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Director's Notes

This is an opinion page from the voices of ART

ART's inaugural 2007-08 season is officially in the books.

Proud is a word I can use to best describe the feeling I have towards an ambitious freshman season. For I am proud of the actors who dedicated their energy and craft to productions, proud for those who spent hours upon the technical aspects of the plays and proud of the recognition bestowed upon ART's creative aspirations.

It is no secret that some believe that Buffalo is saturated with theater companies and this somehow is a negative trend. Claims of having too many theaters will dilute the talent pool, or only a narrow slice of the population attends theater thins out with an increase of productions, have been heard throughout the entire year. When first asked why I wanted to start up another theater in light of this, I simply responded, "why not", and have continued to repeat this as if it is some sort of mantra.

I look to the abundance of theaters as a positive situation for not only those directly involved but for the city, county and the Western New York region. For each one of these theaters is diverse in it's mission and provides an option for those who enjoy live theater. Having a deep field of theaters also enhances the promotion of Cultural Tourism for the region and, buoyed by studies conducted by American for the Arts, provides financial benefits for business associated with theaters.

So when I use the word "proud" it is not some silly peacock analogy but that my efforts to create a theater company is, in some fashion, contributing to all the positive aspects of a vibrant theater community. When I say I am proud of those who worked on ART's productions, I mean it in a way that says "thank you" to the individuals who believed in their talent and were not swayed by the uncertainty that might come with a new theater company.  They believed in what they were doing and, in turn, believed in what ART was setting out to accomplish in its first season.

If I had to measure the success of ART's first season, then I would have to quote from Robert Collier. "The great successful men of the world have used their imagination...they think ahead and create their mental picture in all its details, filling in here, adding a little there, altering this a bit and that a bit, but steadily building - steadily building."

Those who believed in ART have helped lay the foundation for many more seasons in which we all can be proud.

Matthew LaChiusa