We were lucky to catch up with Megan Minutillo Weiner recently and have shared our conversation below.

Megan , appreciate you joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

When I was six, my parents took me to see The Secret Garden on Broadway. I remember wearing a little blue dress and being quite excited that they were taking me out for a special event and leaving my little brother with our grandparents. When they talk about it now, my parents say that they were a little worried about bringing such a young kid to a show, but when the lights dimmed, the curtain went up, and the orchestra played the first note, I sat there, transfixed. From that moment forward, I always knew I’d work in the entertainment and theatre industry, at least in some capacity.

Megan , 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?

I always knew I would work in the arts in some capacity. I was six when I went to my first Broadway show and spent most of my childhood convincing my younger brother and cousins to act in my shows, which were stories they would act out or silly songs they would sing. I was also that kid who had written several “books” when I was in elementary school.

I’ve been creating for as long as I can remember and have always found my way to the page or the stage, even when theatre or writing wasn’t at the forefront of what I was pursuing.

After college, I attended NYU and received my M.A. in Educational Theatre and English Education. I planned to teach theatre, live on the Upper West Side, and then direct and write my own shows. (Are we laughing yet?) I graduated in 2009, at the height of the financial crisis, and it was hard enough to get a job teaching math, let alone theatre. So, I took a job as a substitute teacher and tried to figure out my next steps.

During that time, I started an arts education website (that is no longer functioning), but it was a platform where I interviewed authors, actors, musicians, composers, and various entertainment professionals. Suddenly, I was surrounded by the type of people and colleagues I had always dreamed of – artists who were changing the world, one story at a time.

From there, I started producing my own work in Manhattan – cabaret shows, and concert series highlighting new musical theatre and plays. The first show I ever did was at Don’t Tell Mama in the smaller back room. The singers were my friends, friends of friends, and former students. It was real bare-bones stuff – but it was great.

Fast forward (ten!) years later – I now produce three hit concert series in New York City: DUETS: The Concert Series, Moms’ Night Out: The Concert Series, and Women of The Wings. I have worked at 54 Below, The Green Room 42, Birdland Jazz, and The Cutting Room.

My most recent title is co-producer on Operation Mincemeat, which opens on Broadway on March 20th. I’ve also published a poetry collection with Bottlecap Press and am working on a full-length play.

It’s a busy life – but a beautiful one!

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

Be loud about the art that you love. We live in an era where critiques, negativity, and cruelty get amplified more than words of affirmation. Or love. Or kindness. Or praise. If you are moved by a piece of literature, play, or a musical, shout it from the rooftops. Share it on your social media platforms. Be unapologetic about your appreciation for the thing that touched your heart, made you laugh, or made you feel a little more encouraged.

Also, support artists at every stage – see the plays running in teeny tiny theatres Off-Off-Off-Broadway. Donate to that crowdfunding website. Buy the book. The painting. The homemade pottery. Support the work that you love in any way you can.

Invest in and support spaces where all stories can be told.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I had to unlearn that there isn’t a linear path to being a professional creative. Sometimes, you go to school, study a craft, and get your dream job working as a director, actor, photographer, or writer. And then, other times, you work for a while and realize that you have to switch gears. Or that you are in love with a different art form. Or you are better suited for a different role, possibly one you didn’t even know existed. And sometimes, you have to make the career you want.

And you always, always, always have to stop comparing your journey to your contemporaries. No two stories will ever look the same – and that’s something to celebrate.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.meganminutillo.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meganminutillo
• Other: https://meganminutillo.substack.com

Image Credits

Stephanie Turci (sitting down in jeans)
Brianna Tilton McCarthy (headshots in yellow)
Stephen Mosher (black jumpsuit)