PROJECT KNOWLEDGE- Day 25

Day 25: Trinity Rep; Providence, Rhode Island

Today was a particularly exciting day as we ventured west from our RV spot and landed in Providence, Rhode Island. We had a packed day of scheduling that centered mostly around visiting Trinity Rep, one of the oldest resident ensemble theatres operating professionally in the United States.

While we have a meeting with artistic director Curt Columbus tomorrow morning, it was important to us to get to know some of the ensemble members in order to hear about their experiences working in a resident ensemble. Fortunately, several of the thirteen company members agreed to meet with us in between rehearsals and so at 1pm we sat down with Stephen Berenson, Mauro Hantman, and Joe Wilson, Jr. Sitting in one of the Trinity Rep/Brown Consortium rehearsal spaces, we talked about the journey that led each of them to Trinity Rep and a life committed to ensemble collaboration.

It was fascinating to hear their perspective as permanent ensemble members of such a successful theatre company. The notion of actors committing to companies and companies committing to actors is, sadly, an unimaginable reality for many artists. From the discussions, however, our enthusiasm for theatrical models rooted in resident ensemble work grew! It was inspiring to hear each of these men talk about the privileges of having an artistic home and the freedom it brings to the work. Moreover, many of them have settled down in Providence with comfortable and reliable incomes conducive to stability and even starting a family. Mauro and his wife, Rachael Warren, (another Trinity Rep ensemble member) are expecting a child and several other company members have children and growing families.

By the way... this is one of our best thinker poses yet!

After our first discussion we set ourselves free to get lost in the city of Providence! Last night proved to be a little rough as the larger of the two RVs ran out of propane and therefore the heat stopped working. Cut to Robert, Stephan, Leah and Randi huddled up in multiple layers to protect themselves from the coldest weather we've experienced so far. On top of that, Randi woke up to a broken phone and so she rushed to the Providence Mall in between meetings to fix the problem! The rest of us went our own ways and enjoyed the offerings of Providence.

The city is enchanting in many ways; the small town, yet urban feel is rich in New England history. We even found an incredible restaurant to satisfy our unique food tastes. AS220 Food is right around the corner from Trinity Rep and sports a wide variety of vegan and vegetarian options. On top of that, they serve primarily locally grown food and cook everything fresh in front of your eyes. What a treat!

After our break we met with Phyllis Kay and Rachael Warren, two female members of the Trinity Rep ensemble. They were kind enough to talk to us right before (& after!) their performance of Sara Ruhl's Dead Man's Cellphone. (which we had tickets to) The ladies filled us in on their experience of working with the ensemble and shared the men's enthusiasm for being part of an artistic family that is producing regular and reliable, quality work.

Between the two sets of discussions, we really got a great feel for the way Trinity operates as a professional resident ensemble and how the artists fit into that model. It was incredible to learn that the history of the artists actually outdates the majority of the senior artistic and management staff. So truly, the history of Trinity lies in its ensemble of artists, who have kept the unique aesthetic of the company vibrant throughout its many years of fluctuating operations. We also heard a lot of admiration for Curt Columbus and his strong and passionate commitment to strengthening the ensemble and recognizing it as the fundamental core of the work at Trinity Rep. We can't wait to meet him tomorrow.

From these meetings, we have gathered a lot of information on the logistics of operating a resident ensemble theatre company. (it's not impossible!) We have also heard about the challenges of working as a group, the importance of recognizing the group as the most important part of the work, and the absolute need for continual communication between company members to maintain a healthy and open atmosphere for optimal artistic success.

We wrapped up the day by attending the performance of Dead Man's Cellphone. I think we unanimously enjoyed the production. It was a really fun, comedic and entertaining take on a really good play that has a much appreciated relevance to our current world. If you're near Providence, check it out! If not, find your way to Trinity Rep if you ever wander through Providence. (or any part of Rhode Island, really...it's pretty small) You can undoubtedly sense the comfort between the performers and the vibrant artistic brilliance that permeates from just that. And stepping into the theatre, there is an undeniable warmth that stems from a history of commitment to a greater ideal. What a day!