The ETC Program serves two producing companies to develop and strengthen their organizational structure over a five-year period through the support of Resident Theatre Company mentors and BCA staff. imaginary beasts and New Exhibition Room have been selected as the inaugural companies for the Emerging Theatre Company Program that began on July 1.

Check out the recent Boston.com blog post on imaginary beast's Winter Panto - Humpty Dumpty

Since its inception in 2007, imaginary beasts has gone on to experience a period of steady growth, performing in several locations on the north shore, in Cambridge and in Boston. Its most recent production, “The Crazy Locomotive” by Stanislaw Ignacy Witkiewicz, was performed at the Plaza Black Box Theatre at the BCA. Matthew Woods, a graduate of Hamilton College and the A.R.T. Institute for Advanced Theatre Training at Harvard is the founder of the company.

Co-Artistic Directors A. Nora Long and Dawn Simmons started New Exhibition Room together in 2007, with its first full-length production premiering in 2009.  The company has performed in Boston and Cambridge, and toured its original production of “Shh!” to the New York Fringe Festival in 2010.  Its most recent production, “Story Time Preservation Hour” was performed at the Boston Playwrights’ Theatre.

Over a five-year term, the BCA will help these two companies achieve organizational stability and excellence. The specific goals of the program will be tailored to the needs of the accepted theatre companies. Possible goals include:

• Achieving 501(c) 3 non-profit status
• Establishing a fully functional executive board
• Creating a business plan
• Creating a board-approved strategic plan
• Increasing staff size
• Increasing the number of annual productions
• Establishing/improving community or education programs

BCA support will include access to reduced-rent theatre space (in Rehearsal Hall A and the Plaza Black Box Theatre) and professional development by BCA staff and outside consultants. ETCs will work with the BCA to create a series of achievable goals for growth and stability.

In addition to the support provided directly by the BCA, ETCs will be mentored by BCA’s Resident Theatre Companies, who will provide advice, workshops, training and networking assistance.