Nothing but sadness: loosing the Incubator Arts Project
I performed at the Incubator Arts Project (which was called the Ontological Incubator at the time) for the first time as part of their Tiny Theater Festival back in 2005. Rob Neill cast me in his piece; it was a great festival and a great experience. Rob, my husband, Carl, and I created a piece together for Tiny Theater the following year. Awesome again.
In 2009, Rob, Carl, Jill Beckman and I created and performed Laika Dog In Space at the Incubator. This past fall, after a Too Much Light performance, and audience member came up to me and said "You did that show Laika Dog In Space, right? That was one of the best things I've ever seen." I replied, "It's one of the best things I've ever made."
That's what the Incubator did. It helped artists create superlatively great work. No vision was too esoteric or singular, no message too full-throated or open-hearted. I found tremendous value in everything I saw there and always wished I could manage to see more. Working there meant stepping into a highly functional (rare!) and highly enjoyable collaboration with the folks running the place, folks who always looked for ways to say yes to whatever it was you were asking for. It may be my favorite space ever in which to create and perform theater - I love that room, with its crazy support pole and it's metal steps to an ad-hoc balcony in the back corner, never mind that its square footage is of luxurious proportions. Working there brought me in contact with so many other great artists in the community, I can't even begin to list them; so much imagination and talent and passion and the Incubator helped it all find its voice and an audience.
The Incubator Arts Project is leaving their space at St. Mark's Church, closing as of July 1 this year. Their public statement is here. The New York Times writes about the closing here.
While loss is constant and everywhere - a famous author passed away, an avalanche, a mudslide, an exploded building - we still have a few months to spend with this particular loved one. Call it theater hospice. Call it the eleventh hour. Whether you've been to a performance at the Incubator Arts Project or not, make sure you go before you can't any more. And then make sure you go support the art somewhere else. It's what the Incubator would want.