Through the creation of new works and high quality performances, The NOLA Project has become one of my favorite New Orleans theatre companies. Their work is moving, often funny, and genuinely relevant to a young urban professional. What follows is a digital interview with AJ Allegra, the Artistic Director of The Nola Project.
Briefly describe your company.
We are a theatre company dedicated to producing great and new plays both in New Orleans and about New Orleans. We are an ensemble of twenty talented theatre artists dedicated to the renaissance of New Orleans art that has taken a surge post-Katrina.
Tell me about your audience.
We believe in ensemble art and bringing theatre to a new and younger crowd in order to develop a strong theatregoing audience amongst young New Orleanians. We don’t cater to old season-subscribers like a lot of theatres. We’re not that interested in that. We want to excite, provoke, and engage our audiences in new and creative ways.
Why is your business important to the New Orleans community?
We are one of the premiere theatre producers in New Orleans, producing a wide range of theatre that runs the gamut from classical Shakespeare to edgy black comedy and brand new world-premieres. We also perform in a wide variety of New Orleans venues, not just theaters.
Where else have you produced shows?
For the last year we have produced many shows in conjunction with The New Orleans Museum of Art. We have performed plays in their sculpture garden, auditorium, front steps, and lobby. We’re also heavily connected to NOCCA where we enjoy performing and this summer will run a three week theatre program for area high school students. We love it when audiences see our community of ensemble actors and thinks of us as old friends. We’re part of the fabric of our community because we are not just an organization, but a collection of artists.
Tell us a little about yourself.
I am AJ Allegra and I am the current Artistic Director of The NOLA Project. I am originally from Chicago, but moved to New Orleans in 2007 after graduating from NYU with the other members of NOLA Project. Besides running the company, I have the pleasure of teaching kids our art form every day as a faculty member at NOCCA. I am now a proud New Orleanian and look forward to the many wonderful things happening in this city, in particular our theatre arts scene and the synergy of work happening amongst many different arts communities working on projects together. It’s a fantastic time to live in this city if you love great art.
What are you inspired by?
I’m inspired by The Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, my hometown. Here were three 20-year old guys that started a group much like ours and by adding talented theatre artists to their company over years and years have now become the greatest ensemble theatre company in America, boasting members like Gary Sinise, John Malkovich, John Mahoney, Laurie Metcalf, Amy Morton, William Peterson, Martha Plimpton…the list goes on. And I guess those actors in particular inspire me because despite their Hollywood and television fame, they still stay strongly committed to their work on stage, and with their company. I’d love to develop actors here in New Orleans like that and send them off into the great American acting landscape to tell people about the great work going on right here in New Orleans. We need more people around the US to see the amazing things happening here right now. I hope our company can one day attract that national eye to all the exciting things New Orleans has to offer.
Any important information or special deals you would like to offer to the InvadeNOLA community?
We are planning our 2012 fundraiser now, The NOLA Project Gee Whiz Mardi Gras Hooplah! This is an all-day Mardi Gras Day party on the entire upper floor of the Balcony Music Club on the corner of Esplanade and Decatur. We will have beer, food, perhaps the best balcony people-watching spot in the quarter, and CLEAN BATHROOMS. It’s been my experience that a place to rest and a clean place to pee are two invaluable commodities on Mardi Gras Day. So with a ticket purchase, party-goers will get a wristband that gives them all-day access to come and go as they please. And the best part is, if you enter the code INVADENOLA we’ll cut the party entrance fee to $20! So come join us and stop in as much as you like on Mardi Gras Day! Tickets can be easily ordered at www.nolaproject.com
