Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ann Ciccolella. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Ann, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

Theater is a craft that you learn by doing.! But I did study at NYU and when I graduated I did an internship at the Roundabout Theatre in NYC. Being with a professional director, Gene Feist, in rehearsals gave me an excellence vantage point to understand the intimate relationship between the actor and the director. I encourage want-to-be directors to serve as assistant to the director in the kind of theater they want to do. Should I have stayed on the East Coast or in the New York Area? Austin arts has been my home for a long time and given me tons of opportunities I would not have gotten elsewhere. I encourage young directors to get into a top school and make deep artistic relationships, then find a mentor to collaborate with.
Money is always an obstacle in the arts but finding a job that leaves you energy to create your own work is extremely important. I find that if you teach theater you use up too much of your creative juice. I enjoyed teaching literature, and that meant that I wasn’t spending my evenings directing high school theater but directing professionals.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I run a small professional theater company, Austin Shakespeare, where we produce more than Shakespeare’s works. We focus on “theater of ideas” and very literate playwrights including Tennessee Williams, Tom Stoppard and Noel Coward. I fell in love with theater in seeing plays in New York and fell in love with Stephen Sondheim musicals. I have been directing plays all my life and now I get to run a theater in Austin! That also means I get to worry every day about how we are going to get enough money to do the professional level of work we are proud to do. We produce Free Shakespeare in Zilker Park, we do two major productions at the Long Center’s Rollins studio theater, we collaborate with Parker Jazz Club on cabaret concerts, and Austin Chamber Music Center as well. When people in Austin are seeking performances that will challenge them but entertainment where they can explore emotions — Austin Shakespeare is the North to their compass. Our audience varies widely in age and demographics but everyone is committed to artistic excellence.
Austin Shakespeare values the Austin arts ecology. We strive to build bridges with other arts organizations such as Esquina Tango and businesses like Chez Zee American Bistro. If you are looking for a solid adventurous artistic experience, we are for you. Check out our website www.austinshakespeare.org

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Join the fun. You can find an artist or arts group that reflects your values and stretching and challenges you. We started a collaborative org #ATXtheatre to get the word out on the 80+ theater companies in Austin. You can simply go to see their plays, or offer to volunteer or even serve on a board. Sometimes it’s about buying a ticket, or volunteering to usher, or sharing advice on social media — or coming up with innovative financial strategies. Society is YOU.

: Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I love being part of a creative group that produces plays that are uplifting, and have emotional and intellectual depth. Our goal is to flourish in a very difficult environment in Austin. Money is difficult to come by, performances spaces are closing. But — We have the drive to overcome obstacles because we believe in what we are doing onstage and in rehearsal and in the classrooms where we bring Shakespeare to life, even through improvisation.
The confidence and trust of our board of directors gives us the fuel to survive and thrive.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.austinshakespeare.org
• Instagram: austinshakespearecompany
• Facebook: Austin Shakespeare
• Linkedin: Ann Ciccolella
• Twitter: Austin Shakespeare
• Youtube: Austin Shakespeare
• Yelp: Austin Shakespeare