This past week I visited an old haunt for me up the river from us city folk. Ossining, NY is a lovely town on the Hudson River. I visit the town a few times a year when I support Rehabilitation for the Arts’ program at Sing Sing and when I shut myself off from the world to do my silent retreat. This time, my dear friend and collaborator, Derek Straat, invited me to see a reading with a theatre company of which he is a member. I did and am now a fan. Derek graciously accepted my offer to be my guest blogger this month.
Westchester Collaborative Theater: a river town theater makes moves
Back in November of 2013, I was sitting in the Briarcliff Manor Starbucks, in Westchester County, contemplating my next move. I had been living the high life in Asia, teaching English and making lots of money. My Asian contract ended and I decided it was time to come back home to be with my family and pursue my love of theater, again.
I went from a 17th floor duplex apartment overlooking The Straits of Malacca to a basement in my sister’s condo in Briarcliff, overlooking Rt. 100. It was a dramatic shift. I was in doubt, sipping my bitter coffee, and wondering how I could live in this world called: Westchester.
Then, I overheard a conversation. It would turn out to be Alan Lutwin and Karina Ramsey of Westchester Collaborative Theater (WCT) discussing their very first production. I hesitated as they left, but something told me to be bold.
“Excuse me, are you doing a show?” I said.
“Yes, are you an actor?” Alan asked.
I wondered, was I? I was not sure anymore…
“Yes, I am.” I piped up.
And that began the journey. I auditioned for WCT with my best Hamlet (not realizing it was and ‘original works’ company), and have been going to their lab nights, performing in events, and supporting them ever since. They have done things in Westchester that have awakened me, and galvanized the theater folks who reside there.
Alan’s process is simple and effective:
1. Work on new plays in lab (3x a month), discuss, read and rewrite.
2. Put up staged readings of the works that emerge from the lab nights.
3. And finally, a full production of one piece.
Besides these lab nights, WCT has Living Art Events (LAE) where they use pieces of art to conceive a 10-minute play. It’s a wonderful and imaginative exercise that brings the community artists together. I hope to participate next year (Spring, 2016).
Most impressive is WCT’s drive to continue to bring new, multi-cultural and local art to the stage. They have forged new ground and will be opening a theater space in 2016. It will be on the banks of the Hudson. Who knows, maybe my next high rise will be overlooking that body of water. In Ossining this time, working with WCT.
So glad I spoke up at the Starbucks two years ago.
For information on WCT auditions, shows and upcoming events, please click HERE.
Derek Straat is a founding member of Non Disposable Productions and is proud to present their first original piece. Recent production credits include: Shakespeare on Wine (With HITFest), Summer of Love (dir. by Lupe Gehrenbeck), and Winter of Discontent (dir.). Acting credits include: Off-Broadway: Alice in Wonderland, Mad-Hatter (Kirk Theater); Regional: A Christmas Carol, Fred (Tour), The Underpants, Theo (Lake George DT), Plain and Fancy, Dan (RBT), Annie, Cordell Hull (Allenberry Playhouse). He received critical acclaim for productions in FRINGE NYC (2000, 2001), and has been interviewed on NPR. He holds an MFA from the Actors Studio Drama School.
Coming in Spring, 2016LAE 2016 For several years, WCT has worked with the Ossining Arts Council to present The Living Art Event in which artwork inspires the creation and performance of short plays based on the artworks.
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