www.newcitystage.com: In theater as in life, not everybody is a joiner, willing to create and sustain formal organizations in order to bring their vision to life. Chicago-based playwright, producer and cultural activator LC Bernadine is—at least in part—one of those people, a theater maker who thrives on the freedom and spontaneity of one-off projects.
2 comments:
This article was incredibly motivational for me because it reminded me of how many routes there are into theater and the strength of independent work. I was fascinated by Bernadine’s journey, especially how she entered the field later than most after working in the nonprofit sector. Above all, this showed me that it's never too late to pursue a creative passion. I also loved how much she emphasized collaboration and community. I particularly related to her sentiment about artists coming together to make something happen without the dependence on large institutions. I was especially interested in her Independent Productions Initiative as I have also been thinking about the behind-the-scenes aspects of theater - e.g., budgeting and producing - and continuing to build a platform for others to be able to create independently was encouraging. I also appreciated how she addressed the need for fair compensation for artists, which is also not discussed nearly enough. All in all, I think her work is proof that theater can be meaningful, sustainable, and deeply personal.
I maintain this is theater at its purest form: a group of like-minded collaborators getting together to fuck around and find out, to make art. I really hope this initiative succeeds. Some of the biggest shows today started off as independent projects that were workshopped and workshopped, brought to Regional Theaters, revised, and eventually made it to Broadway. We need to uplift these theater makers who make magic out of literally nothing. This program would help to fund 12 to 20 new independent projects over the next few years. One of the main needs this company is hoping to address is marketing. You can have a fantastic show but if you don't get audiences in the seats you lose the advantage of word to mouth, you don't make profits and ticket sales, and you have to close early, maybe even in the red. It would be so cool to be a theater consultant of sorts to go to small theater companies and help them improve their processes to make them a sustainable company, with little to no charge for the service.
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