Off Pitt Street Theater Company

Four years ago, I started doing acting coaching for some local kids.  After about three months of meeting once per week in my own home, sharing a meal each time, and teaching a different acting workshop each meeting, the group had grown from 2-3 people showing up each week to 10-15 people per week.  Many shared their stories with me:  some didn't know how to sing or weren't good at it, but they loved to act.  They had no outlet but their local high school musical.  Those who had already graduated were relegated to walk-on parts in the local community theater that does predominantly musicals.  Others, specifically males, expressed how they felt pressured to play sports because they "looked like they'd be good at football."  Still, others, said they just wanted something better/different/more exciting than what our little town offered.  Many are poor...and I mean rural poverty kind of poor through no fault of their own.  So, in December of 2013, when the group exceeded 20 people per week, it was too cold outside to use the backyard, and my house just couldn't hold them all.  At this point, I decided that this was a group that was serious about staying together.  And, as a group, we were one step away from being a theater company.  After all, I had trained them for months!  So, I told them that, if I could find a space that was big enough and would let us meet there rent free, I would work on making this a formal enterprise.  Enter, Locality Gallery and Workshop (and my friends, owners: Michael and Jade Corle).  They had an art gallery.  It had space.  They wanted bodies in it.  We had bodies.  Their gallery was on Pitt Street.  We worked in the back.  We became "Off Pitt Street" (OPS) Theater Company.  For the first two years, we used the space for rehearsal and rented out other places for shows.  This was exciting but really really challenging.  My poor, 16 year old minivan was the only set/prop/costume/actor transport.  (And, I'm no spring chicken now either!).  Eventually, the building Michael and Jade were renting was sold.  We had to move.  Also, OPS was getting a lot of attention, but it was hard for people to follow/find us since we didn't have a home theater.  So, together, Locality and Off Pitt Street renovated/retrofitted an abandoned industrial space under the local pizza shop.  It has plenty of room and versatility for all that we seek to do.  The company is growing.  This year, we've had our biggest audiences to date.  But, because we are in the Arts, and because we're in a rural community that is just beginning to understand and appreciate what we do, paying the rent is a constant worry.  We have big dreams!  We want to offer OPS Ed outreach programs to kids.  We want to offer summer drama camps.  But, we are constantly worried about paying our bills.  If we could just NOT worry about the bills for one calendar year, I know we'll turn the corner and be solvent.  As for me.....I've been a homeschooling mom, jane-of-all-trades, educator, director, president, failure, optimist, world-builder my whole life.  I just can't bare the thought of letting this talented group of kindhearted young people down.  They just want to act.  They just want to move the audience.  They want to feel alive as only the stage can make them feel.  I urge you to visit our website:  www.OffPittStreet.com.  Check out the "Media" tab and all that we've accomplished on a shoestring and a prayer.  If you ever had a dream that flickered like a fragile candle flame....you know where I am.  My name is Dawn Ziviello.  I'm the Director of Off Pitt Street Theater Company, and I thank you, from the bottom of my heart and on behalf of all of my Guild members, for your time and support.    Feel free to email any questions at all to:  [email protected]