Transcript

ARTISTIC VENUES // THE BURDENS AND THE BENEFITS

May 9th, 2024

“I don't know, a single venue operator in the indie scene that doesn't want to make their space more affordable for the people to use it. We all want that.” - Randi Berry

Access to affordable space has always been a concern for New York City theatre makers; this episode shines the spotlight on some visionary leaders who recognized the need for more artistic space and decided to do something about it! Despite some closures during the COVID-19 lockdown and ever-rising real estate costs, the story of New York City’s artistic venues may actually be one of evolution and rebirth. 

Tune in as leaders from Brooklyn Art Haus, IndieSpace, and People’s Theatre Project discuss breaking ground on new real estate ventures, their place in their communities, and how they balance affordability with the need to financially sustain their space!

RANDI BERRY

ISAAC BUSH

Randi Berry is an indie theater maker and organizer with over 20 years of dedicated service to the performing arts community. As the Executive Director of IndieSpace, she oversees radically transparent, equity-focused funding, real estate programs, and advocacy for individual artists, theater companies, and indie venues. She is dedicated to removing barriers to access, coalition building and partnerships. Her leadership led to the merger of Indie Theater Fund and IndieSpace in 2022, which together has provided over $2.5M in direct funding and countless hours of professional development and real estate advisory and consulting for the indie theater community.

Isaac Bush is an award-winning international performer and practitioner based in New York City. Bush is the Founder and Executive Director of Brooklyn Art Haus, and Founder and Artistic Director of The Circle Theater of New York (CTNY) and SMPL MCHN (Simple Machine). Under Isaac’s leadership these companies have built ensembles of artists that create work geared toward social activism and cross-cultural engagement, often presented in site- specific locations. CTNY has premiered and toured both domestic and international titles including an adaptation of Woyzeck, premiere of FLASH FLASH BANG BOOM, premiere of The MOUNTAIN, premiere of Trail of Crumbs and Strangers with the National Theater of Luxembourg (TNL), premiere of the movement-based creation entitled Wellspring in London. His work has been seen in NYC, across Europe, Brazil, and China with numerous collaborators and producing organizations. As a performer Isaac has worked both internationally and regionally in the U.S., on tour, and extensively in his home base of New York City. Bush holds an MA from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), BA from Hope College, Certificate from the British-American Drama Academy, and Certificate from the GLCA New York Arts Program. Upcoming work includes the June 2024 premiere of Lone Wolf that will tour New York City, London, Luxembourg, and Croatia, and Unseen in September 2024. Bush continues to serve as a performer, director, and workshop instructor for devised performance and ensemble building methodologies.

More information is available by visiting:
www.isaac-bush.com
www.circletheaterny.org
www.smpl-mchn.com

 
MINO LORA

Born and raised in the Dominican Republic, People’s Theatre Project's Founding Executive Director Mino Lora has been living and working as a theatre artist, activist, educator, and arts administrator in NYC since 2000. She has worked with young people in NYC, Dominican Republic and South Africa and been a guest lecturer and speaker at Yale University, The New School, Columbia University, Fordham University, City College and SUNY Potsdam. At PTP, she is responsible for company oversight, government and community relations, funder cultivation, and board and public relations. BA, English Literature and Theatre, Manhattanville College; MA, Peace Studies and Conflict Transformation, The Graduate Institute; Certificate in Nonprofit Management (CUNY)

David E. Shane (he/him/his) is a director and arts administrator who is currently the Director of Program Services for A.R.T./New York where he sets the strategic vision and goals for a robust suite of programs serving 450+ New York nonprofit theatre organizations and a growing number of individual members. Since joining the organization in early 2019, David has overseen the development of new adaptive programming such as a theatre-specific Sexual Harassment Prevention Training. As a director he specializes in the development and production of new work for the American stage and his credits include the Off-Broadway productions of Gidion's Knot (TheatreRow,) Mare In The Men's Room (Am. Theatre of Actors,) as well as the World Premiere productions of Who Is Theo?, Cookie Fight, and Elijah at the Bristol Valley Theater. Prior to joining A.R.T./New York, David held positions as the Program Director for StageSource in Boston, MA and Associate Artistic Director of the Bristol Valley Theater in Upstate, NY where he oversaw the funding and launch of the BVT New Works Initiative.

NICKY MAGGIO

Ashley J. Hicks (a.k.a. Ash, she/her) works currently as a Programs Coordinator for A.R.T./New York.  Ash is an actor, writer, solo performer & teaching artist. She received her MFA from the American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) in 2021 and was a participant in the 2022 Disney Television Discovers: Talent Showcase. To learn more about Ashley and her past/recent projects, please visit www.ashley-j-hicks.com