Since 2008, Vanessa Garcia and Wendy White have been creating different collections of plays (writing, directing, and producing) that have taken them to different cities, even overseas. They are intertwined in a way that you can almost believe they are fraternal twins (they even graduated from the same college - Barnard).
Miami native Garcia (who is co-founder of the theater company, The Krane) has been named one of Miami Herald's influential 20 under 40 last year
while White (a New York transplant) recently started a theatre company while still running her own art gallery in Lauderdale-by-the Sea.They are currently in rehearsal with another collection of short plays called Jump into Love which will be under White's New Light Theatre imprint, opening September 9th. However, between their hectic schedules, the tag-team was generous enough to donate two previous works that will be read at ON THE BOARDS.
We caught up with Vanessa and Wendy to asked questions about their symbiotic relationship:
How did you individually get involved in theatre?
Vanessa: I studied art and literature, and I've been painting since I was, literally, three years old, but theatre came a little later (I used to have painting competitions with my grandfather when I was a kid). As for theatre -- at a certain point in my life, while I was living in NYC, everyone around me was involved in theatre -- my roommate and friends -- and I started to pick up the profession by osmosis. I have also always been deeply in love with going to the theatre as an audience member, and so it makes sense that I would think to start making it myself. I also truly believe that it's a medium that combines all kinds of arts, visual, written, and performed -- and I'm all about the mixing bowl.
Wendy: I’ve been on stage as long as I can remember - with ballet performances at age 3 and 4 with my twin brother – to being in the band, orchestra, and jazz band as early as 4th grade! My first official theatre performance was at age 10 in the musical “Oliver” as Mrs. Bumble – from that point on I was in theatre performances in grade school, junior high and high school where I became the lead actress. During my years in college at Barnard I was pre-med but deeply missed theatre, arts and music; by junior year I decided to go full time into the arts and was cast in a play at Columbia “The Bacchus” as a Maenad, and began modeling and exhibiting paintings in the East Village and SoHo after graduation. One of the first galleries I exhibited in the East Village was the Kraine Club – where I was asked to curate art shows and develop theatre performances – it was there that I began writing plays and directing. I’ve been writing plays, directing and acting ever since!
How did you first meet?
Vanessa: Wendy and I first met because we are both Barnard College, Columbia University Alums. There was a blast-email from one our college alum groups about a show that was going up in Ft. Lauderdale by a woman that was both a painter and a playwright -- this was Wendy. I was going out of town at the time so I was going to miss the show, but I wanted to meet her as it seemed we had a lot in common. I decided to reach out through email. That was the beginning of a wonderful friendship and working relationship. The next thing I knew Wendy invited me to do a show with her in Amsterdam and, following, we've put up shows everywhere from New York to Scotland. It's been a wild ride, and it's still going...
Wendy: I first met Vanessa over e-mail! She introduced herself right after a performance of my plays through the Barnard Club of South Florida – the alumnae of Barnard were all invited to a special event spearheaded by Anne Toft, a wonderful Barnard Alumna who lives in Plantation, Florida who visited my exhibition at the New Light Gallery in honor of my father who recently he passed away. Anne offered all her support to help with my gallery and theatre projects. Anne contacted the Barnard Alumnae Association and they agreed to host a performance and reading of my newest plays in March of 2008 at Art Serve; the Barnard Alumnae association was invited and voila, Vanessa appeared via email the night of the reading! I saw right away that we had an instant connection as kindred spirits - we mirrored each other in so many ways as we are both artists and playwrights and we are both following our dream to live as artists and writers full time. That May of 2008, I was invited to perform new plays at the Chameleon Theatre in Amsterdam and as I was working in New York at the time helping with the redevelopment of the World Trade Center site it was a challenge to rehearse and cast the acting group from New York and Florida at the same time – Vanessa’s introduction was perfect timing – when Vanessa said yes to joining me in Amsterdam, I knew our adventures had only begun! We both enjoy globe trotting with our art and writing and I have Barnard and the alumnae group to thank for bringing us together. We continue to accept all the adventures that art and writing have to offer ever since!
