This week’s blog is about what it means to be a member in Hip Hop Theater Collective.

First, we call ourselves a Collective because we are not formally structured.

In a typical theater company there are members and non-members. If you are not a member and want to become one, current members must vote. Maybe you get voted in, maybe you don’t.

Some companies have a criteria of membership, such as members can only be actors, for example. Or there may be caps on how many members are allowed.

What’s a Collective?

We are different. As a collective, we take our inspiration from theater groups in the 1930’s, like the Group Theater.

A theater collective is a team of artists and managers that run the company under the artistic direction of a company founder. Many team members collaborate on various tasks and responsibilities that need to be done, broadening their skill sets with each project they work on. Each artist can also pitch their own project – a play, musical, tour, major education project, devised piece, etc. – that would be produced after being approved by the other members, and members of the Collective would participate in the production.

We have producer members, director members, writer members, actor members, designer members, and hip hop artist members, but we all wear many hats to contribute to the overall functioning of the Collective.

Anyone who is interested can be a member. We let you self-declare.

• You’re a member because you act like one.
• You donate what you can.
• You like/follow the company on social media.

And one more thing:

You add “ROB Collective Member” to your social media profile and tag us so we can keep track.

Benefits of Membership

I know you are the kind of person who does things just because it is the right thing to do, with no thought for personal gain.

But there are benefits of being a member of the Collective:

• At least half the productions we do in any given year will be written by member playwrights.
• The first group of actors we look at when we are casting shows will be actor members.
• We will try only to hire member directors to direct our shows.
• Designers will be member designers where possible.

And if you go to see a show, you’ll get a member discount – which will be the lowest anyone will get.

Join Us!

So join us in supporting hip hop theater. Be a member of the Collective!

Let us know by dropping an email to cate@rhymesoverbeats.org.