We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kate Wilson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Kate, thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
I, with my best friend Roque Berlanga, built our company, Theatre [Untitled] in a moment where we were both navigating freelance careers in the arts as a stage manager and director respectively. We were experiencing the challenges of the theatre industry culture and we were constantly having conversations about how remarkable it was that in an industry that is so human centered….humanity is rarely centered. We talked about the increasingly long work days, the lack of sick time or PTO for artists, the “show must go on” mentality even when mental and physical safety are compromised.
We talked about how artists give a beautiful gift to the world — whether that’s providing a space to escape, a space for joy, or a space for refection. We asked ourselves why it was so easy for the theatre industry to not treat artists like “real professionals” or even humans worthy of care and attention. Then we started asking the question “what if?” What if humanity was centered in the work we do in the theatre? What if artists were treated as humans first before anything else? What if the process of creation was prioritized over product?
From there we created Theatre [Untitled] and brought on an education program, Actor’s Professional Theatre Conservatory (APTC), that we originally started when we lived in Pennsylvania. This has been the most meaningful project I have ever done as an artist. For the last 6 years, we have been able to provide time, space, and resources for artists to develop new work in a different way. We give them the space to work without the pressures of an end product. We are able to pay 100% of the artists that work with us — which seems simple, but is very rare in new work development for artists — to not only not have to pay out of pocket for their work to be developed but to actually BE PAID to do it.
During the pandemic, we were able to provide an online space for artists to continue to work, create, develop, and grow even though in person programming everywhere was paused. Through our education program, APTC, we have been able to provide brave spaces and opportunities for young artists to build skills that will be meaningful for their whole lives like confidence, playful learning, collaboration, and the ability to find creative solutions.
As an artist who has worked in the theatre industry for many many years and in many different roles, it has been the joy of my life to be able to build something that contributes positively to artists’ well being and that celebrates the selfless gifts artists give to society as a whole. I am grateful to be able to not only be part of the theatre community, but to do my small part to hopefully contribute in a meaningful way to the amazing and impactful work being created around us every single day.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My theatrical/arts career has certainly been an interesting one. I have been everything from an AEA Stage Manager to working in production design to working in development and fundraising to working as a Teaching Artist to an Executive Director and so on. I’ve had the absolute honor of working in almost every space in the theatre industry. I’ve worked in immersive theatre, TYA theatre, National Tours, summer stock, regional theatre, etc. I also have the distinct privilege of working with an incredible company called Advance NYC where we work to support the missions of nonprofits of all sizes and in all spaces through fundraising and development.
I like to think that my works as the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Theatre [Untitled] is really an embodiment of everything I have learned and actively continue to learn in my almost 2 decades in the arts and culture space. It’s the aggregation of my, and Artistic Director Roque Berlanga’s, collective learnings and dreamings from our time as artists.
Theatre [Untitled] is a New York City 501c3 nonprofit that strives to provide a nurturing platform for undiscovered artists to forge igniting, challenging, and emboldening new and reinvented works while educating and empowering the next generation of artists. Theatre [Untitled] provides time, space, and resources for artists to develop new work without the pressure of an end product. We look to uplift untold stories and celebrate historically unheard voices. We do this through a number of core, year round programming including our Reading Series, Concert Series, and Working Sessions.
Our Reading Series is a series of new works in development that cultivates a symbiotic relationship between the playwright, artists, and audience. This critical relationship pushes the piece to the point of ignition and empowers audiences to be active participants in the art they experience. Additionally, 100% of audiences attend our Reading Series free of charge — expanding access to new works in development to a broader audience. Our Concert Series features the work of up-and-coming singer/songwriters and provides an exploratory platform for artists to experiment and connect with a larger community of collaborators. Finally, our Working Sessions provide time, space, and resources for new works early in the development process. This collaborative space aims to give artists the opportunity to take a deep dive and push their newest works to their next stage of development.
In addition to our adult artist programming, we are proud to provide year round arts education programming in New York and beyond with Actor’s Professional Theatre Conservatory (APTC). With a growing lack of access to the arts for students in Elementary through High School, APTC provides the highest quality theatre arts education, and a soft place to land, for passionate students with diverse backgrounds and experience. At APTC our young artists gain confidence, learn creative problem-solving, communications skills and the joy of being part of a team. At APTC, we truly believed that through the performing arts, we can enrich and enhance the lives of others…One Young Artist at a Time.
I am so incredibly honored, humbled, proud, and grateful to be able to work each day to contribute positively to the performing arts community. I am inspired every day by the adult and young artists we have the privilege of working with and I am constantly excited to continue this work and to push toward a future where humanity is at the center of the performing arts industry.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
I think that the best thing we can do to support artists is to recognize that the work they do is, in fact, REAL work. We can pay them for their work. We can give the space and resources to do their work. We can look to them for guidance in trying to find solutions for society’s toughest challenges and we can celebrate the extraordinary contributions they make to our world each and every day.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
Simon Sinek’s book “Start With Why” really shaped how I think about making choices as a leader of an organization. The book talks about how identifying your “why” early on and leading with that “why” unapologetically and unwaveringly not only builds trust within your community, but it also provides a constant and clear north star for any decision, challenge, or situation you may face. I think about our “why” daily and we are constantly asking the questions like “Does this choice align with our why?” or “Does this program align with our why?”. I have found that identifying and leading with our “why” has allowed for us to be purpose driven and authentic 100% of the time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.theatreuntitled.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theatreuntitled/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheatreUntitled/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@theatreuntitled7144
Image Credits
All images were taken by Kate Wilson and Roque Berlanga