How does your experiences as visual artists play into your theatre writing, producing, etc?
Vanessa: Visual art teaches you how to frame the world a certain way -- in an aesthetic manner that helps you to catch a great deal within a small frame (sort of like poetry). This is a skill that helps tremendously in theatre, when you are trying to capture all the world upon a stage. Sometimes you're just trying to capture a moment, but the same applies. The same ideas of scope and scale; knowing how to compress ideas.
Wendy: Visual arts and theatre are very similar in that each has a component of capturing the present time. Theater is my favorite world as it encompasses all the art forms; writing, music, dance, painting, poetry, and the art of acting where all the characters in our plays are brought to life from the written word. I find a great deal of visual arts in “the business of theatre.” As a producer it becomes all encompassing to integrate all the components necessary to put on a successful production. From the moment I start writing a new play I already see it on stage being performed – magic happens when one steps back to watch the audiences react and be transformed from watching live theatre.
What do you learn about yourself as theatre artists in this market?
Vanessa: You learn something every day. You learn that you don't have enough patience; that you always have more to learn; and that you always need more money. It's hard to put good, solid shows up without funding. Miami Dade Cultural Affairs has been great to us and we are deeply appreciative. Individual donors too. You also learn how much endurance you have. Putting up a show can be exhausting, but it's also one of the most rewarding things around.
Wendy: As theatre artists in this market – it’s a big leap of faith to say “yes” to productions – yet, I find this time very similar to when I started performing on stage as a child –we always managed to create a magical world on stage with props and costumes – from that point on I learned that the “show must go on!” even if there are three people in the audience we put on the best show we can – the very next night we may be sold out with standing room only so we are always trained to be our best. We recently received generous funding from the Miami-Dade Department of Culture Affairs as well as corporate donations which was a great help in our productions and we are greatly appreciative. When we do our productions a new theatrical family is formed based on trust, hard work and loyalty– after the productions are over we miss each other – and can’t wait to start formulating our next production all over again!
What type of theatre fascinates and excites you?
Vanessa: I'm in love with all kinds of theatre -- experimental theatre, and theatre that merges dance and visual media with dialogue and traditional techniques. I love one woman shows and large casts alike. My love of theatre really varies -- I can get completely enveloped in a small show with two actors in a black box, bare set, little costuming; but I can also dive right into a big, musical production, elaborate and massive. And Shakespeare, don't even get me started, I could watch it in all its guises -- contemporary and classical alike.
Wendy: I love all types of theatre – from Samuel Beckett, to David Mamet, to Musicals, to Drama, to one-woman shows – from off-off-off Broadway to Broadway. I’ve learned we can do theatre anywhere; unconventional spaces excite me and I find it inspiring to create a play in a parking lot as we did for many summers in the Lower East Side of Manhattan with our Shakespeare in the Parking Lot productions. What I’ve learned is that there isn’t one way to do anything and theatre opens up a world of all possibilities at any time.
What do you see yourself doing in the next five years?
Vanessa: I see myself writing on a much larger scale. Getting several works of fiction and non-fiction (books) that I have in the works, out into the world. I also see myself working on larger scale theatre and film projects. Wendy and I are planning a couple of those. Also within the next five years I plan to also grow as a painter/visual artist. I'll also be done with the PhD program I'm enrolled in, which will be great. And I might be teaching at a university by then as well. Then there's the expansion of The Krane I have in mind. Getting a new space for The Krane in Miami, growing the troupe. In other words, I plan to continue to climb the ladder that I'm on, and keep going up to where the rungs have better views. Bigger and better. I also would love to become a mom in the next five years. That would be amazing. Wendy and I are also creating a program for homeless children, but I'll let her talk more about that. There's a lot to do!
