April 12, 2013 | Theatre,

The 13/14 Season

 

As we announce the first part of our fourth season, we’re about to complete our third. Finally, we have a body of work and quality time behind us to reflect and measure. And, I’m thrilled to have our new Director of Artistic Programs, David Dower, taking a lead helping us bring these distinctive projects to you.

On the measuring side the trajectory is up. Audiences are growing, membership is approaching 6,000, our philanthropic base is rising and artists from around the world are circling to work with us.

We’ve hosted artists from Australia, Ireland (multiple), France, England (multiple), Italy (multiple), Kuwait, Iceland, Chile, Russia, Canada (multiple), Austria, Czechoslovakia and the United States (mostly) among others. All of these artists are performing in Boston for the first time. With this announcement we add Belgium, South Africa, and the Netherlands. And, we’re on the hunt for great theatre from the Pacific Rim and elsewhere on the planet we have yet to discover. Let us know if you see something we should do.

Moreover, in two and a half short years, projects we’ve helped to develop and have our name on have traveled to over 11 countries and to 20 cities in the U.S.

We call ourselves ArtsEmerson: The World On Stage and the world is paying attention.

Reflecting back on the first three seasons and looking forward to our fourth. I’m struck by two fundamental truths.

We are indeed adding to the cultural choices for this great community and using our four new venues to both develop and present work that’s new to Boston. It means SO MUCH to me to be able to play a role in introducing a range of voices and cultures to our audiences in this forever interconnected world.

And just two weeks ago when I was visiting Cuba, the second and simplest truth hit me. There’s something for EVERYONE at ArtsEmerson. We’re including work for families, embracing young artists searching for their distinctive voices, and hosting mature artists and institutions who have made history. We resist the trivial and inconsequential; language and content is important. We’ll tickle your funny bone, stimulate your mind, and massage your heart.

There’s something for EVERYONE at ArtsEmerson.

Rob Orchard is the Executive Director of ArtsEmerson: The World On Stage.