About What/If Arts

What/If Arts is a newsletter from freelance journalist Rebecca J. Ritzel. If you don't know me, I've been a freelance arts and culture journalist since 2007, mostly based in Washington, D.C. From 2014-2016, I served as The Washington Post's theater columnist. In 2020, I began writing investigative arts stories for The New York Times, and in 2021, I became dance writer for The Globe and Mail, Canada's national newspaper. I'm also an elections correspondent for The Associated Press, a contributor to Dance Magazine and a longtime writer for Washington City Paper.

By many measures, I'm successful. But for freelance journalists, the hourly rate often works out to below minimum wage. I never know when my payments will arrive. Subscribe and you'll get an update from me each weekend. And know that you're helping me continue to stay afloat.

What I'm writing, What I'm reading, What I'm seeing, What I'm following

Each newsletter includes links to my recent work, a few reading suggestions and quick-hit summations of shows I recommend (or don't!). I'll focus on options in and around the DMV as well as Canada, since you may know me from my work in The Globe and Mail.

If I could write anything, If I could see anything

I'm an ideas person. But sometimes what I think is a good story doesn't align with what editors want to commission. That's the curse of freelancing. So instead I'll tell you: If I could have written anything this week, what would that story be? And if I could teleport myself and see any performance, what would I see, and why should you?

That's the formula. I hope you like it.

Subscribe if you can. XOXO. Rebecca

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