Theatre is known for being a collaborative art form. Working with designers, directors, performers, house management, and all the myriads of roles often includes its challenges. But what happens when you take three unique companies and bring them together to work on a single production? Resolute Theatre Project, L.I.P. Service, and Proper Hijinx Productions are aiming to find out.
The three companies are all still relatively young to the DFW community. Resolute was formed last year and opened with their inaugural production of Stepping Out, Proper Hijinx is just about to turn two, and L.I.P. Service is the veteran of the group with six seasons under their belt. Artistic Directors Amy Cave (Resolute), Jason Leyva (L.I.P. Service), and Stefany Cambra (Hijinx) have all been hard at work to create their company brands but saw an opportunity to merge their company styles to produce a show that resonated with them all, while simultaneously letting them step a bit outside their company personalities. "Individually, I don't think Boy Gets Girl is quite any of us," shares Cave, "but collaboratively, I think it's all of us".
Producers Amy Cave, Jason Leyva and Stefany Cambra
The spark to collaborate began about a year ago when Cave and her husband, Steve, were cast in Missed Connections, written and directed by Cambra for the 2016 Festival of Independent Theatres. The show about "what if's" struck a chord with Amy Cave and inspired her to take action and form the theatre company she long thought about. The Caves have also been heavily involved in L.I.P. Service, working with Leyva on several productions over the years. The circle was completed when L.I.P Service and Hijinx collided as Leyva brought Cambra on to direct him in L.I.P. Service's production of Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune earlier this year. A conversation following a performance of this particular show spurred the decision to collaborate not only as individuals, but as companies.
"We were standing around, talking theatre as theatre people tend to do, when Amy mentioned she was still thinking about the script I had recommended to her last year", explains Cambra. "It's been on my bucket list since first reading it in college, but based on cast size and production requirements, I knew I couldn't realistically afford to do it justice on my own". Soon discussions came to life on how to share resources and responsibilities to make the show happen. Cambra went on to say, "I think most artistic directors will tell you that it can be rather overwhelming with all of the hats you have to wear; particularly when you're still young. Producer, director, designer, ticket taker. You're involved in all of it. By working together, we're dividing and conquering and allowing ourselves to focus in on our areas of expertise."
The trio is optimistic in dividing up roles and responsibilities and look forward to the added benefit of sharing audiences and marketing to a larger base. They're working to merge their individual company policies in regards to ticket sales, contracts, and actor compensation so that they feel confident in working together while staying true to their company values and identities. What are some of the larger divisions of labor? The Caves are the leading producers, Leyva is heading up the production team as the director and scenic designer, and Cambra is at the forefront of marketing while also taking on the role of Theresa.The three companies look forward to co-producing this show while rape culture is a hot button issue in ongoing conversations. At what point will someone stop telling a woman she should be flattered when a man buys her flowers and start telling her she should be concerned? In Rebecca Gilman's Boy Gets Girl, Theresa Bedell (Stefany Cambra) is loving her work as a successful reporter in New York. She's happy with the life she has made for herself. Her only problem, as determined by her friends and peers, is that she's single. Being pushed by a close friend, she agrees to go on a blind date with a friend of a friend in an effort to find the missing puzzle piece in her life. Tony (Justin Duncan) is attractive and funny, enough for Theresa to agree to a second date, but having nothing in common leaves Theresa ready to write it off as not meant to be. Tony, though, thinks otherwise. What at first seems like persistence on his part grows into obsession, and Theresa's annoyance with Tony turns to terror as he begins to threaten her and those around her. Ultimately, Theresa must fight to save herself from being erased by Tony's actions-actions which call into question the assumptions at the very heart of romantic pursuit.
Cast:
Snacks Designer - Amy Cave
Production Information:
Performance Venue - Amy's Studio of Performing Arts, 11888 Marsh Lane, Suite 600, Dallas TX 75234
Dates and Performance Times - August 11-13, 18-20, and 25-27 at 8:00 PM.
Tickets are $16, general admission.
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