Being Bohemian: Stephanie Sullivan

BoHo Theatre's Casting Associate Stephanie Sullivan, on what it means to be bohemian:

I’ve heard and seen several variations on the definition of Bohemian, all of which speak to me in positive ways. Our theatre company’s “new” mission and vision statements do a great job of capturing how we collectively feel about being Bohemian, so when asked to speak about this from a personal standpoint the first thought that came to mind was to talk about how it FEELS to be bohemian.

One source describes Bohemianism as “the practice of an unconventional lifestyle, often in the company of like-minded people, with few permanent ties, involving musical, artistic, or literary pursuits. In this context, Bohemians may be wanderers, adventurers, or vagabonds.”

To me, being Bohemian is a way of life and it’s something you feel/experience.

Being bohemian means constantly pursuing truth, love, freedom, and beauty; it means living honestly and genuinely, and it means honoring who you are, no matter what others may say (thereby foregoing conventional norms at times.) I am always in pursuit of the things that bring me the most joy in life. Interpersonal relationships and human connections are the most important thing in my world, which is a huge part of why this theatre company has become my home. I also try to live my life to its absolute fullest; for me, this means experiencing as many things in this world as possible; it also means incorporating art and creativity into every day.

“They laugh at me because I’m different. I laugh at them because they are all the same.”

“When you show up authentic, you create the space for others to do the same. Walk in your truth.”

“When she transformed into a butterfly, the caterpillars spoke not of her beauty, but of her weirdness. They wanted her to change back into what she had always been. But she had wings.”

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!