When I graduated from the Conservatory, I was exactly like the emerging artists that we have been graduating since 1975 - I had a solid business plan and knew what I wanted to happen and what I needed to do. This week, I have occasion to reflect on my career because I hired my mentor - the first professional theatre producer who hired me after I graduated. His name is Ira Domser and if you don't know him, boy, do I hope you get to meet and work with him some day.
I graduated from the Conservatory third-year advanced program in May of 1991 and immediately attended the auditions recommended in my business of acting class looking for work. At my first audition I was hired for a full season at Theatre on the Hill in Maryland.
I must have made a good impression, because I went back to Theatre on the Hill for the next seven years. Over those years, my mentor Ira taught me and gave me the resources and freedom to create a theatre for young audiences, an intern program (which gave new emerging artists a chance to learn and grow) and a late night cabaret. And always Ira was there – supportive, excited and helping me grow as an artist.
Last month, I traveled back to Westminster to meet with Ira and finalize the details for the work I'm hiring him to do – props for I Hate Hamlet at Totem Pole Playhouse. It's both so very awesome and so strange to be hiring the man who for all intents and purposes gave me my start when I was just out of my training. I read Doug's post on Creating Families and he's absolutely right - we do create families everywhere we go. I not only hired my mentor, I hired one of my dearest friends in the world.
I always wanted to be an artistic director of a fabulous theatre company I believed in - just like my mentor. And I reached that goal this year when I took over as artistic director at Totem Pole.
I got where I am by being nurtured and given so many opportunities by Ira, and now I have the same opportunity to help a new generation of artists including alumni of my own alma mater - the Conservatory.
And on top of all that I get to spend a couple really cool, fun, creative weeks with Ira at the Playhouse making a play again! This is going to be an incredible summer. I Hate Hamlet also features Conservatory alum Matthew Eisenberg ('05 - pictured here with me) in the lead role. Hope to see you at the show!
I graduated from the Conservatory third-year advanced program in May of 1991 and immediately attended the auditions recommended in my business of acting class looking for work. At my first audition I was hired for a full season at Theatre on the Hill in Maryland.
I must have made a good impression, because I went back to Theatre on the Hill for the next seven years. Over those years, my mentor Ira taught me and gave me the resources and freedom to create a theatre for young audiences, an intern program (which gave new emerging artists a chance to learn and grow) and a late night cabaret. And always Ira was there – supportive, excited and helping me grow as an artist.
Last month, I traveled back to Westminster to meet with Ira and finalize the details for the work I'm hiring him to do – props for I Hate Hamlet at Totem Pole Playhouse. It's both so very awesome and so strange to be hiring the man who for all intents and purposes gave me my start when I was just out of my training. I read Doug's post on Creating Families and he's absolutely right - we do create families everywhere we go. I not only hired my mentor, I hired one of my dearest friends in the world.
I always wanted to be an artistic director of a fabulous theatre company I believed in - just like my mentor. And I reached that goal this year when I took over as artistic director at Totem Pole.
I got where I am by being nurtured and given so many opportunities by Ira, and now I have the same opportunity to help a new generation of artists including alumni of my own alma mater - the Conservatory.
And on top of all that I get to spend a couple really cool, fun, creative weeks with Ira at the Playhouse making a play again! This is going to be an incredible summer. I Hate Hamlet also features Conservatory alum Matthew Eisenberg ('05 - pictured here with me) in the lead role. Hope to see you at the show!
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