Why theater?

I could write a whole series of essays to answer this question. To sum it up in a blog post, I can narrow it down to one reason. Why theater? Because it is collaborative.

I first fell in love with theater in the costume shop at my high school. I was struck by how many people with different perspectives, ideas and talents come together to create a production. I realized that collaboration was what fueled this art form. My focus in college shifted to stage management because I was interested in facilitating and deepening collaboration between the various people involved in a production. Now, as a producer for Local Theater Company, collaboration is central to what I do every day and why I have found so much joy in producing.

Great art is a collaborative process.

Now to be more specific. Why Local Theater Company? And to be even more specific—why Local Lab? Why would I spend my weekend in Boulder attending this festival?

Because Lab is the PEAK of collaboration—in even more ways that a regular production.

For the playwrights, it is an opportunity to deepen their work as they hear the perspectives of other theater-makers. For many Lab playwrights, it is the first time their characters are embodied by an actor and guided by a director. The work is changing and growing, making it an exceptionally exciting rehearsal process for everyone involved.

And for the audience, it is a unique opportunity to be a collaborator. When you step into a theater as an audience member, you become part of the art. Each audience is unique, which is one of the reasons why no two performances of a play are the same. But Lab gives you a chance to engage in the work in a deeper way. Your perspectives, your thoughts and your questions help propel the work forward. You are an essential part of the creation of a new play.

I love Lab because it is a time when our community comes together in a collaborative way to make meaningful theater. I hope you will join us!