As 2007 winds down, we as artists must look within to see where we have grown and how we can get better. The best advice in this business I ever got was “Don’t get bitter, get better!”. And to this day it guides me as well as many other inspirations. Inspiration is what keeps us fresh and alive.
This last season in NoHo theatre has been filled with many inspired journeys that all have stories. Mine is this…I am an actor and have lived in LA since 1982 when I did “Equus” at the CAST with Mark Travis. After attending SCR and ACT acting conservatories, I returned and began creating theatre in LA. I founded the Itchey Foot Cabaret where I worked on many new works and learned how to produce creatively financially. Producing theatre is one of the hardest things you can do. But if you can get creative and come up with ways to cut corners you can save your money for marketing, etc. I’ve produced over 100 pieces of theatre and acted in over 50 plays and directed 20 and I’m still amazed at how difficult it still is, and yet still exhilarating But obtaining the Whitefire Theatre has been a dream come true.
Back in 2004 I was broke and burnt out on the biz. I had created an impressive body of work with nothing to show for it. I think we all dream of having our own theatre but I was in no way, shape, or form to buy a theatre. A friend of mine heard me talking about hearing that the Whitefire was being put up for sale. I had lived in Sherman Oaks and drove by it all the time thinking it was such a great location and …So he suggested we go look. After putting up some seed $ followed by other matches we pulled it off. And on Jan. 1st 2005 I was standing onstage at the Whitefire thinking “How the hell…” But it was my belief in something that was meant to be just be…Being is what true acting is and it’s that lesson that we can hold onto going into yet another year of creativity. Listen to you inner artistic vision and commit to it. It’s another lesson that committing to something creates freedom and universal movement.
Amazing but grounded in blue collar craftsmanship it always is ,”less is more”. Trying to create theatre L.A., in a town based on film is like van Gogh living his artistic journey in Paris, a town based on commerce, it drove him crazy! Reaching out to your fellow artist is the way to success. When we opened up our artistic doors at the Whitefire this year in celebration of our 25th Anniversary, the level of talent we worked with was world-class. Joining with other theatre artists this year allows the financial burden to lessen as well as adding to the artistic intent to sweeten to creating.
Happy New Year Noho’s and keep your artistic doors open and see what comes in…
NoHoHo!!! And Happy New Year ,
Bryan Rasmussen
Artistic Director
Whitefire Theatre
For more about Bryan Rasmussen or the Whitefire Theatre go to www.whitefiretheatre.com
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