April 1, 1986 (April Fool’s Day), ten intrepid actors met to explore a few simple question: What if performances got consistently more real and more spontaneous?
This same fundamental question has driven our 40-year journey (the first 40 years). What started with weekly meetings with a resident ensemble, became a daily exercise with thousands of actors, directors, writers, teachers, designers, filmmakers, improvisers, comedians, and even corporate executives.
Our path towards maximizing the potential of storytelling in all forms has led us to mind-blowingly meaningful experiences—far too many to recount in a newsletter.
In a nutshell, here are a few of the things we’ve learned over the years…
Kindness, curiosity, nurturing, freedom, and openness live at the core of The Barrow Group’s aesthetic. The Barrow Group community and approach changes lives. Each year, we witness folks expressing through tears, the extraordinary impact TBG has had on them.
At this 40-year mark, we want to share that the impact is multi-directional. You have changed our lives too! It feels somehow most important at this 40-year mark, to say, “Thank you!” Thanks for being part of this on-going endeavor. Thanks for brightening up our days. Thanks for sharing yourselves, Thanks for expressing your talent. Thanks for supporting each other!
To say we could not have done this without you is the understatement of the century. You are the reason The Barrow Group exists and, whether you know it or not, you are woven into the tapestry that began one crazy April day, 40 years ago.
With endless gratitude,
Seth, Lee & Robert