Today we’d like to introduce you to Timothy Mark Davis.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
When I was in 8th grade, my dad told me he would pay me $100 if I auditioned for my school’s Christmas show and sang a solo. I auditioned, got a part, and had a few solo singing lines.
That was 15 years ago, and I really haven’t stopped doing theatre since then! I did it all through high school and college. I got my Master of Arts in Theatre Studies. I taught High School theatre for two years, and since 2014, I’ve been building New City Players with a group of friends who are also theatre artists.
In 2016, we incorporated and received our 501(c)(3) status, and in 2017, I began working for the company full time focusing on fundraising and marketing, in addition to producing, directing, and acting. We are now in our fourth season of productions, have two employees, and an active ensemble made up of 13 theatre artists.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Haha no! Sadly, it seems that one of the continuing struggles has been financial. While we have remained in the black since our beginning, it hasn’t been easy, and there have definitely been times when we were unsure about the company’s future. But we have an incredible group of sponsors and donors who have continually rallied around us, seen the value of theatre in our community, and given generously.
New City Players – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I think I’ll always view myself as an actor first. That’s what got me into this. It’s what I love to do more than anything else. It’s what I look forward to the most. I’ve also come to love creating environments where other artists can flourish… which is what I consider producing to be. I put in a lot of hours on the administrative side of the company so that the artists in our company can do what they do best. I’m probably best known for being kind of wacky on social media haha.
I met someone recently for the first time who said they’d seen me on facebook live several times, so they instantly recognized me! I love that our company is serious about branding, great photos and videos, professional web presence, but also not taking ourselves too seriously. We can get silly, and that’s part of our charm (I hope anyways!!).
I definitely think our online presence is an important aspect of our company that sets us part. Most importantly, however, it’s our ensemble approach that sets us apart. We are a family of artists who loves working together, challenging each other, having fun together, and creating art together. It’s not always easy, but it is so rewarding.
So, what should we be on the lookout for, what’s next in store for you?
We’re always thinking about a space we can call our own. We want to do more shows, add education programs, and have a consistent venue that attracts people for multiple reasons. We’re also committed to increasing artist compensation every year.
Pricing:
- Ticket prices: $35 for adults; $30 for seniors (65+); $20 for students
Contact Info:
- Address: 1501 S Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 (Theater Address – The Vanguard)
100 N Federal Hwy Unit C4, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 (Event Space Address – Cafe Collective) - Website: www.newcityplayers.org
- Phone: 9543583671
- Email: ncp@newcityplayers.org
- Instagram: instagram.com/newcityplayers
- Facebook: facebook.com/newcityplayers
- Twitter: twitter.com/newcityplayers
Image Credit:
Ryan Arnst Photography
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