The Conception
The goal of the Slant of Light Theater Company is to communicate.
I
recently graduated from Smith College, where a deviation from the
"norm" was the "norm." I saw people who had a voice--I saw them use it.
Not only were we encouraged to speak out, we were told that if we did
we could change the world. People often paint the world black and white
and we are told to embrace this. At Smith, I was taught to seek out the
grey, to embrace it and question it. Two years later, I have come to
realize that this means everything and nothing. After leaving the safe
atmosphere of Smith, I have found that I am not always encouraged to
seek out the grey, much less speak about it. I have found that these
deviations are looked upon negatively, and not embraced.
Everything
and nothing. This means everything because I have found that if I want
to continue the legacy that was instilled in me of finding and using my
own voice, I must create a venue to do that work. I must create a safe
space where we can explore art, history, politics, theater, music,
science, the future, the past, and ourselves.
This means
nothing because we are still at the beginning. Beloved professors
questioning us, engaging classes opening our eyes and mind, fervid
debates in tiny coffee shops, speaking out about the issues that set a
fire within us, yelling, screaming, laughing,
crying...listening...accepting...this all means nothing if we check it at the door to the "real world."
We need to create our own safe space.
And Slant of Light is born.
We
strive to make a space for everyone who needs to speak; everyone who
has a story to tell. We strive to put on passionate productions and
enable creative visions. To make connections between the deviations and
the norms. To see the beauty in the grey.
And everyone does have a story to tell.
We will build bridges and support one another. We will connect.
We will communicate. With one another, with our audiences, and with ourselves.
~Stacy Ruttenberg
Founder, Artistic Director
