Jeff Love speaks to college students at NMSU
Point of You's Artistic Director, Jeff Love, was recently in New Mexico, and had the opportunity to speak with some college students about POY. He recalls his experience below.
I recently had the pleasure of leading some workshops on living and thriving in the busy New York theatre scene with fellow company member Meghan Dickerson at New Mexico State University. We discussed with the students both the rewards and challenges associated with coming to the Big Apple and beginning a theatre company.
Meghan is a Co-Artistic Director and founding member of POY's sister company, New World Theatre (whose recent production of The Crackwalker can be read about at http://www.newworldtheatre.org/). Students asked about the prices involved in both rehearsal and performances spaces, as well as the general vibe of New York's Off-Broadway world.
We stressed the absolute necessity in surrounding yourself with like-minded artists, and also, with other theatre companies. Meghan discussed both New World Theatre and POY's collaborative efforts, and I spoke of my recent work with TheatreRats (www.theatrerats.com). While working with like-minded artists was something we have both been keenly aware of, our discussions on the topic showed that this collaboration was an even bigger factor in bringing success to our companies than we realized. It helps that, despite the ever-growing financial trials of having non-for-profit companies in this world, other companies and artists are more than willing to lend you their knowledge and talent in making great art for this magnificent city.
As cliche as it is (thank you Whitney Houston), our children really are our future. And if the noble doctrines of quality art and collaboration are not brought to them in all walks of life, not just in business, then we run the risk, as a people, of heading toward something resembling moral bankruptcy.
We also jumped at this chance to influence the artists that will, in the years to come, hopefully add to the history of artistic efforts in our country. We have, for years now, stressed the need to communicate and recruit New York's own student communities, whether they come from great colleges and universities like Columbia and NYU, or the city's many fine high schools.
The other amazing thing was how willing students are to learn. While these young minds were aware of the monetary constraints in making art, they were, nonetheless, undaunted by the prospect of finding alternative means for finding props, talent, and opportunities. And Meghan and I were more than happy to give them the advantage of our experiences.
We look at the other theatrical artists in our companies and are astounded again and again at how much they sacrifice to bring a rewarding and entertaining experience to our audiences and fellow collaborators. Whether it is with the set-building innovation of POY's Techincal Director Gerard Savoy, or the marketing genius of POY's Administrative Director (not to mention NWT's Managing Director) Melanie Kuchinski Rodriguez. Without these individuals, we would be strapped both finanically and artistically.
Moving on to future productions, the students at NMSU were also anxious to hear about what Meghan and I were working now. This was a topic I was able to speak at length about since Point of You is currently in production for a hilarious black comedy Marc Adam Smith (our own Production Director) and myself are writing, called Five Years Later. It would be a wonderful thing if NMSU realized the need to have these future artists come out and see our April production (hint hint...). But if this isn't to be, perhaps the graduating students that spoke to Meghan and me, and who are thinking of moving here, might be able to make a quick weekend stop to check out the city as well as the show. Granted, it would help a bit if their parents read this blog and spotted them the money (again...hint hint...).
I recently had the pleasure of leading some workshops on living and thriving in the busy New York theatre scene with fellow company member Meghan Dickerson at New Mexico State University. We discussed with the students both the rewards and challenges associated with coming to the Big Apple and beginning a theatre company.
Meghan is a Co-Artistic Director and founding member of POY's sister company, New World Theatre (whose recent production of The Crackwalker can be read about at http://www.newworldtheatre.org/). Students asked about the prices involved in both rehearsal and performances spaces, as well as the general vibe of New York's Off-Broadway world.
We stressed the absolute necessity in surrounding yourself with like-minded artists, and also, with other theatre companies. Meghan discussed both New World Theatre and POY's collaborative efforts, and I spoke of my recent work with TheatreRats (www.theatrerats.com). While working with like-minded artists was something we have both been keenly aware of, our discussions on the topic showed that this collaboration was an even bigger factor in bringing success to our companies than we realized. It helps that, despite the ever-growing financial trials of having non-for-profit companies in this world, other companies and artists are more than willing to lend you their knowledge and talent in making great art for this magnificent city.
As cliche as it is (thank you Whitney Houston), our children really are our future. And if the noble doctrines of quality art and collaboration are not brought to them in all walks of life, not just in business, then we run the risk, as a people, of heading toward something resembling moral bankruptcy.
We also jumped at this chance to influence the artists that will, in the years to come, hopefully add to the history of artistic efforts in our country. We have, for years now, stressed the need to communicate and recruit New York's own student communities, whether they come from great colleges and universities like Columbia and NYU, or the city's many fine high schools.
The other amazing thing was how willing students are to learn. While these young minds were aware of the monetary constraints in making art, they were, nonetheless, undaunted by the prospect of finding alternative means for finding props, talent, and opportunities. And Meghan and I were more than happy to give them the advantage of our experiences.
We look at the other theatrical artists in our companies and are astounded again and again at how much they sacrifice to bring a rewarding and entertaining experience to our audiences and fellow collaborators. Whether it is with the set-building innovation of POY's Techincal Director Gerard Savoy, or the marketing genius of POY's Administrative Director (not to mention NWT's Managing Director) Melanie Kuchinski Rodriguez. Without these individuals, we would be strapped both finanically and artistically.
Moving on to future productions, the students at NMSU were also anxious to hear about what Meghan and I were working now. This was a topic I was able to speak at length about since Point of You is currently in production for a hilarious black comedy Marc Adam Smith (our own Production Director) and myself are writing, called Five Years Later. It would be a wonderful thing if NMSU realized the need to have these future artists come out and see our April production (hint hint...). But if this isn't to be, perhaps the graduating students that spoke to Meghan and me, and who are thinking of moving here, might be able to make a quick weekend stop to check out the city as well as the show. Granted, it would help a bit if their parents read this blog and spotted them the money (again...hint hint...).
posted by Sean Rodriguez at
6:55 AM
0 Comments
