episode 1: Breaking in
It takes guts and ingenuity to break into the performing arts, and many artists find their entry points in unexpected places. Everyone's story is different. What unites the artists in this episode is that they navigate the performing arts world in ways that work for them.
Please come to our event on Tuesday, June 14 from 7-9 p.m. at LaGuardia Performing Arts Center in Long Island City, moderated by Theater Artist/MIT Professor and MADE HERE Advisory Council Member Jay Scheib. rsvp@madehereproject.org
Featured in this Episode
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Young Jean Lee
Artistic Director, Young Jean Lee’s Theater Company ?
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John Collins
Artistic Director, Elevator Repair Service ?
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Elizabeth LeCompte
Director, The Wooster Group ?
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Black-Eyed Susan
Actor ?
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Kate Valk
Founding Member, The Wooster Group ?
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Dana Edell
Co-Founder/Executive Director, viBe Theater Experience ?
Resources:
News
A UK-based website dedicated to providing support and guidance for people hoping to get into theatre.
Want to be a theatre director? Here are my 10 top survival tipsJohn Cairn’s tips on how to break into theatre directing.
Four theatre directors from MFA directing programs discuss training, mentors, and breaking into professional directing.
Is it time to stop?A generation of non-profit theatre directors are nearing retirement, and considering the fate of their companies. Will they pass on the reigns? Or call it a good run and close their doors?
Still Kicking – documentary film on arts and agingDocumentary film follows six older women artists and explores the link between longevity and artistic vitality.
Aging ArtfullyAuthor Amy Gorman celebrates the lives of twelve women aged 85-105 who continue their creative expression and artistic work into older age.
Anna Deavere Smith's 'Letters to a Young Artist'Interview with playwright and scholar Anna Deavere Smith on her newest book, ‘Letters to a Young Artist,’ in which Smith weaves practical advice with stories from her own career.
An Interview with Jackie Battenfield: by Amber Hawk SwansonInterview with author Jackie Battenfield on her book The Artist's Guide: How to Make a Living Doing What You Love.
Joel Grey on his 60 years in theatre, film and tv.Four-part interview on “Off-Ramp” from Southern California Public Radio.
Interview with Anne BogartFrom the blog The Days of Yore, an interview with Director Anne Bogart on breaking in and sustaining herself as an artist.
She Barely Even Looks Like Paul RobesonProfile of Kate Valk from the New York Times.
Dick Van Dyke: My Lucky Life In and Out of Show BusinessLA Times book review of Dick Van Dyke's memoir, released in May 2011.
Show Business: Confessions of a Real Actor1982 interview with Laurence Olivier about his autobiography 'Confessions of an Actor.'
Taking Her Art Seriously, Not HerselfJudi Dench’s new autobiography "and furthermore" discusses the actress’ longevity and dedication to her craft.
Organizations
Tips for filing your taxes, health and dental insurance, a job search and more.
Career Transition for DancersSupport and job counseling for dancers developing their post-performance careers.
A networking and professional development group for arts administrators in their 20s and 30s.
Theatre Communications Group: Nonprofit Finance Fund Professional Development ProgramTraining for arts and cultural institutions on withstanding and flourishing during the economic downturn.
Support Center for Nonprofit ManagementWorkshops and leadership training for the nonprofit sector.
Foundation CenterTraining for nonprofits in building sustainable institutions.
Fractured AtlasSupports artists with the business side of their careers. As they say: “We're here to help with the "unsexy" stuff that helps make art happen.”
The FieldThe Field regularly offers workshops on career development from working professionals. Check back for updated workshop schedules.
New York Foundation for the Arts – NYFA LearningWorkshops and professional development from the New York Foundation for the Arts.
Performing Arts Medicine AssociationNetwork of health care professionals who practice performing arts medicine. Focus on injury prevention and physical conditioning for performers.
Research
Study of the objective and subjective measures of career success.
Performance SagaVideo series of women pioneers of performance art, including Joan Jonas. Includes interviews, performance footage, and reflections on their careers and contributions to the field.
Researchers at the University of California School of Medicine investigate some of the health effects of performance and options for treatment.
Creativity and Aging: The Black Musician's PerspectiveA look into the lives and creative output of thirty-five elderly Black musicians.
Still Kicking: Aging Performing Artists in NYC and LA Metro AreasA report from the Research Center for Arts and Culture and Joan Jeffri on professional actors, dancers, choreographers, musicians and singers aged 62 and up. The study examines their resiliency, tenacity and lifelong engagement with their art and the public.
Making Changes: Facilitating the Transition of Dancers to Post-Performance CareersA Research Center for Arts and Culture report that looks at the experiences and challenges of dancers in 11 different countries in the midst of career changes.
discussions:
Submit a topicSeason 2 Episode Feedback
Post a commentWhat did you think about the episodes?
Jump to most recent entry-
Pete McCabe said:
“in creating art one get’s the benefit of being looked at, but also the responsability of telling the truth” Someone much smarter than me said that.
In the short story Hellscreen, it shows what someone is willing to do to tell that truth as he sees it. It ends up killing him. I don’t think you have to die to tell the truth, but its personal toll can have ramifications far beyond one’s expectations; even to the disolution of the self. Creating art is about more than not being paid well. What “truth” is… is seemingly undefinable. -
Gabriela Poma said:
Am just getting through the new videos. Wonderful and so inspiring. This angle: the daily life of an artist. No one gets to see the difficulty, the hard work, they things given up for art. And to get a glimpse at the intimate parts of their lives is such a privilege.
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laura peterson said:
About labels and identity: Young Jean Lee’s comment was really gratifying and made me think that a label can be something one earns. It can reflect an amount of discipline and focus in one’s work that leads to a title. Playwright. Choreographer. Whatever it is, which is not to say that it cannot be a blend or a new term, but that it can have weight and purpose and structure.
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Soon-Young Yoon said:
Love the trailer for the madehere project. Looking forward to more…so important a contribution to history.
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Cheri Magid said:
I have been loading up on watching made here and am totally addicted. It’s so reassuring to hear others talk of the same things that you deal with and encouraging to see the ways different people live as artists.
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Alex Zafiris said:
I watched the latest Made Here series. I love the new categorization themes—identity, labels… such a great idea.
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Ximena said:
I don’t see myself as"exploiting myself because I accept low pay or nor pay” My set of values in relationship with my art lies in other places far away from the values applied to the basic needs I must attend as an individual in this society.
your stories:
Share your story- How do you measure success as an artist?
- What advice would you give to a young artist about starting out? Or what advice have you received that you would like to share?
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From Nozomi Kato:
Visual and performing artist Nozomi Kato answers the question: “How do you measure success for an artist?”
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From Vivien Goldman:
Writer and teacher Vivien Goldman answers the question: “How do you measure success for an artist?”
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From Mei-Ying Ng and Jane Gabriels:
Mei-Yin Ng is a choreographer and dancer. Jane Gabriels is a producer and performing artist. They answer the question: “How do you measure success for an artist?”
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From Juan Zapata:
Hip-hop dancer Juan Zapata answers the question: “How do you measure success in an artist?”
