One Year Lease (OYL) is an ensemble based theater company . The foundation of the company is comprised of 7 actors, 4 designers, 2 dramaturgs, and 1 artistic director that work together on a constant basis. OYL invites directors, playwrights, and other artists to work with the company on a revolving basis. Such invited artists are the tenants of OYL.
OYL’s aesthetic is derived from its core ensemble. The ensemble forms the groundwork of the company. We are interested in works that fall under one of the following criteria:
- New works written specifically for the OYL ensemble by emerging or established playwrights who have first workshopped some of their writing with the ensemble.
- Adaptations of classic texts or original classic texts proposed to the ensemble by established directors who have first worked with the company in a workshop setting.
- Existing works that are written specifically for an ensemble based company
- Existing works that the ensemble feels can serve to further their own skills. Such works to be connected to playwrights and/or directors that the company wants to form a sustained collaboration with either by commissioning new work from the playwright or by working on further projects with the director.
We search for one or more of the following qualities in all work that we approach:
- Exploring the realm of magical realism
- Dark comedy
- Exploring a specific physical vocabulary
- Inhabiting a visceral world
We believe that the ensemble model is a community of artists that have come together to cultivate a shared aesthetic.
We maintain that the strength of an ensemble company is the combined effect of individuals who train and work together on a constant basis.
We maintiain that the sustainability of an ensemble company is measured by the variety of work created by the collaboration of the ensemble, invited playwrights and directors and the choice of scripts.
In a continuous effort to further the OYL aesthetic we:
- Perform at least two full-length works in NYC, annually; at least one of the two works being a new piece written specifically for the OYL ensemble. Both pieces must involve at least two members of the ensemble. Each piece must be directed by a different director, at least one of which is not an ensemble member.
- Maintain programs and events in NYC wherein directors and playwrights are invited to workshop pieces with the OYL ensemble.
- Hold a residency in Northern Greece where the company comes together for 3 to 6 weeks annually to train, read scripts, and work in an intimate setting with directors and playwrights invited to work with the company.
- Remain in touch with the roots of the theatrical event as a community based art form and a practice in story telling through running an annual educational program in Northern Greece. Here, students and OYL ensemble members train together and perform in village squares.
- Commission new work from playwrights across the globe and seek out emerging directors internationally.
- Actively seek opportunities to perform in international settings in an effort to expand our audience base.
- Develop documentaries as well as short and full-length films that highlight the ensemble.
Founded in 2000 One Year Lease Theater Company has:
- Produced over 16 shows;
- Internationally toured 6 productions;
- Created a strong and vital student program in Northern Greece wherein students perform alongside OYL ensemble members in up to six villages each summer, and;
- Commissioned work from playwrights across the globe including Greece, Australia, USA and Montenegro to date.
