a "drill down" method. For instance, you might choose "New England from the "Choose a Region: Regional Guide" menu. After clicking the "Go!" button, you'll be taken to a page listing states within the region as well as date ranges. From here you can select, say, either Maine, or "January, 2000 productions in Maine." Although many of these sites are scattered across the web, the ATW also provides local space for theatres to create their website through ATW at their theatersites.com sub-site. 1700 theatre sites may sound like an awful lot, but the databases are not quite complete. Many of the larger regional theatres may appear through solicitation of the site owners, but generally inclusion in the database is on a voluntary, opt-in basis. A theatre must request inclusion in the listings. Recently, for example, an acquaintance of mine was interested in researching a particular theatre's website after being asked to audition for their production of Annie. Neither a search nor a drill down through to South Carolina revealed the name of any theatre in Myrtle Beach producing Annie during the dates of this run. But a general search (using Dogpile, our multiple-search engine of choice) turned up the a number of sites, from where it was a short hop to uncovering The Palace Theater at Myrtle Beach site. But total coverage is an inevitability. If Mr. Propst & Co. are able to achieve their dreams for the site, it would be folly for any theatre to neglect to register with ATW. Regarding future plans for the site (according to the site): < It is becoming a community dedicated to providing a home on the Web to all people interested in theater. [...] In the coming months, we plan to expand further with an entire section dedicated to younger performing artists - students in high school and college. We also plan on creating sections for auctions of theatrical memorabilia and ultimately, ticket sales.
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