Today we’d like to introduce you to Sam Ross.
Sam, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I have been acting from a very young age. Went to a performance arts high school where I studied theater, dance, voice and percussion. Was accepted by a top acting school that I could not afford and ended up taking a small scholarship at a state school. Unfortunately, I left the program after a year losing the scholarship and started studying accounting. I ended up getting an MPA and CPA and joined a large firm in Atlanta, which was my initial connection to the city.
I always knew or at least thought I would return to acting. I felt I just needed to make enough money so that I wouldn’t lose another creative opportunity because of my inability to afford it. I started Down Right Theater in Duluth, GA and ran that for five years. In the fifth year, I was offered an opportunity to get my Masters in Fine Arts at Trinity Rep in Providence, RI, under the artistic direction of Oskar Eustis. I didn’t want to pass this up and had to decide between Down Right and my masters. As a result, Down Right was sold to the founders of the Aurora, which is now in Lawrenceville.
After Providence, I moved to Los Angeles, where I started working here and there in film and TV. The experience was not rewarding for me and I started choosing theater jobs on the East Coast over TV work. I co-founded Vanguard Repertory Company while in Los Angeles that was a physical-based theater company that only developed brand new work; it was this work with Vanguard and a performance of a play I saw at the Abbey in Dublin, Ireland that rededicated me to theater completely. I realized that the work that I wanted to do was not going to work in Los Angeles and decided to head back to Atlanta.
Once back, I started the Windmill Arts Center. The original idea behind the Windmill was to provide a home for Vanguard Repertory Company as we continued to develop new work. I discovered quickly during the renovation of the building that would house Windmill that, like most major cities, space for artistic development is very scarce. The objective of the Windmill began to morph into not just being about our work but about the work of any artist with new ideas and new visions. The mission of Windmill is now to be an incubator for young artists that are not well funded but still want a functioning space to create and work.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It never is smooth. The renovation process alone almost beat me. I had hired a contractor who simply was dishonest and incompetent. The renovation that was supposed to last four months lasted a year and a half, costing significantly more than budgeted. As a result, I had to go back to work as an accountant to help fund the deficit created by the delay of Windmill opening.
Once open, the building has been serving its mission. It essentially makes enough money to keep the doors open. No one, including myself, takes a salary for the work of operating the Windmill. The downside is that my greatest strength with young artists is helping them navigate producing and marketing their work. In maintaining a full-time job outside of the Windmill, my availability is often limited to helping the artists.
The building was actually looking forward to a string year of profitability in 2020. The Windmill had bookings every weekend through December 2020 until COVID hit. Windmill lost all of that revenue in about a week as the cancellations materialized. However, Windmill will continue to be financially supported by me personally until the virus is over and people decide to come back to live events.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Windmill Arts Center – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
Some of this was already covered. Mostly I am proud of the groups that we have been able to help get produced that otherwise would not have had a voice. Windmill also has actively recruited interesting and dynamic arts groups to become “artists in residence.” Many of these groups have been recognized by various critics and audiences as having created or are creating some of the most exciting art in Atlanta.
Windmill is also very proud of the record of hiring, casting, producing, promoting and mentoring the underrepresented voices in the theater scene in Atlanta.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Windmill’s goal in the next few years is to provide a unique season of work from all of the resident artists. The work would all be brand new and would represent the best in dance, theater, and film. The season would consist of shows from each of these artists.
In the meantime, the Windmill will continue to foster new work through its annual Excuse the Art showcase proudly co-produced with the amazing creatives of Fly on a Wall.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2823 Church St
East Point GA 30344 - Website: www.thewindmillatl.com
- Email: info.thewindmillatl@gmail.com
Suggest a story: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
