"Housing is one of the most important considerations for an actor when choosing to go out of town," performer Al Bundonis says. "When we decide to leave our home, our family, and our friends, we need to feel safe and comfortable in the temporary housing. It becomes the place we spend most of our time while we are away, and more than anything else, it defines the out-of-town experience."
Recognizing this, Goodspeed Opera House has recently opened new accommodations on its campus in East Haddam, Conn., consisting of 17 homes for actors, directors, designers, and technical staff during rehearsals and performances. These homes contain three or six bedrooms (each equipped with private bathrooms), a shared kitchen, and a living room. One house will also have two one-bedroom "star apartments" specially designed for productions' leading actors. This "Artists Village" includes 17 homes and 65 fully furnished bedrooms. It marks the largest capital project in Goodspeed history.
"An actor needs a decent place to stay," says Michael Price, executive director of Goodspeed Musicals. "It has been a dream to provide suitable housing for actors for I can't tell you how long."
The result has transformed Goodspeed into a mecca for musicians. "We have in the stroke of a few months engendered a new commitment to the creation of new musicals," Price says, explaining that artists—and students—inquire about staying at the Artists Village hoping to be inspired at the enclave. Music directors from across the country recently stayed there for an intensive, and Scott Frankel, Michael Korie, and Doug Wright, the team behind "Grey Gardens," recently convened there as well. "It's an attractive place to work. I would stay here," Price says.
Actor Leslie Kritzer, a Goodspeed tenant in 2002, visited the Artists Village during the recent Festival of New Artists and was "amazed" by the new complex. "It's really great that Goodspeed took the initiative to put the artists first; the houses are so comfortable and inviting," she says.
Bundonis also praises Goodspeed for putting its talent first. "Everyone already wants to work there," he says, "but instead of building a state-of-the-art theater, they realized that upgraded housing was essential to the theater's ability to attract the best talent for its productions."
The Comforts of Home
Other regional theaters are cognizant of the role appealing housing plays in attracting artists, paying special attention to features such as cleanliness, convenience, and safety. California's Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts Theaterfest uses several types of housing, depending on length of stay and type of artist. According to communications manager Craig Shafer, these range from extended-stay hotels to private rooms in homes to entire rented residences to accommodate multiple artists. It strives to provide single rooms and private bathrooms for its occupants as often as possible. "The artists that come through PCPA give us an extremely positive response to their experience here," Shafer says. "Just about every actor I talk to is eager for the chance to return."
"The comfort of our artists is of primary importance," says Steven Scarpa, director of marketing and communications at Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, Conn. It provides one-bedroom apartments for guest artists at Madison Towers, an apartment building in close proximity to most downtown amenities, with company management handling transportation to and from the theater.
Meanwhile, the Alley Theatre in Houston, Texas, uses corporate housing locations close to the theater and in walking distance of shops and restaurants. A pool and an exercise room are also accessible. Individual apartments come equipped with a washer and dryer, and the Alley supplies performers with a car.
"The Alley Theatre works hard to create a welcoming and pleasant environment for all of its artists," says general manager Ten Eyck Swackhamer, "be it members of our resident company, our Alley artists, or visiting artists." In fact, it gives them VIP treatment, greeting actors when they arrive at the airport, providing a limo ride into downtown Houston, and taking them to Whole Foods to stock up on groceries.
"They've really given it a lot of thought," says actor Jennifer Harmon, who performed in two Alley productions in 2011. "It's so hard leaving your own home and going to a new place if there is no care," she adds, praising personal touches such as nature photographs and the responsiveness of those she works with for elevating her stays. "It was such a relief to know, I don't have to struggle with this—I can just go to work."
Similarly, Cincinnati's Playhouse in the Park grants furnished one-bedroom apartments—including bedroom, bathroom, living room, and fully furnished kitchen—that can accommodate pets and are in walking distance of the theater in Mount Adam. "The apartments have all the amenities of home," says Emma F. Caro, Playhouse public relations director.
Good Housekeeping
Though some performers just starting out and looking to build their résumé must accept work regardless of living conditions, others say that housing plays a major role in their decision-making process. "The companies that provided excellent housing, and made every effort to compensate for the fact that I was coming from out of town, are the places that I would unquestionably work for again," says actor Stanley Bahorek. "I would work at the Alley Theatre in a heartbeat, because they made me feel right at home the moment I arrived."
"There are certain places I would have a hard time returning to because I found the housing very difficult," actor Eva Kaminsky says. "As I get older, it becomes harder to say yes to putting up with a tough living situation. And conversely, good housing puts a cherry on top of a good work experience."
"I really feel like I have to be flexible with housing," says actor Carine Montbertrand. "Some theaters just can't afford something beautiful. If they acknowledge that and do what they can, that goes a long way for me. I just want a comfortable space that allows me to have a quiet place to do my work, because that's the main focus when I work in the regions."
For others, housing is less important. "Accommodations don't factor heavily in my decision-making process," says actor Susan Louise O'Connor. "For me, the play and the director are the important components."
Whether or not it makes a difference, when it comes to housing, word of mouth spreads like wildfire. "Actors talk a lot," Montbertrand says, "and housing is often a topic. One place had a reputation for bad bedding and you'd hear 'Oh, you're working there? Bring your own bedding!' "
"If the housing is bad," says Bundonis, "an actor returns to New York and tells his or her peers. It impacts that actor's decision to return and his friends' decision to audition for that theater."
The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis is another example of a theater that saw the proverbial writing on the wall and did something about it. It used to be referred to among actors as "the Bates motel," actor Henny Russell says in reference to the scary setting of "Psycho." "It smelled of mildew; everything was mishmash—no two plates or even two sheets matched," she says. "However, they were just redone and are nice now."
A Local Hero Emerges
The company manager was one element of regional housing that virtually every performer interviewed mentioned. The holder of this position can become de facto confidant, Mr. Fix-It, and friend to those on the road, addressing any concerns that arise and adding to the feeling of being taken care of.
"I think it is important to do everything we can to make our guests at home when visiting the Alley," says Jann Whaley, Alley Theatre company manager. "I always approach situations thinking about how I would want to be treated if I were a stranger in a strange land. Making them comfortable is my main focus."
"Throughout their stay, I am available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in case a need arises," says A.J. Ford, Playhouse in the Park company manager. "I take care of small repairs, replace missing items in their apartments, and take them to the grocery store every Monday. I also take them to the doctor if they become sick." Personal touches like these make a difference in enhancing the regionals' reputations. "When the housing is terrific, you want to return to that theater," Bundonis says. "You tell your friends about it. Everyone wants to work there."
