As I sat and read my colleague Christa Kimlicko Jones’s latest blog post, I
realize we are in the exact same boat, and furthermore it is the same
boat that most of us as artists sail through life in. We do anything and
sacrifice anything to be a part of the theatre community that we all
love.
Right now I am in the middle of the rehearsal process for Othello running at The Secret Theatre the end of this month. In addition to playing Cassio, I am also co-producing the project.
My day begins at 6am
with my morning coffee and a sensible breakfast. I have always
treasured my mornings since I was a little boy. I have never been one to
wake up and go; I need time and caffeine to ease myself into the day. For this very purpose, I
get up early and I usually even try to squeeze
in a little bit of a favorite film or television show. My castmate (and
roommate), Valerie Redd, often teases me about my morning dramas. It is not
unusual to find me drinking my coffee while watching Revolutionary Road, The Reader, The Hours, or any other gripping drama. These types of
films always give me perspective on my life and I appreciate my life so
much more when I watch them. It’s a true catharsis.
Following my
morning ritual I try to make it five times a week to my gym to get in a
good workout, which always improves my day. Then I am off to work a full day for
The Acting Company, where I am the Producing Assistant and Resident
Company Manager, which entails problem solving and helping take care of
other artists all day, which is wonderful. It is gratifying to spend my
whole day working for a classical theatre company.
Rehearsals
begin at 7 and I cannot eat between work and rehearsal, otherwise my
stomach will be in knots. I try to shrug off the day and be completely
present in the studio, but at this point it has already been a long one
and I have a few more hours to go. It is a challenge we all face
everyday.
At 10pm
we end our rehearsal and my Co-Producer and Director and I debrief and
then I head home. Like Christa it is now midnight and it all starts again at
6am.
It is a fascinating thing how we choose this life, but
I would not give it up for anything in the world.
from Joseph Mitchell Parks, Associate Producer
My parents got me involved in the theatre at the age of 8, and as I look back I can see the signs of a future
working as a producer even in the beginning. I had a sense of wonder and must have overwhelmed
the producers of the show with my many questions about the set,
costumes, lights, etc. ... At the age of 12 I began working with a local
community theatre in Dallas in which I was the youngest member of the
company and I wanted to soak up all the information I possibly could from
my mentors of the time. I was always fascinated by the production
process and always wanted to be one of the people making the decisions
about the shows.
My fascination continued in my undergraduate
training in which I had the privilege of working with members of Anne Bogart’s SITI Company. Each company member, in addition to their many
talents as actors, were integral parts of the producing process of the
show. Anne’s Associate Ellen Lauren is one of her principal performers
in addition to her work with Anne on a producing level. I knew then that
was the kind of artist that I wanted to become. I did not want to be
the kind of performer who sat around waiting for opportunities to come,
but one who went out and made them happen with other artists that I
respect and admire and more importantly to work on projects that were
important to me. During my training I also worked on work study in the
box office and was able to get experience in the financial business of
working in the theatre. Our professors at St. Edward's University were
also professional Equity artists who often shared the stage with us, so
it was always clear to me that you need to wear many hats to have a full
career in the theatre.
When I moved to New York five years ago I
knew I wanted to find a home working with companies that I cared
about. As the Associate Producer of Theatre East I have found just that.
My passion for classical theatre is also fed by my work with The Acting Company as the Producing Assistant and Resident Company Manager. With
them I have had the opportunity to go on two national tours, understudying
many tracks in one of them, and have learned everything I know from the
great co-founder Margot Harley, who started the company in 1972 with the
late John Houseman. My involvement with these two companies has shaped
my life here in New York. I have also been able to work with Shakespeare NYC and produce independently.
I feel like I am exactly where I
should be in my life and that this is only the beginning of my career as
a Producer and I am so glad it is with a company like Theatre East.
All the best,
Joseph
from Joseph Mitchell Parks, Associate Producer
