The New York Times' Patrick Healey Says Farewell to 'Politics of Theater', Hello to 'Theater of Politics'

As previously announced, New York Times theatre reporter Patrick Healey will be making a beat change.

Today, Healy, who's covered some of Broadway's biggest recent stories, including SPIDER-MAN: TURN OFF THE DARK's troubles and REBECCA's ill-fated originally planned run, has penned a farewell letter, detailing how the "politics of theater is giving way to the theater of politics."

He writes:

"More than 75 percent of Broadway shows fail; so do plenty of the men and women who run for public office. Broadway and politics are both relatively small worlds in which everyone knows one another, where the slings and arrows, alliances and grudges are legion and legendary. The creativity, strategy, moxie and motivations that drive theatrical productions and political campaigns are fascinating to report and write about, given what they say about very human qualities like vision, imagination, ego and growth.

Before the Iowa caucuses in early 2004, I remember seeing and writing about the ways that John Kerry improved as a candidate by doing several rallies a day across - not unlike the way a musical improves during tryout and preview performances before critics attend (and weigh in with their reviews).

I remember being impressed by Hillary Clinton's work ethic and determination on the campaign trail: For all the drama within her campaign, she demonstrated the sort of grit that keeps an actress going night after night in a troubled Broadway show she knows might close any day because of weak ticket sales.

Conceiving theater stories is like breathing air to me, given my years on the beat, but it wasn't always so - I had a learning curve. The same was and will be true of politics: I'm reconnecting with sources in my politics Rolodex - many of whom are still in the game, like the veteran Broadway producers and directors who never leave Times Square. I'm reading a ton of political coverage - in The Times, other publications, recent books. I'm watching speeches on YouTube and trading in Broadway cable talk shows for 'Morning Joe.'"

For Healy's entire farewell, click here.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos

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