Making Big Ideas Happen
Written by Artistic Director Kristen van Ginhoven as part of her ‘What’s my #vision’ series.
August 24, 2017
I’ve never had a problem coming up with big ideas.
The challenge has been in making those big ideas happen.
Those of you who know me, know that when I say something out loud, that means I have to actually do it.
So- I haven’t shared many of my big ideas out loud in my life since I knew they probably weren’t possible…..due to lack of resources, people, time, energy, confidence and, of course, money.
But now- WAM is 7 years old. And it’s my biggest idea. And it’s happening!
So- it would seem that my Kristen’s big ideas are becoming realities!
Therefore- for the record, in this August #vision blog, I’m stating my four current big ideas out loud:
1) We go into rehearsal on September 6 for ‘The Bakelite Masterpiece’ by Kate Cayley. A co-production with Berkshire Theatre Group. Already a big idea that is happening. YAY! My new big idea connected with the co-pro is that we sell out before we open on October 1. 2000 tickets. Two theatre companies. It CAN happen. There- big idea. Make it happen by booking your ticket now. Stay tuned….
2) I’ve just returned from attending the Women’s Leadership Conference at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, where the results of a study on gender equity in leadership in the non-profit theatre were presented. You can read the study here and see my photos of the conference (including slides of the surprising data) here. It was an honour to be invited and while there, I got another big idea. The study, conducted by the Wellesley Centers for Women, identified key aspects holding women back from the top positions. So, in the fall of 2017, I want WAM to host The Berkshire Leadership Summit for aspiring women leaders in the non-profit theatre, where nuts + bolts workshops will be held for the next generation of women leaders. There- big idea. Stay tuned….
3) Remounting ‘Emilie: La Marquise Du Chatelet Defends Her Life Tonight’ by Lauren Gunderson has been a dream of mine since we produced it in 2013. Great productions deserve more life! I have been trying every which way to make this big idea happen. A few months ago, it looked like the idea was dead due to lack of money. BUT- then I went to see Dorrance Dance at Jacob’s Pillow, a performance fueled by enormous passion, and I realized that remounting ‘Emilie’ is a huge passion of mine and I just have to find a way to raise the money to do it! I’ve started to do just that and now, it looks like this big idea might just happen in Spring 2017. To contribute to this big idea, contact me at kristen@wamtheatre.com. There- big idea. Stay tuned…
4) Producing the World Premiere of ‘Waxworks’ by Trina Davies. Since having a reading of this play in 2014 in our inaugural Fresh Takes series, I’ve been in love with the play- which is about how Madame Tussaud became the household name we know today and how she used her art as her politics- sound familiar? Do you know she had to cast the heads of her friends during the French Revolution? This past spring, I was lucky enough to direct the first ever full production of the play at Williams College, while I was a Visiting Lecturer. You can see photos from that production here. It’s a huge production, with a large ensemble cast, complex production values and a deeply heartfelt story, told in the way I love best, full of imaginative theatricality. It’s an epic production that requires massive resources and an ever present ‘mob’, which feels like they should be brought to life by dancers. My big idea is that WAM produces the world premiere of ‘Waxworks’, in collaboration with a dance company by the end of 2019. Maybe even at Jacob’s Pillow. Or back at Williams College. There- big idea. Stay tuned…
I know I will have more big ideas. And I know that somehow, in some way, the WAMily will help make them happen.
What an incredible feeling!
Thanks for all you do to help make these big ideas happen. After all, what is life without some big ideas!
Stay tuned….
The pic is me with Elena Chang of TCG, who is interested in creating the Leadership Summit with me, and Carey Perloff, Artistic Director of American Conservatory Theatre (one of the largest LORT theatres in the USA) and co-commissioner of the study on gender equity in non profit leadership in theatre.