Will it play in Peoria?

It's been too long since I have blogged with you all.  The last few months have raced by.  July was a teaching gig that zoomed by.  All consuming.  I just got back from a family event in PEORIA.

I used to hear the phrase  Will it play in Peoria?   In theater and performing conversations that phrase meant will the show, scene, segment be something that the people outside the biggest cities and the performing community like the piece?  Will they watch will it be successful outside of New York and LA? 

I had never been to Peoria so as I headed there I was thinking about that phrase.  What I found was a mid size city much like cities and towns I had been to before.  I enjoyed the people and explored the city to see if there was some reason why Peoria was used as the standard.   From what I can remember Peoria was on the circuit many many years ago.  the vaudville circuit and I think that is where the phrase began.  Now when I am writing, directing and working with actors I will remember that it needs to be universal enough so it will PLAY IN PEORIA. 

Hope you all are having a great summer.  I will be catching up with all of your blogs in the next few weeks.