An Interview with Left Hip co-founder Diamando Stratakos

Left Hip Pocket

Hey, Diamando! Thanks for giving us the opportunity to talk with you.

Diamando Stratakos

Thanks for asking me

LHP

Let's get the general housekeeping chores out of the way first. Tell us a little about who you are and what you do.

DS

My name is Diamando Stratakos and I am a founding member of Left Hip Productions, a theater company based in NYC. I'm also an actor, producer, director, and playwright

LHP

So, you're a producer. That's almost a naughty word for an artist. Why'd you decide to "go to the dark side"?

DS

When I was in college, I found myself in a highly competitive environment for actors. I wasn't getting the types of opportunities I wanted, so I decided to start creating some for myself. I helped form a company called Up & Running Productions at Syracuse University. That was where I first realized that my obsessive compulsive perfectionism could actually be a positive attribute.

LHP

Well, I can attest to the OCP -- having been on the receiving end of it. Let me ask you this ... do you think being a producer is actually the dark side?

DS

I think being a producer is both light and dark, but most of all, it's necessary. Producing forces people to know everything about the business. Producing has made me a better artist. And I like being in charge, so playing in the dark side of things is fun.

LHP

Fair enough. Take a walk with me. You are at Syracuse University "Up and Running", then you land in New York City. Now you are Left and Hip. Fill in some of the details, please.

DS

After college, I went to Greece for six months to hang out with my family and get a tan. While I was there, I met a famous Greek television actress who ran a theater company in Athens. I took a job as her associate producer.

I had to leave that job to go back to the US.

Then I worked on and off as a stage manager at the Kitchen Theatre in Ithaca, NY until I finally followed a guy (and my dreams) to NYC.

Then, I sort of let my side job of being a waitress take my life over. I wasn't sure I wanted to be involved in theater anymore. Then, in November of 2008, I ran into an old friend from college, Jason Surratt. I had produced some of his work.

Before I knew it, we were producing a festival of 24 short plays, and soon after that, Left Hip Productions was formed. Of course, I never would have had time for any of that had I not injured myself bartending.

LHP

How many shows are you and Left Hip responsible for to date?

DS

I have to take a minute to count them all, but I believe the number is 60 ten minute plays, a full length play, and two one-act plays. Some of those were collaborations with the Gene Frankel Theatre- just to set the record straight.

LHP

In just over a year? So, what do you do with all your free time?

DS

Ha!

Honestly, besides the theater and going to physical therapy, there isn't time for much else. Good thing I really like theater.

LHP

I had to ask. To recap: Is it safe to say ... Tanning in Greece, bad. Bartending, bad. Boys, bad. Theater, good. Dreams, good.

DS

I'm not one to say that any experience is bad. Honestly, had it not been for Greece, bartending, and boys, I wouldn't be at the point where theater and dreams were happening. Also, there is nothing bad about Greece.

In the future, I hope to take Left Hip Productions global with my first stop being in the birthplace of theater.

LHP

Possaic*, New Jersey? (Is that how you spell that?)

DS

I'm not sure how you spell that, but I think we may be referring to two different types of theater.

LHP

Let's talk a little about your type of theater.

DS

Sure, what do you want to know?

LHP

What is Left Hip theater? What's the goal?

DS

Left Hip Productions is all about being part of a community. The people involved in the creative process are the driving force behind everything we do. Collaboration is key to our success.

Our flagship program is a festival called From the Hip. It's a 48-Hour play festival that thrusts playwrights, directors, and actors into a collaborative environment and forces them to create new work.

It's fun and fast and crazy. Through doing these festivals, we have managed to meet hundreds of truly talented artists.

LHP

What are you working on right now? Besides a serious case of sleep deprivation, I mean ...

DS

There is so much going on right now, I'm not sure where to begin.

LHP

Tell me a little about the next show.

DS

Our next big event is the 8x10 Glossy Shorts: Plays from the Left Hip. It is an evening of eight 10-minute plays. Half of these plays were created in our From the Hip festivals, some of them are new plays from playwrights we have worked with before, and one of the plays is from a playwright we have just met.

