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BoHo Theatre's Artistic Director Peter Marston Sullivan, on what it means to be bohemian:
From my first project with BoHo, to my latest production of Kiss of the Spider Woman, being Bohemian has always meant finding connections with artists and audience through intimate storytelling, and fostering a process wherein artists are allowed not only to explore, but also to learn, grow, make mistakes, and create new bonds with those that strive daily to tell a story that challenges and changes an audience. Being Bohemian, to me, means looking internally at my past, my present, and my future - those elements that have created who I am today, and exploring the human elements of truth, beauty, freedom and love within my own life - my own story. It is the search for these pillars within my own life, and how they connect me to others, that makes me Bohemian.
Looking back at my years with BoHo, I certainly remember productions that were successful, and find pride in the work that I've been a part in creating. But... more importantly, I remember moments and stories with the artists I worked with and the audience that I feel shared that journey with me. I remember the opening of the first show I directed for BoHo, I remember endless nights debating shows, I remember laughing with casts, company members, and audience, I remember closings of shows and dramatic (and frightening!) openings... I remember moments that have created a bond with cast, company, friends, audience - all of which are now family. While I certainly remember challenges of tech, or clashes of ideas and personalities, these are all overshadowed by moments of pride and companionship with friends and family that came together to make something special.
Being Bohemian, to me, means eradicating boundaries that separate me from others - whether ideology, gender, race, religion, or orientation. For me, it has meant discovering what connects me to others - what makes us all the same at our core. There are some essential elements that bind us all together, and through telling a story, and the process of creating that story, I have found that being Bohemian means understanding how differences are just as powerful and as wonderful as similarities... how passion for a story and the sharing of that story demolishes all boundaries in order to come face to face with the core human values that we all share.
Throughout BoHo Theatre's milestone 10th Season, BoHo company members will be revealing what being "bohemian" means to them. What does Bohemianism and BoHo Theatre mean to you? Let us know in the comments or on Facebook!
