JAQUES IS A WEEKLY NEWSLETTER ABOUT THE GLOBAL THEATER INDUSTRY.
It’s a Substack Bestseller, and it comes out most Tuesdays. (Except for when a story needs a little longer to bake; then it comes out on Wednesday or Thursday.)
From week to week, Jaques alternates between the news aggregate ABROAD/WAY BULLETPOINTS and a new, original, deep-dive SPOTLIGHT STORY.
WHAT DO I GET AS A FREE SUBSCRIBER?
All subscribers receive the ABROAD/WAY BULLETPOINTS, in which I round up theater headlines and news summaries from media outlets around the world. You’ll also find notes on international tour stops, job listings, employment transitions and the openings and closings of big-deal shows. It’s an up-to-the-minute snapshot of the international theater business, delivered free to all readers.
WHY SHOULD I UPGRADE TO A PAID SUBSCRIPTION?
In addition to the ABROAD/WAY BULLETPOINTS, paid readers get full access to every SPOTLIGHT STORY, a deeply researched and reported feature digging into the biggest questions facing international producers, presenters, creatives, executives, administrators and academics. When does a new Broadway musical have global potential? How has Starlight Express been running in Germany for 35 years? What’s going on with the musical theater market in India? Which performers sell tickets in Seoul? Who are the hottest artists on the international festival circuit? What global IP is up for grabs and ripe for stage success?
Jaques is insider insights, interviews and analysis you won’t find anywhere else.
WHO’S WRITING JAQUES?
That’s me, Gordon Cox, a veteran theater journalist who’s been covering Broadway and the entertainment industry for more than 20 years. You’ll find most of my work at Variety magazine, the showbusiness bible where I’ve written about every aspect of the theater business since 2005. I’m currently Variety’s contributing theater editor and the creator and host of the award-winning Stagecraft podcast. You can also find me hosting interviews and moderating panels around town, around the world and on the high seas.
WHY DOES A PAID SUBSCRIPTION COST SO MUCH?
International theater is big business—but no one really writes about it regularly. That means that every deep-dive I write is a time-consuming, labor-intensive undertaking heavy on research, reporting, forging connections and finding experts. I love this stuff! But I’m a one-man band here, and paid subscriptions not only pay for my time but also help underwrite the research costs, communication fees and travel that will give my reporting boots-on-the-ground perspective.
If you can’t afford a full-price subscription right now for whatever reason—maybe you’re a student or an early-career industry type, or you’re just battling an unfavorable exchange rate—drop me a line. I’m sure we can work something out.
WHY DID YOU NAME YOUR NEWSLETTER JAQUES?
Um, actually it’s pronounced “JAKE-wheeze.” It’s the name of the character in As You Like It who says the line “All the world’s a stage.”
OH COME ON. WHY IS IT PRONOUNCED “JAKE-WHEEZE”?
Because scansion! Throughout As You Like It, the meter of Shakespeare’s blank verse often requires the word “Jaques” to be spoken with two syllables instead of one. We don’t know for sure how they said it 400 years ago, but one popular option, taught in high schools and colleges everywhere (including mine), is “JAKE-wheeze.” (When the name is pronounced with one syllable it’s a toilet joke; more on that, and on original Shakespearean pronunciation in general, here.)
IS NAMING YOUR NEWSLETTER “JAKE-WHEEZE” PRETENTIOUS OR JUST ABSURD?
Oh, it’s definitely both.
WHAT SHOULD I READ FIRST?
I’m glad you asked! Here are a couple of fun faves that are free for all readers:
WTF IS PANTO?
And here are a few popular examples of the kind of in-depth insights you get with a paid subscription:
K-MUSICALS ARE COMING FOR BROADWAY
New content every week. Join us!
