LOOK ALIVE, WE’RE GOING DEEP
It is so nice to have a meeting scheduled that you look forward to. As an ensemble member at SOTP, we meet once a month to do all the things I suspect most companies use meetings for, but it doesn’t carry with it a sense of dread/monotony/or general desire that the covered material would resituate itself into the contents of an email and leave the participants well enough alone - a vibe that historically accompanies meetings. To the contrary, for me, these monthly meetings carry a glow of optimism and inspiration that have me beaming brighter afterward than I was before the meeting began. All this to say: we had a seriously awesome meeting and we’ve got some seriously awesome stuff coming your way!
In a quick spyback as to why these meetings continue to make me feel elated, I just want to champion how important (and yet how quickly overlooked) a simple mission can be to any kind of collective body. When we as a company start brainstorming all sorts of new ideas, it is so refreshing and grounding to be able to come back to: is it ensemble-based and process-driven? It’s the right kind of anchor to stop us from spreading ourselves too thin and too far apace, but open enough to encourage new ideas and foster new passions. A mission keeps us focused and clear-minded across 10+ brains and busy lives.
As we dive into our last mainstage, the second half of our salon series readings, and our last workshop for the year, we’re excited and relieved that it’s really working! Being a company that loves art-making and loves learning about art-making is the thing! We’re so grateful and energized by the growing support and involvement of new artists to the company. Looking toward next season, we’ve made the decision to go deeper, not wider. By that we mean, we’re investing in how we can push ourselves further in process and ensemble rather than trying to produce more of what we already do. It’s a pledge to ourselves to be constantly evolving while still being responsible and accountable in the ways and means we’ve structured thus far.
So what’s that going to look like?
We’re still going to do three mainstages AND each of these mainstages will push how we bring process into production in some very different ways. (POSTS TO COME!) These plays will continue in our mission to be ensemble-based and process-driven while maintaining our goal of being culturally conversant with the world around us. The season will continue a history of plays that incur thought-provoking conversations, but heck, there’s going to be some solid comedy in there too!
We’re still going to do four salon series readings AND we’re thinking about new ways to include and generate process for the many playwrights that make this community such a rich hotbed of theatrical exploration and experimentation.
We’re going to forgo making actors have to cram into their jam-packed schedules the time to come to an in-person general audition. We are opening up accessibility for actors to show us their best work from their comfort of their own homes and on their own schedules; AND if/when we do call actors in, it’ll be with a specific show in mind so that the in-person work can be explicitly tied to the text and process at hand. No trying to figure out how or what to convey for this show and that show and the other one, no waiting areas, no internal monologues about who else showed up and how long they were in the room and whether or not those were the right shoes to convey 30 years of playable range, etc.. We’re hoping to dismiss the distractions and pressures that obscure joyous art-making. Prepare and present in an environment that lets you focus on the storytelling. We’ll take it from there.
We’re going to deepen internal education within the company, teaching each other and stewarding interests in disciplines that extend beyond the kind of work an ensemble member might usually take on. Actors who have the itch to learn more about design, designers who have the itch to learn more about directing, directors who have the itch to manage, and managers who have the itch to perform - or any combination… Our ability to collaborate won’t be limited by the resume we walked in with while we have passions, appetites, and dedicated spirits for a whole range of new skills. Our collaborative processes will deepen in this greater integration of production expertises.
It’s exciting to think about the season ahead, BUT before we get there, we’ve got a lot left in store for the rest of THIS season. DO NOT MISS:
Our next salon series reading: NEW HOPE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH PRESENTS: THE NATIVITY STARRING KEISHA TAYLOR AS THE VIRGIN MARY by Oliva Matthews
Our next mainstage: THE FIRST SNOW OF SUMMER by Eric Coble
Our next workshop: TBA coming the first week of May