This series is a great way for us to give opportunities to our community members and cultivate our play development program.

LHP

So, it's not all about fast? Something else is going on here?

DS

Absolutely. Fast is fun and forces creativity and collaboration, but it isn't the be all and end all. From the Hip is a great way to meet people and get ideas for new shows. Right now, our focus is on taking people and product from the fast environment and giving them the time and place to shine.

LHP

We'll be interviewing some of the playwrights, directors and actors later, but tell me something. When all is said and done, what would you like the artists and the audiences to get out of what you and the rest of the Left Hip Productions crew are doing?

DS

I would like people to understand that creating theater is a multi-faceted process. It's not just about the play, or the actors, or the venue. It's about all the people coming together for a common goal. That's what makes theater so magical.

I know that sounds corny. But at the end of the day, if I'm helping create an environment where people can make their dreams come true, I've succeeded.

LHP

So, it's not just you trying to get back to Greece the hard way?

DS

I am looking rather pale these days...

LHP

That's OK. No one is getting a chance to see you anyway.

DS

True. I'm at every Left Hip Productions event though. And there are a lot of those.

LHP

So, if you are looking for a pasty, driven professional with a passion for what she does ...

DS

I'm your gal.

LHP

All right. I'm done laughing now. Let's do a little shameless self-promotion (Or, rather, a little more shameless self-promotion). If someone reading this is inspired to help out, what can they do?

DS

If someone wants to get involved, they should check out our website at www.LeftHipProductions.com and send us an email at submissions@lefthipproductions.com. It also can't hurt for them to come to one or more of our shows and introduce themselves. Our next show starts Wednesday, February 10 at 7PM at The Shell Theatre.

LHP

Details are on the website.

DS

By the time anyone reads this, they will be.

LHP

I don't know, I'm pretty quick with the postings.

DS

I better get back to work and stop talking to you then!

LHP

Fair enough. Diamando, it's been a pleasure.

DS

For me as well. Next time, let's talk on the beach somewhere. I would hate to be known forever as the pasty girl.

LHP

No worries there. It's good to have goals.

DS

Too true. All right, I'm putting my nose back to the grindstone (though I don't really get that expression). Thanks for the chat!

LHP

Any time ... you have time. Check out Diamando's pasty self from Feb. 10-14 at The Shell Theater, 300 W. 43rd Street, The Times Square Arts Center, 4th Floor. She's not just producing this one. There will be some acting and some directing going on. She's a multi-faceted woman.

DS

But still you had to plug me as pasty. Oh well, I can't win them all.

LHP

Don't need anyone stealing your concentration and dedication, Diamando. There's too much theater to make.

DS

I'm on it. See you there.

* It's actually Passaic. We Googled it, so we know it's true.

POCKET NOTE:This is the first of many interviews with Off-Off Broadway's rich theatrical community. Stay tuned for more.

FINALE NIGHT JUDGES

Want to know a little bit more about our panel of judges at last night's finale? Here are links to their work.

Michael Roderick started Small Pond Entertainment five years ago when he found that it was virtually impossible for an artist to be at their best when they also had to produce. He developed a system for the advancement of a producing organization to be the umbrella for shows that lacked producers. Over the years Small Pond has become a major name in the NYC Theatre Community having presented shows in numerous venues and with hundreds of different artists. As Artistic Director, Michael has produced over 30 shows since his arrival in NY in September 2002. He has also been the organizer of networking events that have included representatives from The New York Musical Theatre Festival, Fractured Atlas, and RWS casting and Associates. He holds a BA in Secondary Ed English and Theatre performance from Rhode Island College and an MA from NYU in Educational Theatre Colleges and Communities. Michael also teaches English at LaSalle Academy where he is the head of the drama program. He has written 15 plays and his play "I'll do it Tomorrow" will be published in the 2004- 2005 Best American Short Plays published by Applause books. He also plans on eventually publishing a book about his first year teaching called "Stage Fright", as well as a young adult novel titled "Norin's Quest: Beyond the Gates of Lavender. He also blogs daily at oneproducerinthecity.typepad.com.

