Commentary: Creating magical theater; surviving Nazis and a pandemic. Thanks Portsmouth!

Hello! Ben Hart and Brandon James here, The Mad Men Of Oopsy Daisy Inc - former Executive Artistic Directors of The Seacoast Repertory Theatre. If you haven’t already heard, the current board of trustees has decided to take The Rep in a new direction, and we are no longer at the helm of that most beloved institution. We would like to thank the entire community for the outpouring of love that has surrounded our departure from The Rep.

It has been an honor to dedicate ourselves in service to the mission of the organization for the past decade - the very organization that sparked our love of theatre over 20 years ago as children in The Rep’s classes, camps and productions. Creating universes in that magical little factory basement for the tens of thousands of patrons that pass through its doors every year has been the most fulfilling period of our lives. And now, after over 20 years, it seems it’s time for us to take our final bow.

But first, some parting sentiments to our most precious community. From the bottom of our hearts: We thank you. Through thick and thin, you, our beloved community, were there. When the pandemic hit and ten of us quarantined together to continue to serve our community, you piled food and equipment outside the doors, and taped checks to the window with signs and letters of encouragement, love and appreciation.

When Nazis came to protest our art, you surrounded the building in love. All three times. Your belief in The Rep is what has propelled it forward. For all of these things, we will never be able to thank you enough.

We would also like to take a moment to honor our theatrical ancestors - the past leaders of The Rep, without whom the theatre would not be alive and well today. Each added their magic, and steered the ship through 4 decades of storms: Kathleen Cavalaro, Miles Burns, Craig Faulkner, John McCluggage, and the original founders of The Rep, Roy & Eileen Rogosin (as well all of the interim leaders in between, from Bill Humphreys to Jamie Bradley, and more).

We thank The Rep’s predecessor Theatre By The Sea, as well as the visionaries who curated the culture of the Seacoast and believed in the power of regional theatre to transform Portsmouth, including Joseph Sawtelle, Sumner Winebaum, Nancy Beck, Sue and Bob Thoresen and many others.

And we thank The Bow St. Theatre Trust, the great protectors of the space, including long-time trustees Helen Goransson and Michael Chubrich. We are immensely proud of what The Rep has become during our tenure, none of which could have been accomplished without the support of the community and the scores of artists, technicians and craftspeople who dedicated themselves to that wonderful little factory of art. Just look at all that happened!

In our time with the theatre, we watched the budget grow from $700k to nearly $3 million annually. Major renovations and upgrades were undertaken, and decades of deferred maintenance addressed on that historic landmark. The Rep secured a beautiful new 5k sq/ft studio space and second stage, also the new home of The Rep Academy.

The art on the stage, created by artists from around the world, reached a pinnacle of beauty and innovation, putting The Rep on the map of the American Theatre Scene with features in the New York Times and publications around the globe. We will always hold these memories dear in our hearts, and are incredibly proud of the work done under our leadership. Our parting ask of the community: support locally produced art. Support The Players Ring, Prescott Park, Pontine, NHTP, VIPA, and of course, support The Seacoast Repertory Theatre. These are just a few of the names on the unending list of production companies telling stories in this region.

It is said that in examining the history of mankind, the mark of an evolved society is the culture, music and art it cultivated and put into the world. If that is true, Portsmouth is one of the richest communities the world will ever know. These institutions are a vital part of the cultural fabric of this community, and as such, the community has a responsibility to sustain these organizations. So find the place you love, and support it with all your heart. There are many to choose from, and a little bit of love goes a long way.

What’s next for us?

Our artistic brand & life’s work, The Mad Men of Oopsy Daisy Inc, is as alive as ever! We’re not hard to find, anytime you want to check in (oopsydaisyinc.com). In fact, ’for our next trick’ we’re hitting the road in a remodeled RV, to enjoy a much needed sabbatical and cross country voyage, with our partner and former Rep artist & Red Light Series Curator Jason Faria, and our small black cat, Daisy. We’ll be spending our days like we always have: seeking out adventure, making beautiful art, and sharing it with anyone who cares to look. While we may not be gone from Portsmouth forever, we’re gone for now. But on some shadowy night, when the lamp light hits just right through the fog, you may catch a glimpse of a top hat on a street corner - and you’ll know we Mad Men are alive and well, in the next chapter of our lives.

Ben Hart & Brandon James, The Mad Men of Oopsy Daisy, Inc.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Commentary: Creating magical theater; surviving Nazis and a pandemic