The Essentials was founded in the believe that great theater is important. And to make great theater it is essential for each collaborating artist to have stake in the artistic success of the play.

Theater plays an essential role in our civic dialogue. And we should increase that role.  It is essential to make plays that reach both the community that actively sees theater already and the one that does not. 

Finally, we believe in theater for a noisy audience. Great plays cause audiences to laugh out loud, to stand up in outrage, to murmur in accord, to cry in empathy and guffaw in self-recognition.  We believe that in a world awash in easy entertainment choices, theater’s trump card is its essential ability to connect a live audience with stories, ideas, artists, and itself.  We’re just not sure who should be louder.

Aesthetic

Our plays should have a generous and spirited ensemble performance, each  detail filled in surprisingly inventive ways, a sense of humor and entertainment and a respectful acknowledgment of the audience.