Today we’d like to introduce you to John R Williams.
Hi John R, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
I have always worked in production. My first professional show here was a production of Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris at 7 Stages Theatre in L5P. That was the Summer of 1984, and I was a sophomore at GSU.
Soon, I was so busy that I really started hiring people to help. I realized that I needed some kind of business training to keep things running smoothly. I was working at Theatre Emory at the time, and between shows I would read about business and economics. It took me a few years to learn what worked for me, but I managed pretty well. The big thing I learned was how to edit your life. Stick with what you know and what you need. It keep you from being distracted. I wondered at that time how long all of this would really last. That was 32 years ago.
We’ve done a lot of different kinds of productions over the years. The city has changed a lot. There was more theatre here in the 80’s and early 90’s. Now there is more music and dance. There is more going on outside the city than ever before. When I started, everyone lived in Atlanta. Over time, so many clients moved north of the city that I eventually followed. It has been interesting to watch the shifts happen. I don’t think it’s a new phenomenon. It’s just the latest version of an older story.
I get asked a lot where I got my name. Getting back to the non-being-distracted-part, the crossing-the-Rubicon metaphor is to make an irreversible decision. That river in northern Italy is so fast and so deep you needed to know your stuff to get across or you would drown. I knew in this crazy business I needed to stay focused. I picked Rubicon because I thought it would remind me of what was at stake so I wouldn’t get distracted.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I feel lucky in that I have had few obstacles over the years. Early on, it was just getting sales, and everyone goes through that part. The big challenge in entertainment is when you’re small you get lost. We are a small boutique type production company and there were just not that many in the 80’s and there are fewer now. Over the years we’ve made a big impact though. Lots of great projects and even a national tour that went on for 8 years. I’m not afraid to take on challenges. I think it’s part of the territory and you learn the most and grow the strongest when you push your own envelope.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m primarily a lighting designer and production manager. I am at almost every show or event we do. I clearly can’t do it all myself but i have a large amount of creative input. I spend as much time as i can working with directors and choreographers to create the best visuals we possible can. I find it rewarding to be a major player in bringing the work to the stage. I also am truly grateful to the wonderful crew people that have worked with me over the years to make everything a seamless reality. You really are only as good as your team.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
My childhood was not the best and I tend not to talk about it. I liked being with the drama and music crowd. I found the world interesting with them and I could also participate and be part of a community that really was affirming for me. It was a beautiful place to go to get away from all the negativity I saw around me. Taking entertainment on as a career is a huge leap of faith. I learned you do better with people around you with a solid support system. Chosen family as it’s been called.
Contact Info:
- Email: johnwilliams@rubiconstudios.com
- Website: www.rubiconstudios.com
Image Credits
John R Williams
Project 7 photo – Naumov
My headshot – Daniel Bastian
