We were lucky to catch up with James Darvas recently and have shared our conversation below.

James, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

My entire job here at OnStage Playhouse is very meaningful. I started as a volunteer board advisor 6 years ago with this small organization. At that time, the playhouse was catering to an older white audience, they were producing shows that were focused on that demographic. Our world was a much different place 6 years ago. I’ve always believed that theatre needs to be a representation of our community, our society, and the world as a whole. I think that was missing back then. There are thousands of young talented writers writing stories that are specific to their views on the world today. There are funny stories, there are serious stories, and there are stories written about their specific experiences. These are the stories I feel need to be shared. Agatha Christie and Neil Simon already have enough money.

Two years ago, I was offered my current role as Executive Artistic Director. Two years ago, we entered Covid-19, two years ago George Floyd was murdered. Two years ago there was a very loud and public cry by our BiPoc artists to be treated better and to have their actual stories told. Representation in the arts matter. If I am able to use any amount of privilege that I have to help usher in their stories, then I will be successful in my goal. With the trust and support of our Board Of Directors, I have been given the opportunity to do this. This is very meaningful to me and I am grateful.

James, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

It is very important to me to help nurture local playwrights. I want to be able to support them and to financially back their shows will full runs in our regular season. Staged readings are nice, but I feel it doesn’t give the playwright or their play to fully breath and grow. Through multiple table workshops with the writer and a cast of talented actors, we get to really get our hands wrapped around the playwrights words and perspective. The playwright gets to hear his words out loud, they get to take that experience, go back home, do some edits. Then we get together again and again and again over the course of a year. Once, the playwright is happy with their product, we put that show in our next season with a 4 week run. It is an awful lot of work, but it is so very rewarding.

Our current season has two new works that we have cultivated in these beautiful walls. Our next season has two as well. It’s such an honor to be able to supply a safe space for these playwrights to work in and it is wildly fulfilling to be able to produce their work. Work no-one has ever seen or heard before.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is getting to nurture and assist new artists on their journey. When you are able to work with a new artist and watch them realize their full potential….well….that is simply magic.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

I really wish I would have understood how much funding there is for Non-Profit arts organizations. Now, I realize that I live and work in California. I understand that the amount of resources here are more abundant than in other parts of the country. I wish I would have learned grant writing earlier. I wish I would have learned that “if you don’t ask, the answer will always be no.”

Contact Info:

• Website: onstageplayhouse.org
• Instagram: onstage.playhouse
• Facebook: onstage.playhouse

Image Credits
Photo credit : Daren Scott

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