Boxcar Sets Out To Be 'A Director's Theatre', Nurtures Bay Area's Talents

Four and a half years and fifteen productions from its inception, Boxcar Theatre revitalizes their artistic approach and promises to be A Director's Theatre, nurturing the visionary talents of Bay Area director's as well as guest directors from other cities.

Since 2005 the company has focused on new plays and adaptations through the efforts of the writer. Seeing an over-saturation of "writer" and "actor" theatres, Artistic Directors Nick A. Olivero and Peter Matthews sought out an undiscovered niche, a gap in the current theatre landscape. Boxcar will amp up its efforts to find emerging directors and cultivate relationships with directors who are already established in the industry.

The shift in artistic direction may result in a changing of the guards. Nick A. Olivero explains, "Ultimately, we would like to see the creative leadership of the company rest on the shoulders of eight or so visionary leader-type directors, a ‘knights of the round table' so to speak. Season selection and company direction will stem from this core group of directors." Olivero adds, "We already see it on a small scale in the Bay Area: Tony Taccone and Les Waters, Patrick Dooley and Mark Jackson. These duos are helping shape the theatre climate. We simply want to build on that model and extend it to massive proportions." In this scenario the role of Artistic Director, already shared by two, may be developed into a much more collaborative position-the first in its class. Peter Matthews, chimes in, "From this point forward with both our art and our management we are only making bold choices; no more room for mediocrity."

Bold choices are on the horizon as the company plans to announce its astonishing eleven-play season later this week and prepare for its first New York bound collaboration in 2010.