Letter from the Artistic Director
Dear New Canon Friends,
Welcome to the world premiere of Finding Chase!
You are here, gathered among friends, loved ones, and strangers in order to take part in the transformative and ancient ritual of storytelling—and we are grateful. As a fledgling organization with an ambitious mission to not only redefine the way that we approach how we program theatre, but also to deeply reflect on why we select the stories we wish to share and who those stories are for, having you in our audience is of the utmost importance to us—and to our vision. You are valued, and we thank you.
It is no secret that there has been a profound change in the American theatre, ever evolving since the world-altering events of 2020. Along with (and resulting from) profound and necessary societal changes, the way theatre has been traditionally programmed, produced, and funded is metamorphosing at a rate that, by all indications, is difficult for established institutions to keep pace with. Many are flailing: reduced programming (or fully cancelled seasons), financial instability, layoffs, resignations, reduced ticket sales in the wake of COVID, decreases in donor revenue—it is a tumultuous time, where our former way of working is no longer feasible. Yet inside all of this I see hope and opportunity--for when established norms and systems are no longer working, there is room to build anew.
NCTC was born during this upheaval, and while it takes a certain amount of madness to dive into the art of playmaking, that very madness can spark the seeds of renewal—and renewal in the American theatre is needed now more than ever—and the need for new stories from new voices—the unheard voices that challenge our preconceptions and prejudices, that make us reflect inward so that we may grow outward, are the path forward.
I am a classicalist by nature. I love Shakespeare. Their (and their contemporaries’) works (and the reinterpretation of them) are a cornerstone of this company. Yet, theatre cannot rely on the greatest hits forever—we must strive to expand the existing canon in order to build a sustainable future in tandem with the known, familiar, and popular. We must be part of the work, seeking out new voices, letting go of the theatre that we have been trained to seek—just ever so slightly—in order to take a thrilling chance on a bold new work written by someone whose experience may not mirror your own.
To that end, I invite you take part you to sit back, open your heart, and breathe in this beautiful new work—let it permeate your perceptions about what theatre should be and open your mind to what it could be. Indeed, “We are the stuff that dreams are made on,” true—but we must allow everyone’s dreams to take equal measure in our artistic conversations if we are ever to truly move this historic and deeply human artform forward—and your presence here is a beautiful step in that direction.
Thank you again for being here…and enjoy Finding Chase.
Gratefully yours,
Justin Gordon
