So, I would hardly think that anybody would be interested in this, but appears that this so called "blogging" is quite the hot new thing. I have decided to conform, which is unusual and begin a Boxcar Blog. For now it will come from me, Nick Olivero, but perhaps as other shows come and go other artists will want to contribute their two cents.

Boxcar is currently working on a new show called "Zen" I had the concept for the show almost five years ago, based on a Japanese Zen Garden. I have decided to perform the play a weekend on Baker Beach then we are moving it to the renowned Magic Theatre for a week run and fill that place with nearly two tons of sand. It will be intense, and I am fully aware of completely insane.

Being a poor theatre (as we all are) it is frustrating and immensely rewarding to have to think outside the box (no pun intended). Jeremy McWilliams and I went to the Magic a few weeks ago to measure the space; while we were there we realized that we couldn't build our rectangular box for the sand because it would intrude into the foot space of the seats and create a fire hazard blocking walkways of the 3/4 sided house (seating on three sides). What to do? What to do? Well, after much deliberation the idea was posed: Instead of making a complete box, open it up in the front and have the sand spill out. Now, what intrigues me about this idea is that symbolically it is inviting the audience into our world; a completed box has a distancing effect. I would not have come to this realization had the restriction not been in place.

I often see poor theatre building flats to create the illusion of walls or using plywood on wobbly casters to represent a luxurious bed. Why? Work with what you have, yes? Acknowledge that you are poor theatre and imagine your way out of the problem. That is when, as I have found, beautiful art can thrive.

I am conflicted, I want to build a strong company with a good audience base, and I want to secure the funds to provide adequate compensation for my artists' work, but I like the forced challenge of doing something well against the odds. Where so many of these not-so-poor theatre fall into traps, is that when their formula is set and proven and they have a somewhat steady cash flow, their imagination ceases. Instant death and artistic suicide.

More on this topic later....

Nick A. Olivero, Artistic Director