"Strong reasons make strong actions." King John

I couldn't resist this title and can only hope to be forgiven.

Straying for the moment from strict Apprentice Company business, here is a message about the birth and the mission of NBTF from one of its two Artistic Directors, John P. Keller:

"Friends of Culture,

It is hard for me to express what it means to be writing this blog entry. I have been keeping tabs on the amazing work that Jen Ring, our Director of Education, has been doing to get this blog up and running and her gentle if not firm suggestion that we all share more about what we are about has inspired me to write this long overdue introduction. It is so easy to get swept up in all of the hours upon hours of behind the scenes work required to get this kind of project off the ground, but it's so important to stop every once in a while and remind ourselves of why we do this kind of work in the first place and how we got started.

My name is John Keller and I one of the madmen behind this project. About a year ago fellow Artistic Director Dan Swern and I were having one of our midnight, caffeine induced brainstorming sessions for Collaborative Arts and we started talking about an idea that eventually became the New Brunswick Theater Festival. As much as the idea has evolved and grown, little has changed since that first conversation in relation to what we wanted this company to be. We wanted it to be three main things: 1) Inspired by and reflective of of the New Brunswick community. 2) Equal parts professional production and educational outreach. 3) To draw upon the artistic talent that lives, works, and trains in New Brunswick. So why the obsession with New Brunswick? I am a New Brunswick native. I was born in St. Peter's hospital. I went to St. Peter's Elementary and High School (the fourth generation of my family to do so), and I am recent a graduate of the M.F.A Acting program at Rutgers - Mason Gross School of the Arts. My classmates at Rutgers call me the New Brunswick tour guide and I can't tell you how many late night phone calls I have received from conservatory students asking for the number for late night Chinese food or the name of a good dentist. I have seen this city change from an after hours ghost town to an urban arts, buisiness, and educational center that has a life at all hours. I have seen George Street evolve from the neighborhood playhouse to a major regional theater. I remember attending school shows at the State when it first re-opened and the interior was a very vivid turquoise. When I was a kid, New Brunswick was for many a place to be avoided. Now it is a place that sparks curiosity. Growing up I couldn't wait to go off and see exotic locations. Now that I have moved back I find my home town is a place where people choose to live, work, and play. I have also discovered I have something to contribute both personally and professionally to the continued growth and constant re-birth of this urban hub.

The whole Mason Gross thing. When I was a kid I heard of Mason Gross. I will, however, shamefully admit I never once stepped foot on the campus. I didn't even really know where it was. Three years ago I decided that after a stint of traveling and working with regional theaters it was time to go back to grad school for Acting. I applied to several schools, among them the mysterious Mason Gross School of the Arts. By some twist of fate I found a perfect fit at a world class arts conservatory...a block away from my childhood home. So here I am. A few weeks out of grad school and (almost) 30 years of New Brunswick life experience. Along with the hundreds/thousands who have gone before me I have two choices. 1) Move to NYC, live in 20x20 windowless overpriced box of an apartment and get an underpaid service job. All the while killing myself looking for artistic employment while trying to maintain the previous two things. OR 2). Keep living in my much more reasonably priced apartment only a 50 minute train ride from NYC, and work on developing quality, professional, grass-roots artistic projects with local arts organizations, Rutgers family, and New Brunswick natives.

So here WE are. It turns out I am not the only person who feels this way. As Collaborative Arts grows we see that New Brunswick is hungry for the kind of arts organization that puts so much emphasis on nuturing young artists. It is my firm belief that the best way to build an organization is to have projects that are ambitious and demanding of both the artists, the administration, and the donor base. So here we go. Head and heart first into a summer and beyond that is going to test our abilities in so many ways. I hope you will join us for the ride.

Best,

John Keller

New Brunswick Theater Festival, Artistic Director

Collaborative Arts"

As always, keep checking in.

And if you're in the New Brunswick area and looking for something to do tonight: TONIGHT! (Friday, July 23rd)

"Adopt an Artist" Collaborative Arts fundraiser
PJ's in Highland Park. 7pm to 10pm $20 at the door = open bar, food, live jazz and good company.

A portion of the proceeds will benefit NBTF.

-Jen