Matt Sullivan

I was pleased to read Michael Paulson's piece that the beloved Soho Rep. will share space with Playwrights Horizons for the next few seasons. This follows Second Stage Theater's upcoming residency in my former home, Signature Theatre Company, after Second Stage left their own Off-Broadway home. Other examples abound, and, even if these decisions to share space or produce theatre with different relations to real estate are driven by financial need, kudos to those companies that are adopting new approaches. Seeing shows at Soho Rep's 65 seat space on Walker Street was *always* thrilling but, as Cynthia Flowers, Caleb Hammons, and Eric Ting, point out in an email to their community, "Soho Rep is not a building". In a piece by Brittani Samuel, Playwright's Artistic Director Adam Greenfield stated "Through partnership, through a real genuine collaboration where you’re opening yourself up to other ways of working and perspectives, and in doing so making yourself vulnerable, we are creating more possibilities for ourselves.” Somewhere along the way we have lost these principles. I can recite legitimate reasons why theatre companies choose to have their own space, but these decisions are often driven by equating growth with success, donor enthusiasm for contributing to building campaigns with naming opportunities, and organization ego. I've given these issues a great deal a thought based on my own experience of leading theatres that are real estate heavy, and put forward the following guidelines for theatre companies, and funders, particularly institutional ones, to consider: *Let's move towards newly build theatres housing multiple companies; *Funders--and theatre leadership--require that model as a condition of funding; *Rigorous testing of operating costs that are sustainable is necessary; *Let's build theatres that are welcoming and accessible. Greenfield asks, "How can I continue to produce really risk-taking work and encourage an audience’s generosity of heart towards that work” he chuckles, “in a building made of granite and terrazzo floors and glass?”; *Do we need to hire "starchitects"? How does that serve us? My high school built a new theatre. The students wanted to be involved in the the design, and were dismissed. They went ahead and put forward their rudimentary but thoughtful design. Guess what? The architects implemented their plan. Finally, any building campaign *must* include funding for artistic initiatives and, especially, artist compensation. Again, this component should be a condition of funding. The entire theatre ecosystem *must* lift up this standard. In short, in this moment, our approach to real estate is yet another significant area that requires new thinking and action. https://lnkd.in/ejdr_qEr https://lnkd.in/esQeKfS7

75

10 Comments

We're excited to announce that applications are now open for our "Non-Profit Narrative Project"! This new innovative initiative, launched at BW Productions, aims to empower non-profit organizations by providing free, professional-grade photo and video services. The Non-Profit Narrative Project is driven by our passionate team of creative professionals and dedicated interns. Our talented interns, under the expert guidance of our full-time staff, will work closely with the selected non-profits to capture their narratives through stunning photography and impactful videography. We estimate the value to be between $5,000 - $10,000. We believe that every story deserves to be told, and every cause deserves a powerful voice. By providing non-profits with access to our creative expertise, we aim to amplify their voices, raise awareness about their causes, and ultimately, make a positive impact on the communities they serve. If you're a non-profit organization interested in participating in this transformative project, we invite you to apply today. Share your mission, your impact, and the real-life stories behind your work, and let us help you create captivating visual narratives that resonate with audiences and further your cause. At the heart of this initiative is our belief that storytelling has the power to inspire, educate, and drive change. We understand that for many non-profits, resources are often limited, and investing in professional visual content can be a challenge. That's why we're offering our services entirely free of charge, ensuring that financial constraints don't hinder the ability to share powerful stories that matter. Don't miss this incredible opportunity to elevate your organization's voice and impact. Apply by June 30th to be part of our first Non-Profit Narrative Project round, and together, we'll embark on a journey of "Telling Stories that Matter." Stay tuned for updates and behind-the-scenes glimpses as we bring this exciting project to life. For more information, please visit our website or reach out to our team.

29

9 Comments