Our Mission, Vision, & Story
Murmuration Theatre Co was created to move forward in three directions: to spotlight unsung creators and artists; to make art that connects with and materially helps our community; and to build connections within the independent theatre community.​
​
As early-career creatives grapple with the crash isolation of COVID lockdowns, we hear more and more that it's difficult to find community.​ It's also tricky to transition theatre from a curriculum, hobby, or dream into the strategic navigation of an opaque (and often exclusionary) industry. In the "professional" world—even in a place where there are a TON of projects happening, like NYC—opportunities to learn the basics or work on upping your skill level are scarce and often prohibitively expensive.
​​
Our team is also interested in moving towards a more mutual support model of independent theater. Big commercial ventures often rely on existing IP and high ticket prices; we believe in a future of independent theater where intra-organizational relationships (materials sharing, knowledge sharing, etc) cut costs and increase overall attendance, with lower ticket prices that make theater more accessible to the general public.
​​
We’re also grounding our practice in the theory that we can provide real and consistent value to the areas where we perform. By working on timely pieces and partnering with relevant community organizations, by considering statistics and the day-to-day needs of NYC residents, we can format our programming around building conversations, running educational events, and providing needed resources. We don’t operate in a vacuum.​​
Why are we called "Murmuration"?
Literally speaking, "Murmuration" means
1. (v) the act of murmuring (intimate communications)
2. (n) large groups of birds, usually starlings, that all fly together and change direction together.
​
In one sense, Murmuration is a play on words. Theater is largely a verbal art form, our purpose is to start conversations, and we're all coming into the room to connect.
The second definition is a little more abs​​tract.
​
From Wonderopolis:
"As they fly, the starlings in a murmuration seem to be connected together. They twist and turn and change direction at a moment's notice...Scientists believe murmurations are similar to other systems, such as crystals forming, avalanches, metals becoming magnetized and liquids turning to gases. These systems are 'on the edge,' which means they're ready to be completely transformed in an instant...Regardless of the size of the murmuration, all the birds seem to be connected to the same network."
​​
The idea of an interconnected network is important to us — like a synaptic net, a dance, or a gymnastic pyramid
The idea of following each other and not orienting around a leader is also important to us:
flowing shifts in leadership, of community action and mutual uplift,
agility and responsiveness to the environment,
& continuing to adjust to the present moment​​​
Poet Linda France on murmurations as an inspiration point:
"I wanted to borrow their natural capacity for shared purpose, communication, and movement to embody what human beings might be capable of if they worked together to address the biggest ever challenge facing the planet and all its species and systems — the perfect storm of the climate emergency, mass extinction and an unprecedented global pandemic…"
_edited_edit.jpg)
