terraNOVA Collective's Mission & History

terraNOVA Collective is devoted to nurturing distinct, innovative theatrical voices, and maintaining a global perspective in all facets of our art. We are dedicated to cultivating environments where the art of storytelling thrives and actively seek stages for our ever-expanding theatrical collective.

terraNOVA gives voice to hundreds of emerging and established artists annually, providing each individual the freedom to take risks and develop their work within a supportive environment. terraNOVA provides a forum for bold, controversial, and challenging theatrical stories from first draft to full production. We celebrate the energetic diversity of live performance by supporting a variety of dynamic and contrasting works. We believe theatre’s highest purpose is to entertain by examining and discussing the human condition, crossing lines of race, status, gender, sexuality, and culture. We believe in the power of creating community around our art-making, and actively seek opportunities for the new theatre we cultivate to expand our community.

We are currently on hiatus and will not have Groundbreakers or mainstages coming up, however we are still co-producing with amazing artists in New York and Chicago. For further inquiries please email [email protected]

HISTORY
Founded in 1996 under the direction of Ray Yeates (former Artistic Director of the Abbey Theatre in Ireland), terraNOVA Collective began as a loosely structured collective of actors, all of whom were inspired to create new work and develop ideas in a collaborative, nurturing environment. In 2003, after several small productions in New York City, Jennifer Conley Darling took over leadership of terraNOVA Collective as Producing Artistic Director, and began its transition to a mainstay of independent theatre in New York, as it is known today.

In 2004, an informal writers group was established, providing a place for emerging playwrights to bring early drafts of new work for sharing with other writers, and the artistic staff of terraNOVA Collective. Over the course of the next few years, it became clear that the service of early draft development for emerging writers was missing from the NYC community. In 2009, Jessi D. Hill, a dramaturg and director specializing in new play development, was hired to formalize and curate what is now known as the Groundbreakers Playwrights Group.

Since 2003, the company has produced and developed new plays by emerging playwrights at Theatre Row (BABY STEPS by James Carter, directed by David Travis, 2003), The Blue Heron Center for the Arts (BUCK FEVER by Juan C Sanchez, directed by James Carter, 2004), Center Stage, NY (MASQUERADE: CALYPSO AND HOME by Roger Bonair-Agard, directed by Kamilah Forbes, 2006), DR2 Theater (BLUE BEFORE MORNING by Kate McGovern, directed by Gia Forakis, 2008), D-Lounge (CREATING ILLUSION by Jeff Grow, directed by Jessi D. Hill, 2009), HERE Arts Center (FEEDER: A LOVE STORY by James Carter, directed by Jose Zayas, 2011), and The New Ohio Theatre (P.S. JONES AND THE FROZEN CITY by Robert Askins, directed by Jose Zayas 2012), among others.

The company also launched the longest-running solo performance festival in New York City, the soloNOVA Arts Festival (2004-2013), through which over 300 of the best emerging and established solo performers from New York City, regionally, and internationally were presented. soloNOVA ARTS is currently curated throughout the season to showcase the best in innovative solo storytelling, including the best of puppetry, dance, magic, physical theatre, multicharacter monologues, and multi-media. Its focus is to represent various artistic disciplines, cultures and perspectives. terraNOVA Collective has two streams, workshop and production, to support solo work at every stage of development, and gives individualized focus to each artist including artistic, production, and marketing resources.

terraNOVA Collective gives voice to emerging artists annually, providing each individual the freedom to take risks and develop their work within a supportive environment. terraNOVA Collective provides a forum for bold, controversial, and challenging theatrical stories from first draft to full production. We celebrate the energetic diversity of live performance by supporting a variety of dynamic and contrasting works. We believe theatre’s highest purpose is to entertain by examining and discussing the human condition, crossing lines of race, status, gender, sexuality, and culture. We believe in the power of creating community around our art-making, and actively seek opportunities for the new theatre we cultivate.

terraNOVA Collective has received many accolades including the NY Innovative Theatre Foundation’s 2013 Caffe Cino Award for its commitment to Off-Off Broadway and almost 40 NY Innovative Theatre Award nominations, of which 6 were awarded. In 2012, terraNOVA was honored as one of nytheatre.com's "People of the Year".