A Letter from our Artistic Director
Dear Colleagues, Friends, Fans and Fools,
After 23 years of producing, presenting and practicing the model of ensemble theater, foolsFURY is executing closure procedures in a ritual of dismantling over the next several months. We are making this choice as a planned decision in dialogue with our board, ensemble, company members and key community stakeholders. We came to the difficult realization that an intentional closure is in fact the greatest demonstration of equity, self care and grace that we could enact in the face of ongoing instability.
When I took on the sole Artistic Direction in the wake of Founder and Co-Artistic Director Ben Yalom’s departure, I was very hopeful and excited for the future. I knew that foolsFURY’s ensemble values of presence-practice, navigating change over time and being in relationship with discomfort were all excellent tools to weather crises. Together with a small and mighty team we went to work. We created more shared leadership roles, produced two BUILD digital convenings, and actually raised wages by 30%. However It became clear over time that the model of unpaid labor and fragile infrastructure this organization was built upon (and typical of many small theaters,) would not provide the solid foundation required for expanding our vision of economic justice and liberatory practice.
I’m proud of the work we’ve done and the willingness of our current staff to embrace this ending with grace. We are completing a cycle, the “Kyu” portion of the “Jo-Ha-Kyu” Japanese traditional method of storytelling.
Thank you for partnering with us and believing in our mission over the years. YOU are the inspiration for us to present over 100 ensembles in the biennial FURY Factory Festival, stage over 30 full-length productions, half of which are world premiers, hold master trainings and produce global digital convenings. I believe our tireless advocacy for the model of ensemble theater at the intersection of aesthetic equity and artistic excellence has created lasting impact in the field which will live on in the artists and audiences that have experienced our work and will carry it forward.
The plays and practices of small experimental ensembles are rarely documented. If you are able, please help us honor foolsFURY’s legacy with a donation to the foolsFURY Ensemble Legacy Archive. DONATE HERE
Thank you for the opportunity to be in community with you,
Debórah
On November 20 at 3 p.m., foolsFURY will hold a public “wake” at Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts (MCCLA) where an altar, created by members of the company as a “ritual of dismantling,” is already on view.
To RSVP for the wake, please email lucindao@foolsfury.org.