Wendy: I love that question! In the next five years I hope to accomplish everything that is already in motion right now including developing new plays at the New Light Theatre, and continuing with my wonderful collaboration with Vanessa Garcia and The Krane. I hope to fund a group of actors to join us as we take our shows on the road as the dream is to go all over the world with our plays. In addition, Vanessa and I are working on a screenplay which we hope to sell and have it produced. I would like to continue to perform our plays in fringe festivals internationally and nationally and one day have our plays produced on Broadway. A big dream is to develop a tv series with our productions and scripts. We are hoping for funding to work with children of the homeless and those who live in shelters to teach children how to express themselves via the written word and the arts and put on performances in their communities so they can develop their voices and talents in order to survive and ultimately thrive in the world. And yes, I hope to also write a book incorporating all my writings and journals that I’ve started since I’m 10! Of course chapters continue to develop – it will be a book of inspiration and hope for those that are faced with obstacles in their youth and how to overcome anything by utilizing ones talents.
Who are your heroes, your inspirations?
Vanessa: Hero is a weird word for me, but I can definitely talk about inspirations. I have a gagillion. I am inspired every day by people and places. I love writers like Reinaldo Arenas. Julie Taymor is brilliant. Someone like Julian Schnabel also, a fabulous painter-turned--director who has been able to manage both worlds and succeed in them; merge them (using that "frame" I was talking about earlier). James Salter too. Caryl Phillips, who was an invaluable mentor for me and who, I always say, taught me how to live and survive as a writer. And then there is traveling. Traveling is probably my biggest inspiration. And love. I am so grateful now to feel love all around me -- that definitely inspires me.
Wendy: Hero is a big word in my life, as there are many people who I consider heroes! One of my heroes is the UPS driver who delivers packages with such a gusto, he could be a superhero – he carries 12 packages at time at a pace that would put Superman to shame! Uri, the UPS driver taught me that anything is possible, it’s the mind that makes it seem that it’s not – after I see him I feel so inspired! This I call my every day hero or earth angels who we meet along our path who are continual sources of inspiration. I am grateful to my teachers, my employers and my mentor, the abstract expressionist artist, Milton Resnick who first saw the light in my paintings at Barnard and told me “if you can do that – you can do anything.” I am forever inspired by the artists and writers who dare to live their dream of doing their art full time. I relate to Vincent Van Gogh entirely as he lived a life of passion and total dedication to his art; his spirit shines forth in every painting he did. He was misunderstood in his lifetime and it is my hope that his paintings continue to serve as a beacon of hope to all artists and writers (as he was a fervent writer as well) to live with the gusto and exuberance as he did.
Vanessa: I just have to say, I love Wendy's answer to this question; this is a perfect example of why we work well together. Wendy sees God in the UPS man and I think that's wonderful; she helps others do the same, see greatness all around us, everyday.
If there is a sentence that you could define each other as, what would you say?
Vanessa: Wendy is among the most interesting, special, and original people I know -- a generous and kind soul who is always there and who I am incredibly lucky to know.
Wendy: Vanessa is a total gift to my life – from the moment we met, I thanked God feeling that I must have done something right for her to appear; I am thankful for every day that we know each other – Vanessa is a kindred spirit who is the most caring, talented, helpful, generous, loyal, inventive and hardworking person I know who is totally dedicated who always accomplishes everything she puts her mind to do – I am forever humbled with the way she solves problems and I greatly admire her strength and perseverance – together we accomplish everything!
Vanessa Garcia is currently enrolled in the PhD Creative Non-Fiction program at University of California-Irvine where she is a Schaeffer Fellow. Garcia is also a freelance writer as well as continuing her visual art. Her work and portfolio can be found on http://www.vanessagarcia.org/
Wendy White has written over 120 one acts and remounted a previous work, The Jewish Nun, at a performance space in Gallery 101 where her New Light Theatre currently resides. Her New Light Foundation is the basis for the company, its mission dedicated to help young people pursue an education regardless of financial hardships. Their website is http://www.newlightgallery.org/
Their plays will be read on Friday, August 19th beginning at 7pm. For more information and a detailed performance schedule, you can visit our website, www.conundrumstages.net.
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