Today we’d like to introduce you to Charlie T Thomas.
Charlie, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
The phrase ‘do what you can, right where you are’, is probably the best way to describe how Remedy came to be.
Remedy came out of a personal need that grew to something so much more. I was having a rough time mentally and emotionally, and I was really striving to find ways to make sense of it all, hopefully through my art. I was reading through a copy of Twelfth Night (my favorite Shakespeare play), and it dawned on me how every character was struggling in the same way, either directly or indirectly. It was incredibly human, incredibly inspiring. So I gathered a group of my friends and decided to perform this play with a specific leaning towards mental/emotional struggles, and I decided I would give the proceeds to the Mental Health Association of GA.
Everyone was a volunteer, and we worked very hard and very quickly in the room. Towards the end of the rehearsal process, I realized I wanted to keep doing this–creating art and spaces for others to talk while offering some donations to charities. That’s where Remedy Theatre Project was born.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Well, I’ve never started anything like this before. There were a ton of questions at the beginning. How many shows do I do a season? Do we have seasons? Do I do this alone, or do I create a board? Are my friends the people I should create this with? How do I keep up with the money? ARE PEOPLE GOING TO COME!?
Honestly, most of the struggle has been with my insecurities with stepping out and making something from scratch. But people have been so gracious with offering time and advice, so I’ve never felt truly alone in the process.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Remedy Theatre Project – what should we know?
Remedy Theatre Project is a company, a gateway, and a meeting place. The goal is to find charities that speak to the world today (and there’s PLENTY). Then we match those charities with plays or musicals and decide to perform those, giving the proceeds to the paired charity. We will also have talkbacks with those we’re paired with, allowing the audience and community a chance to interact in a structured, safe environment. So, all of our productions have a direction, a purpose. It’s a great way for artists to extend their reach into the world around them and immediately see a result. Plus it allows us to become more educated about the world around us. All of this while striving to provide strong, clear storytelling in our productions with diverse casting and themes. We rehearse in a truncated process, usually during off days and times, so that artists can keep their other gigs and opportunities while working with us. In November, we’ll be announcing our first official season, and we couldn’t be more thrilled. We’re also hoping to have a slot in our season where others can submit projects that we can assist producing, which is really exciting.
At the end of the day, we want to become a place where artists can express their work and do good in the world
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Remedy, put simply, is a passion project. Its a continuation of love. The company is created with only volunteers. No one is technically staffed. We’re small, we’re new, and getting out there is difficult. But the team behind RTP is passionate about EVERYTHING–the art, the charities, the outreach, and the people. Passion is why we’re here and why we will do our best. I could feel that watching our production of Twelfth Night. And I only believe it’ll get bigger and better as we go along.
Contact Info:
- Email: RTPATL@outlook.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/rtpatl
- Facebook: facebook.com/rtpatl
Image Credit:
Twelfth Night Design; Amanda Lindsey, First photo and headshot: Kevin Harry Photography
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