Being Bohemian: Eleanor Katz

BoHo Theatre Company Member and Studio Liaison Eleanor Katz explores what it means to be bohemian:

Our Chicago theatre community is special in many ways. Since moving here six years ago, I have found it to be welcoming, generous, loving and creative beyond measure. I have lived all around the world and consistently find my true home and comfort when I am with my fellow magic makers. In Chicago, this happened amongst a group of artists with the biggest hearts on their broad shoulders – my Bohemians.

I remember being in callbacks for Hauptmann and having the opportunity to explore and really play with the role for which I was reading. It was my first glimpse into BoHo as a company and how things operated. During the rehearsal process, we were taken care of, treated with the utmost respect and our imaginations were given the opportunity to flourish.

Flash forward to a coffee shop in the dead of winter about a year later, and my conversation with Executive Director Kaela Altman, about my desire to become a company member. It wasn’t just the experience that I had had on stage in a wonderful production, it was the sense of community that made me want to have my artistic home in Chicago be with BoHo. I was willing to help anywhere I was needed and be a pretty loud cheerleader as well! What I found was that I wasn’t unique in my enthusiasm. That is our entire company’s mantra. Being bohemian is having an open and free spirit that is full of kindness and commitment. We are small but mighty and everyone is willing to do their part, whether it be picking up a last minute item and running it over to the space for a renter, buying toilet paper and paper towels for our studio when we’ve run out or covering a box office shift because one of our company members went into labor 2 weeks early.

OK, full disclosure, that last one was me.

In early June of this year, I gave birth to our first child, Zev Miguel. My husband, Justin, and I had struggled to conceive for two and a half years but, in the end, we had the kiddo we were supposed to have. We firmly believe that. That span of time was one of the most difficult chapters in our lives and my fellow company members were with me every step of the way. They hurt when I hurt, helped me laugh through that pain and, ultimately, celebrated his arrival with the kind of joy and support that is characteristically BoHo. As a family, being bohemian means not having to ask or explain why our baby has to attend company meetings, audition monitoring or strikes. He’s a part of me and, therefore, a part of BoHo. He will know what it is like to be raised by a theatre family. It’s the best upbringing we can imagine. It is filled with originality, acceptance, diversity, joy and magnificent stories! We are so very lucky.

The "Being Bohemian" blog series first appeared during BoHo's celebrated 10th season. What does Bohemianism and BoHo Theatre mean to you? Let us know in the comments or on Facebook!

Being Bohemian: Anna Hammonds

BoHo Theatre Artistic Associate Anna Hammonds, on what it means to be bohemian:

During a rather quiet rehearsal of Floyd Collins years ago, I watched as actor Jim DeSelm pretended to be trapped by a rock while Jon Harrison sang over his shoulder about the hope of Daybreak. There was a moment at the end of the song where Jon placed his hand on Jim’s shoulder, and I understood that gesture was the only way those brothers could connect with one another in that imaginary world of a cave in Kentucky. It was in a rehearsal room. No one else was in the audience that night, but I felt like a fool as a tear ran down my cheek.

There’s no way for me to understand what it feels like to be trapped underground with no light or warmth around me. But as I watched these two actors quietly and effectively display the love between two brothers, I thought of my own dad and his late brother. As we were producing Floyd Collins that summer, my uncle was dying of cancer. Although he had no earthly means of saving him, dad was able to share hope and love and light, and even an occasional touch on the shoulder to let my uncle know he was there for him.

Truth be told, I hate it when actors say they believe theatre allows the audience to forget their troubles and worries, providing escape from the real world. I believe the exact opposite should be true. If it's good theatre— great theater in fact— it should pull the audience's heart and not let go, assuring them that it is good to laugh from the gut or mourn or fall in love or fight for a loved one to survive.

During my time at BoHo, I have partnered with artists who don't shy from connecting with an audience, whether the backdrop was a drought of the 1930s, or that lonely broken down grill in the dead of a Wisconsin winter. BoHo artists bravely carry that transformative storytelling power that surpasses geographical or cultural boundaries. We really are all connected by the most basic needs and yearnings of wanting to love and be loved. Being Bohemian is to be a brave storyteller, one that is not afraid to share pain or joy in a very real and honest way with patrons from all walks of life. While seeing a production won't cause a soul to forget troubles outside the theatre walls, I hope it reminds them that they are not alone. We are all living out a shared experience of joy, heartache, struggle, wonderment, beauty and love. I am proud to be a part of BoHo Theatre, a company rich with brave storytellers.

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!

Being Bohemian: Peter Blair

BoHo Theatre Company Member Peter Blair, on what it means to be bohemian:

I couldn't be more proud that BoHo is celebrating our 10th season. It is a landmark for any arts organization, and I won't stop marveling at how the company has grown, matured and constantly improved. As Executive Director from 2010-2012 I was honored to lead this company, and now I'm equally honored to be led.

