LOL, you’ll note that I did not say that conservatives should want nothing to do with the arts.
As you say, they should and could jump in to that industry.
The challenge is to avoid the people who would be seeking to undermine the conservativism when selecting actors, directors, financing, etc., so the end result can live up to the original goals.
The godless people will slyly try all sorts of ways to undermine the efforts, even if only a tiny bit at a time.
Conservatives should be not only participating but becoming leaders in these and many other fields that they typically avoid.
There is zero reason to have to be in Hwood or NYC with today’s technology. Many towns and cities would love to have a new job-producing industry. In the end, money talks.
Conservatives need to get motivated and work together.
That’s it, exactly. I would not be too purist in this, though. You will never, ever get a group of theater professionals together and have them all agree on politics or religion. The important thing is to make sure you have the script you want to produce and a good director. If you pay your actors (even if it’s only bus fare), they will adhere to your vision. That’s just an actor’s job.
I also believe that until conservative parents allow their kids to audition for the school musical, none of this is going to happen. And if you don’t like the musical? You hit the school board with everything you’ve got. Most American actors all got their bug for theater from starring in the school musical. Also, community theater. My husband and I came from the same NJ community theater group that produced Nathan Lane - he was then known as Joe Lane.