The Theatre Beyond Broadway

My journey into theatre went like this:

The great insight I have gained during my time in theatre is that if you love it, pursue it. If it doesn’t call you, drop it. If it’s just there, put it on the shelf. You can come back to it later.

I love dancing but I am not a dancer. I love singing so I do karaoke. I love the theatre, so I have explored as many of the possibilities that it has to offer. I served the theatre in many aspects of which I am proud – actor, director, producer, stage manager, costume designer, prop designer, theatre reviewer, publicist, radio presenter, and writer/monologist.

The core of everything I pursued, created, and manifested was passion and drive. Passion + Drive + Opportunity = Dreams Fulfilled. I love performing. I loved both so much that at 14, I declared to all that I was pursuing a career in music. It called me. Therefore, I joined the Glee Club and the Madrigal Club and performed in a variety of shows in high school. My goals: multiple degrees (BA, MFA, PhD.) in music. That was my intended track at the time.

However, it was in college that the theatre community welcomed me with open arms and showed me the many possibilities to create. And let me tell you, the spark of magic I felt all those years ago seeing Annie found me again.

I was cast in a non-speaking role in the Shakespearean classic, Twelfth Night. The spark started there and then transitioned into something bigger. I will always remember that feeling of “Wow. They are creating magic on stage.”

That sense of community that exists in the theatre is at times indescribable. We come together to create, bring life to words on a page, and then bring our truth to the work. It is within this community that I have relationships that will last a lifetime. The joy of walking into a theatre and either bumping into a friend, seeing them run tech, or on stage. Magic!

I went through the actor's struggle. I get it. It’s hard. It’s nerve-wracking. 

Auditions were tough. No one looked like me back then. It was difficult. 

After hitting the pavement for quite some time — and not to mention a major case of stage fright — my theatre professor and mentor of mine, Eleanor, asked me a question. This question would change the whole path for me. 

“Why don't you direct?” Wow. What a question. 

I took the leap and what I discovered changed my outlook on theater for the rest of my life. I realized that a director is essential to creating magic. 

A Stage Director’s vision is key to telling stories in front of an audience. 

Later, I accidentally fell into producing. After years of Directing, my husband, Ian, and I created Black Henna Productions: a motley troupe of creative artists. 

My husband is also a visionary, so I let him take the lead on the artistic vision of the company while I figured out how to produce a show. By saying, “I’ll do it,” I took the leap into the world of producing. 

Producing is an aspect of theatre I keep close to me. To see a show grow from its conception to the final bow is magic. 

Through those experiences and creating relationships with artists, I grew an email list. I started email blasts that filled people in on theatre happenings.

This was the nugget that started my accidental fall into PR and Marketing. 

At one point, I worked with an up-and-coming Broadway producer named Ken Davenport. He was the lead producer of the musical revival of Godspell. He asked me if I was interested in being a producer. Uh, yes, please. Broadway credit. 

That insightful experience shone a light on producing and promoting commercial theatre. Ideas flowed through me. The flame became a fire. 

I remember saying to myself “How do I transfer that knowledge to my theatre? This can work on a community theatre level. This can work on an indie level. This can work for you. This can absolutely work. Let’s get started.”

Artists like you asked me to review your show. Then how to get press to see your shows. Finally, how to get industry invited to your show. My experience in the industry allowed me to offer suggestions, counsel, and a unique perspective to artists. I was also able to speak truthfully about the business because I was already in it. 

This is where the Consulting branch of Theatre Beyond Broadway formed. This is where I could offer advice and add it to my path of paying it forward. This is where the fire radiated through me. 

After accidentally falling into PR, my dear friend Derek and I created Non-Disposable Productions. It was a production company that would produce live theater in a new way. 

We would raise money for other non-profit organizations. The best part? Non-Disposable Productions allowed us to connect with schools. 

We gathered a group of artists to come in and do something through the art of performance. Our focus was on incoming first-year students and transfer students.

I got to work with Melissa Robinette, the creator of The Biz of Show, who at the time was the VP of Equity. 

Josh Rivedal is an author and suicide prevention speaker. He also shared his time and immense creative energy with us. 

Our message to teachers and students alike was this: through art, you can heal. 

Through art, you can learn and be educated on a different level. A level that only resonates with the magic of theater. Through stories. 

Thus, the educational arm of Theatre Beyond Broadway was born. The fire is never going out now. 

I am grateful for every experience with all the people I have met. These connections lead me to a big dream of mine: a podcast. 

This podcast has a specific message. It is to encourage you to keep going. To keep you informed by professionals in the industry. They are the Ven diagram of theatre. Let’s learn from them.

A special episode to note is Townsend Teague: Tony Award Nominated Producer and Renaissance Man. Townsend’s trajectory is so impressive, all I can say is “woah.” He is now on the board of The Drama League.

This podcast is for artists like you to find reassurance. If you work many jobs while still working on your passion, you are not alone. You are not a sell-out. 

It is not uncommon for people in this industry to wear many hats. Many artists who work professionally are not sole actors. They are not sole producers or sole writers. 

Theatre is a network of various aspects that come together for a common purpose. They intertwine and interweave. You’re going to dip your toe into multiple pools of water while putting on one show. 

I encourage you to wear multiple hats. Learn everything you can, and your career in theatre will expand to lengths you never dreamed of. 

You can listen to Theatre Beyond Broadway: The Podcast on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you prefer to listen to your podcasts. I pass some of my spark onto you. 

I have spoken with numerous companies and theatre voices, reflecting the impact of Theatre Beyond Broadway’s work. To take a deeper dive into Theatre Beyond Broadway, check out these interviews.