Actually, the title of this post is a little misleading. In Don R. Hall's recent Angry White Guy rant his point was not to take-on Chicago's House Theatre, rather to question the wisdom and generosity of the organizations behind the Emerging Theater Award - namely Broadway in Chicago and the League of Chicago Theatres.

Now, I don't know enough about the situation to comment specifically, but Don did pull me in with erudite and stinging prose like this:

And in our readiness to declare that the House has or has not earned this award, we are blinded to the facts that A) this award has been presented by an organization dedicated to bring outside shows to Chicago, effectively displacing homegrown theater and B) that $5,000.00 from Broadway in Chicago is like getting a check for $5.00 from your rich uncle on your birthday.

Not only is the staff of the League advocating and working for the community everyday and seeing hundreds of shows every year, but several, including myself, are working professionals in the community as actors, directors and theater managers. To say that this group of people is out of touch with the local theater community is ridiculous. You won't find a group of people more committed to Chicago theater.

UPDATE:
Storefront Rebellion asks of the League, What Have You Done For Me Lately?