Manning the Ship

For the past few weeks I have been meeting with and inviting various artists, designers and actors to work on our upcoming production of Medea. No.11 Productions is just over a year old (officially) and no one who works for us has, up to this point, been financially compensated. Medea will be no different. The advantage to this (to be the forever optimist I try to be), is that you have a group of dedicated artists creating “art for art’s sake”. Actors, designers, musicians etc., are creating solely for the sake of putting something out into the cosmos that might open up the opportunity for different people to broaden their various perspectives of the world we live in. I know, that sounds a bit utopian and it’s a poorly structured and wordy sentence, but that is at least how I see it. I can tell you for a fact that this is not how all 20-something-year-old artists see it, no matter how fledging they may be. Some young artists expect to be paid, and I hope they are…but we cannot afford them.

When I approach different artists to engage in a project, I am asking them to commit time, talent and energy to somebody else’s vision, in this case mine. There is an instant pull between “that sounds awesome” and “I should be focusing on my own art.” My theory (and I would dare to say No.11’s) is that theatre is a meeting place for all of the arts, and that an artist that works in the theatre is stretching their own art/talent in directions that no one artist would think of on their own…collaboration leads to higher art. I’m sure Mr. Van Gogh would disagree, but he never worked in the theatre. So my leverage to engage artists becomes, work on a project with No.11 Productions, and you will come out of it a stronger artist. I never push someone to collaborate with me because without money or a contract, it is passion and friendship that hold a particular production ensemble together, and even these qualities are not fool proof. When a “better” (read: paid) opportunity rolls along, most actors and designers cannot resist…and I have never held this against them. Have I kicked and screamed and cried? Sure, but only for a moment before I start making phone calls.

There have been people who have worked with us consistently and beautifully and who we continuously turn to for their talent, guidance and support. Young companies and artists should find other young companies and artists they enjoy working with and believe in and invest their efforts. No one I know (in my age bracket) can invest several thousand dollars into No.11 Productions, but my peers and friends invest time and effort because they believe that our small theatre company has the potential to be one of the greatest non-profit theatre organizations of our generation (or at least self sufficient). They believe that the theatre we create and the vision we hold is worth what they have to offer. I find this idea tremendous and inspirational. In a year, we have grown much faster than I ever had expected, and with no intention of slowing down, I feel confident in our path. I have too much respect for the artists we have worked with, and will work with, to allow them to come to a dead end when a production is over. No.11 Productions is an ensemble company, and although we are still many artists away from being a true ensemble, we get closer with each production.

My goal is to have a full cast and list of designers before the New Year, a collective of passionate, growing and invested artists who have the desire to make our production of Medea unforgettable. I will keep you posted.

-Ryan Emmons