For me, being Bohemian isn't a feeling. It's being one in a group of people. I'm less Bohemian than I am a Bohemian, and what I cherish about BoHo is the other Bohemians. We're eclectic and creative, open-minded and focused, diverse and just a bit rough around the edges.

Company members come and go as fate, family and circumstance dictate, but this group of people is never less than immensely honest, creative, surprising and dedicated. I've witnessed incredible acts of generosity and kindness. I've witnessed feats of endurance and patience. I've celebrated and suffered with this group. I love to see our company, board, affiliates and other fans of BoHo come together to pitch in as needed. Nothing is too tedious, dirty, or impossible for this group to give back to BoHo because BoHo has given them so much. In my case, BoHo gave me experience and friends. No other company our size produces the number of shows that BoHo does, but it doesn't feel like work when you really like the ones you're working with.

Here's to 10 more years of creating diverse and exciting theatre with people we love and admire. Cheers, Bohemians!

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!

Being Bohemian: Sean Thomas

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!

Being Bohemian: Meg Love

BoHo Theatre's Production Coordinator Meg Love, on what it means to be bohemian:

Before I even knew anything of BoHo Theatre, I don’t know if I really had an accurate interpretation of what being "Bohemian" meant. What I did know was that it was what I wanted to be. To "high school me," it meant thinking outside of the box, being offbeat, being "alternative," being cool and funky and doing all of this with like-minded individuals. I equated it with modern-day hippies or beatniks— or at least having that kind of style, which I found so very cool. And so, in an effort to be Bohemian, I ended up wearing a lot of paisley.

Fast-forward about 10 years and I happened to work on a show for BoHo Theatre— and I was drawn back to working for the company again and again until I finally became a company member in 2012. The reason I returned for show after show was because it was an environment where all artists are encouraged to flourish. No one was ever told that their ideas were too "out there." In fact, some of the wackiest ideas produce the best work.

This concept is the heart of innovation and BoHo embraces those it. I’m not sure anyone here has ever said that something is impossible. We only say, "Why not? How can we make that work for us?" Given our limited budgets, it would be very easy to rule out hundreds of the ideas our directors, designers, actors and even administrators have had over the years. But, we don’t. We pool our resources. We call on our company, our affiliates and our board to do some creative problem solving. We use objects we have at hand and turn them into something new.

These people, the BoHo family as it were, are cool individuals. They're funky and alternative and I love working with each and every one of them because it is in that spirit of innovation that we are able to create anything we can imagine to touch the hearts and minds of our audiences.

So I guess, after all these years, I was never really that far off with my concept of "Bohemian." Only, it's less about your style and more about how you live. What really makes a Bohemian is the innovative spirit. What truly makes us cool is a can-do attitude that believes that anything is possible and makes something out of nothing. And so I have now found myself exactly where I always wanted to be — thinking outside of the box with like-minded individuals.

Though I still wear a good deal of paisley.

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!

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!

Being Bohemian: Charles Riffenburg

BoHo Theatre's Marketing Director/Graphic Designer Charles Riffenburg, on what it means to be bohemian:

When I joined the cast of BoHo Theatre’s The Merchant of Venice in the summer of 2008, I immediately sensed something different about the company. For the first time in Chicago, I had encountered a group of artists who went out of their way to make the rehearsal and artistic process something uniquely special and supportive. I felt like there was true collaboration going on, and that the voices of the cast were valued in the overall process.

It was this supportive environment that motivated me to want to become a member of the company the following year. When I joined up, it wasn’t as an actor joining an ensemble of other actors who all perform onstage. I joined as the website designer, and soon took on more and more tasks, like graphic design and overseeing the company’s marketing and social media presence. BoHo gave me an encouraging place to explore all of my talents as a multi-disciplinary artist.

Many theatre companies have a focus with their work that makes their point of view special. Perhaps they believe the work of the playwright is the most important, or they specifically celebrate an ensemble of actors. Maybe visual or aural spectacle is their thing. What makes BoHo Theatre not only special but UNIQUELY BOHEMIAN is a commitment to ALL artists and their artforms. In a BoHo production, the artistic work of the set builder or props designer is equal to that of the actors or choreographer or director. The “ensemble” in the Bohemian Theatre Ensemble is truly that of ALL the artists involved, not just those whose faces you see onstage. To me, this approach of working together creatively across multiple disciplines— environmental design, writing, acting, singing, dancing, etc— to create something that makes the world better is what it means to be Bohemian.

It was this philosophy that I used as my primary inspiration in directing our current production, Veronica’s Room. The amazing success of this show is not due to any one person or discipline; it is because all of the artists on the show worked collaboratively to create something greater than any one of us could individually. Like a true Bohemian community, BoHo Theatre gave us the most supportive environment it could to foster our creativity.

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!

Being Bohemian: Peter Marston Sullivan

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!