The Local-National Hybrid Showcase Scorecard: A Methodology for Evaluating the Hybrid (Local and National) Showcase Identities of Ottawa-based Professional English-Language Theatre Organizations

Abstract

The city of Ottawa, Ontario is neither an independent municipality nor solely Canada’s national capital. Ottawa instead sustains a hybrid state of being where the characteristics and cultural assets specific to the city’s two roles intertwine to generate its unique identity as a “national and local,” or “hybrid,” artistic showcase. As the identity of a place evolves from the practices and individual identities of all those involved with the environment, Ottawa’s self-stated “hybrid showcase” identity can be investigated through a study of the professional English-language theatre organizations operating within city limits. Ergo, this thesis introduces a methodology for conducting data-driven assessments of theatre organizations’ local, national, or hybrid artistic showcase identities, known as the Local-National Hybrid Showcase (LNHS) Scorecard. Using fifteen indicators, the LNHS Scorecard assesses the 2018 artistic programming and programming-adjacent operations of seven Ottawa-based theatre organizations. The results of said assessments illustrate the qualitative value of each organization’s showcase hybridity and identify any perceived preferences towards local or national stakeholders therein. Findings generated by applying the LNHS Scorecard methodology to the selected case studies suggest that as of December 31st, 2018, seven of Ottawa’s professional English-language theatre organizations embraced hybrid (local and national) showcase identities. Moreover, the final scores indicate that six of the seven organizations exhibit a weak to moderate preference for activities impacting Ottawa-based stakeholders. Defining Ottawa’s artistic showcase identity according to the combined practices and resulting showcase identities of the individual Ottawa-based theatre organizations upon which the greater artistic showcase depends, the LNHS Scorecard encourages new conversations about the cultural identity of Canada’s capital.