The Most Important Things

It's very easy to get caught up in the day-to-day activities of running a theater company: who's going to go to the bank? Can someone check the mail? Did anyone get toilet paper for the theater? We need to schedule a meeting - who's available? Some days, it can be overwhelming and other days, incredibly humbling. But as we reflect on another year gone, Peter and I both find ourselves so genuinely grateful for every single moment that 2015 have provided.

Speaking from our hearts, it's been such a wonderful year: the Company celebrated two weddings and welcomed two beautiful babies who will now be considered lifelong Bohemians. Some company members branched out, pursuing higher education and seeking promotions while others sought new employment opportunities all together. Most days, I remind myself to mindfully stop, breathe, and soak in the fact that every single day is spent sharing and creating theatre with the most passionate group of people I've had the pleasure of knowing.

Gratitude comes from memories, built from a wealth of single moments. In the video below, we share some of those single moments with you. While many of them may not fully resonate to an outside observer the way they do for us, we believe they capture the spirit of our company and what continues to bring us together every year.

A few highlights:

• We're grateful for being able to support our local minor league baseball team, the Schaumburg Boomers! It wouldn't be summer without least one BoHo outing drinking beer, eating hot dogs and tacos, and finishing the evening with the running of the bases.
• We're grateful for being able to celebrate milestones with dear friends including their own opening nights outside of BoHo, new jobs, new relationships, new jobs, all while balancing a wonderful and special relationship as a Volunteer for us.
• We're grateful we welcomed new board members: Sara, Jelani, Nancy, Silvia, and Hatice into our leadership team. The work they are already doing alongside Jean, Dick, and Bob is extraordinary and they are truly the backbone of BoHo's future.
• We're grateful for three outstanding shows: Ordinary Days, a show we have tried to produce multiple times and finally brought to its feet this year; Scotland Road, which finally made it out of Season Selection and into the Heartland; and Dogfight, the sleeper candidate we weren't even sure we'd secure rights to.
• We're so incredibly grateful for the Chicago Theatre Community, who welcomes us into their camp year-over-year, supporting us, loving us, and creating new artistic voices to influence our productions.
• Last, but certainly not least, we are grateful for you - our patrons - whom the art is for. Thank you for taking the time, for buying a ticket, for sparing a dollar, and for coming out to rejoice in the beauty of BoHo and being a part of our artistic family.

We hope you'll consider sharing your personal favorite BoHo moment with us - or even a non-BoHo moment for which you are grateful.

Kaela Altman, Executive Director
and
Peter Marston Sullivan, Artistic Director

Thanksgiving Reflections from Artistic Director Peter Sullivan

Today, as we gather around a table with friends, with family, with loved ones, for a holiday on which we take stock of our lives and be thankful for what we have, I'm asked to consider: What am I thankful for? I’ll tell you, if you’ll allow me to drop my typical bohemian sentimentality for a moment.

I’m thankful we’re still here.

Peter Marston Sullivan directing the cast of Kiss of the Spider Woman

This may not come as “big news” to most, but it’s really hard to keep a Chicago storefront theatre company running. It’s hard to spend hours, days, weeks, months and even (really?!) years working to not only make it to the next show, but also ensure that the next show is as good as it can be. It’s hard to learn that just doing good theatre is not enough, or to ask company members and artists to give up so much of their time for little or no pay. It’s hard to get people to spend $20 and 2 hours to come see something you, your company and its artists are incredibly passionate about. It’s hard to not feel that some things - or all things - are your fault. It’s hard to wonder what shock or surprise will come next (though there is, at least, comfort in the knowledge that a shock or surprise will, in fact, be coming soon). For me, personally, sometimes it’s hard not to simply walk away, throw in the towel, or go grab one and get in some beach time... in Hawaii... with a drink. And yet...

I’m thankful we’re still here.

I know what you’re thinking: “So why do it?” I think many would share my answer: “We have to.” Whether it’s for self-fulfillment, or the hope that one individual life may be changed, be it an artist or audience: We have to. Because without these challenges, without these stories, without the process of putting something together as a cast - or a company - without those memories, those tears, that joy, the passion, what would be the point? We need to. I need to. And so...

I’m thankful we’re still here.

Peter Marston Sullivan talking with the cast of Pippin

And here we are, ending our 10th Season and celebrating our 10th year as a company. We’re planning a 10th Anniversary Bohemian Birthday Bash. It’s impossible not to look back on what my personal story is with BoHo. And I’ll tell you, it’s a complicated story, filled with a slew of twists and turns and chapters of sorrow and hilarity and joy. And you know what? I wouldn’t trade it for anything. The incredible memories I have of moments, of people, of shows. Of sitting in the audience, holding tight with a fellow traveler in hopes the lights and sound actually work. It’s been amazing. And because I wouldn’t mind a little more of it...

I’m thankful we’re still here.

So yes. Yes. I’m incredibly thankful to the myriad of astounding artists that have devoted their time and passion to this company. I am so grateful to the friends I have made these past years. I’m thankful to a company that continues to grow, change, adapt, learn and dream. I am thankful to our board, and those that have given donations and helped us make it to the next show. I’m so grateful to everyone that decided to spend that $20 and those 2 hours to see what our little storefront company can do. And you know what? I’m thankful it’s hard. Because those challenges have taught me more about myself than any simple journey could ever hope to.

I’m thankful we’re still here. And we're ready for what’s next.

-Peter Marston Sullivan
BoHo Theatre Artistic Director