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BoHo Theatre Company Member Sean Thomas, on what it means to be bohemian:
Since I can remember, I have always been my happiest and most fulfilled when being around art, artists and lovers of art in all it's forms. I grew up in a very conservative area of Virginia and took refuge in the freedom that the arts allowed me. Although not an area filled with those comfortable expressing themselves openly, I sought out other artists that could make me feel whole.
I moved to New York City in the early 1990s and found all the fulfillment a young artist could possibly hope for but was living in a major city which had financial restrictions. I was fortunate enough to be allowed to make a living in the theatre but always felt that my artistic voice had been stifled due the necessity of taking more commercial work to pay the bills.
A brutal attack in 2002 stopped my acting and made me re-evaluate my life. I moved to Chicago in 2005 and was surrounded once again by so much culture. Chicago, however, had a different feel in all of the productions I was seeing produced by resident companies. It was an ensemble effort. It was about groups of artists who respected one another, knew one another and who wanted to enjoy each other's artistry. I knew immediately that I wanted to be a part of this unified experience.
BoHo was my second acting job in Chicago in 2010 with Ibsen's Ghosts. I knew immediately that I had found an artistic home. I became an ensemble member later that same year.
Being Bohemian to me has meant finding a supportive and safe group of fellow artists and lovers of art. It has meant having a group of friends that I can agree and disagree with passionately while pursuing the same desire for excellence in storytelling and love of the process and craft. It has meant challenging myself to be part of a collective group and not just an individual. It has meant being a family and welcoming all artists from the community to be a part of us whether in a single production or in multiple productions. I am proud to be a part of BoHo's 10-year tradition. I look forward to seeing what wonderful things BoHo will become in the next 10 years and what new artists I will meet and who will become family.
Truth, Beauty, Love and Freedom!!
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!