Matte O'Brien is a graduate of Syracuse University. He is the producing artistic director of Rope Swing Entertainment. As a prolific playwright. His works include, "The Meaning of Life," "Morning has broken," and soon to be seen on Broadway this spring, "White Noise."

First night of performances a success!

Last night was Friday the 13th- and boy did it show on stage! Seriously though, despite some technical difficulties, last night's show was a huge success.

Here are some comments from the audience-
This show is not to be missed! There is still a chance to see the three winning shows from last night, this Sunday the 15th at 7PM. Or come see a brand new set of 6 ten minute plays TONIGHT AT 8PM-

All shows are on the 5th floor of the Roy Arias Theatre in the Times Square Art Center at 300 West 43rd Street.

Don't miss out!

"Hilarious"

"Original"

"INVENTIVE, Very Stylized."

"Screwball!"
"Awesomeness!!"
"Sick."

"Great! A 10."
"Hot"
"Took to a new level of delightful..."

"Tasteless."

"Phenomenal."

"Innovative, yet comprehensible."

From the Hip: Horror Festival Actor: Esi Sogah

Esi Sogah is delighted to be involved with her first From the Hip Festival. She is especially thrilled to have a chance to work with Diamando and Danika again after all these years. Favorite roles include Helene in "Sweet Charity" and Susan in "Company". Born in Wilmington, DE, raised in Ithaca, NY, and currently living in New York City, Esi spends her days editing romance novels and other fiction for Avon Books.

From the Hip: Horror Festival Actor: Shara Ashley Zeiger

SHARA ASHLEY ZEIGER is thrilled to be working with From the Hip! Most recently she performed in "Wawapalooza: The Dark Roast" on The Society Hill Playhouse's Mainstage as part of the Philadelphia Fringe Festival. In New York Shara's performed with La MaMa E.T.C., PS 122, American Globe, and more, and around the country at Bristol Riverside Theatre, Bucks County Playhouse, National Theater for Arts and Education, etc. Shara's awaiting the festival premeire of indie spy thriller "Harts Ridge," and recently shot some print for GSK. You can see Shara clowning around doing various physical theatre and stand-up comedy around the city. She holds a degree in Drama from Ithaca College and is an alum of The National Theater Institute, Studio 5, and Zen of Clown. http://www.youtube.com/user/sharaashleyz

From the Hip: Horror Festival Actor: David Tracy

DAVID TRACY most recently appeared in the 2009 Philadelphia Fringe/Live Arts Festival production of GETTING YOUR LIFE. He has been seen in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s THE MUSIC OF THE NIGHT touring Germany, Austria (performing at the famed Vienna Opera House), and Italy. He has appeared in SWEENEY TODD, THE MUSIC MAN, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (Puck), THE JUDAS KISS (Robbie), EVITA (Magaldi), THE VELVETEEN RABBIT (The Little Boy), SHE LOVES ME (Kodaly), THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW (Frank N. Furter) and spent two seasons with The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival appearing in RICHARD III, TWELFTH NIGHT, WINNIE THE POOH, and THE FESTIVAL GREENSHOW. As a concert artist, David has performed his solo show at THE DUPLEX and DON'T TELL MAMA'S and regionally, with the Reading Symphony Orchestra (PA). He hosted NYC’s SHOTGUN THEATER FESTIVAL (Gene Frankel Theater & 45th Street Theater) and back in the day, performed onboard Spirit Cruises. He is excited to be working on this project with the LEFT HIP team although he misses Gail and her dog.

From the Hip: Horror Festival Actor: Melissa Abreu

Melissa “Meli” Abreu began studying the art of Acting after interning for Spike Lee on his movie, “Inside Man”. She joined Kimball Studio shortly thereafter and booking gigs. She’s worked on two Indie Features (Buena Gente, showing at the Queens International Film Festival) and The Day We’ve Waited for, PSA (Stick With The Plan), Theatre (Sisters and The Vagina Monologues, as the Coochie Snorcher) and music video (I Am The World); Meli’s also in pre-production for a short film inspired by Junot Diaz. She’s thrilled to be a part of the Horror Festival and thanks From the Hip, her Family, Friends and Caballeros for their support!