Welcome to our new Blog space. A few times a week I will be posting casting, rehearsal, production and performance news about New Mystic Theatre Companies North (NJ) and South (WV) as well as thoughts on the state of social justice and mainstream theatre and the philosophical and practical aspects of training and performance in the theatre.

The title of this blog comes in part from Peter Brook’s foundational book on modern theatre, The Empty Space. It was my mentor and longtime collaborator, Gerry Cullity, who first introduced me to Brook, a few years after I was out of college and we were working together at a storefront theatre named Actor’s Café in Bradley Beach, NJ.

I’ve read the book several times since then, and have given it as gifts to staff members and promising young actors and directors with whom I have had the pleasure of working.

My favorite quote from the book is: “In a sense the director is always an imposter, a guide at night who does not know the territory, and yet he has no choice—he must guide, learning the route as he goes.”

This sums up pretty well the last 20 years I have spent as a director/actor/playwright and especially the last 6 years as Artistic Director of New Mystics.

We have just begun to traverse the night territory as a Company and as individuals. We are branching out into ever more teaching and outreach elements in our work, and will soon be bringing to life our vision of exploring mythology and folklore (guided primarily by the lifelong work of Joseph Campbell) as it relates to the quality of our lives and pursuits as artists and guides in the twenty-first century.

Our latest project in playwriting is “No One Hears Unless You Scream,” an exploration of teen suicide. In the past two and a half years there have been 8 suicides (the latest exactly a week ago) in the county in NJ that New Mystics North calls home. It is our greatest challenge, honoring the dead and those considering suicide, and we would not be able to even attempt such a piece were it not for the level of talent of our artistic staff and Company members.

I am sure I will be blogging a good deal about the process of bringing this play to life over the coming three months.

Feedback and comments on this blog are always welcome. The lifeblood of any theatrical endeavor is Dialogue, and I hope it fills this Empty Space in the months and years to come.

Joey Madia
Artistic Director/Resident Playwright, New Mystics Arts