Collaboration is the essence
Collaboration is the essence of the theatrical process. The director may serve as the guide and final arbiter, but the productions are always best when the entire cast and crew are given opportunities to contribute to the final product. So, why does the idea of collaboration with another organization often strike fear in our hearts?
Perhaps it’s fear of the unknown or an unwillingness to let go of control. Maybe we’ve participated in collaborations where egos got in the way of the work or suffered as a result of misunderstandings based on different expectations. Or maybe we just like playing in our own sandbox with our own toys.
Sadly these fears too often inhibit us from reaching out to new people, ideas and possibilities for our audiences. I can safely say that our most successful and vital programming has arisen from collaborations with other arts organizations and/or community organizations.
Milwaukee Youth Arts Center has become a fabulous home for Milwaukee’s because of a willingness to collaborate. First Stage Children’s Theater and Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra combined resources to create something far greater than either organization could have accomplished alone. Their combined vision focused not on individual organizational success or egos. It focused on building a space where young people can thrive.