Co-Founder of the Florence International Theatre Company (FITC), Florence, Italy
by Carol Woodliff
When I think about people who inspire me, I think about cool women doing interesting things and facing the challenges of day to day in the midst of it all. One of those cool women is Bari Hochwald, Co-Founder of the Florence International Theatre Company (FITC) the first international English language theatre company in Florence, Italy.
I met Bari through business networking events about five years ago. Bari seemed to be living the life that I had dreamed for myself. Acting, writing, performing and having a side business to carry her when acting didn’t quite support her. Bari had appeared on shows such as Party of Five, The Practice and C.S.I. She performed her very successful one woman show, NET WORTH in Los Angeles and at the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland to great audience response.
One day, after a 40th birthday trip to visit Florence, she announced to her friends she was moving there. I asked, “what are you going to do in Florence?” She said, “I don’t know but I know I have to be there.” Many of her friends told her she was courageous to move to a foreign country. She didn’t see it as courageous, just something she had to do.
Not only did Bari move to Florence but co-founded FITC once she was there. FITC gathers together a community of international artists to bring English language theatre to Florence and also has a strong mission to serve the community. The company has completed its first season where it attracted over 1400 audience members to its 7 projects in its first six months of production. Of those 7 projects 3 were main stage productions while the remaining 4 were community outreach programming. FITC’s “Creative Campus,” program gives the over 10,000 college students who come to Florence each year an opportunity for creative and positive alternatives to over-indulging in bars and pubs. FITC initiated a community-performed commemoration for the Day of Memory for the Holocaust. What’s even more amazing is that Bari and her community of artists has done all this in SIX MONTHS!
Agnes of God Production at Florence International Theatre Center. (Bari on the right!)
Over the course of several emails I did an interview with Bari, which became this article.
Carol: Did anything specific occur that made you decide to move abroad?
Bari: That question alone is fascinating to me. I didn’t think about it at all then. I didn’t really consider that I was “moving abroad.” I just considered that I was doing what I was supposed to do. I felt led in a sense, it felt right. Looking back on it I realize now why so many people kept telling me I was “courageous.” That word didn’t make sense to me at the time. God knows I understand the depth of it, and probably much more then they could have imagined, since coming here.
Bari in Florence!
Carol: You had some initial resistance to the idea that you might make a good article what made you think that?
Bari: You used the word “inspiring” and I guess, truthfully, I just feel like I’m living my life… just trying to figure things out like everyone else. I didn’t look at moving to Florence as “a dream.” I looked at it as the thing I was supposed to do. It’s been the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life on every level. It requires pushing and shoving and developing at a superhuman level every day and because it requires that I thought I wouldn’t make a good article. I thought when I learn how to not push and shove and be superhuman to form something–if and when I learn THAT, then I would be a good article!
Carol: What’s the most exciting part of what you are doing right now?
Bari: I have no idea what is going to happen. But I do know I’ve done my absolute best and for that I am excited to see where it leads. One of the things that jazz me is connecting people and giving opportunity for the best of them to be shared with the community. I believe in the connections of various communities with creative experience. I believe that the arts can, truly, make a positive affect for the world and that the theatre arts – as a living creation – can be a joining point for human expression and exchange. I hope FITC can be an example of what the arts can do for a community – even one as difficult as Florence.
Carol: So where is the company after your first season?
Bari: This year we have almost not a dime and yet we are moving forward. We have close to 500 people on our mailing list. We gave more wonderful events for Creative Campus students and a rapidly growing interest in that program. We are launching English Spettacolare! to “activate” the English language for children through theatre workshops. We have located wonderful theatre artists here and abroad who want to work with us, who write us from India, Germany, US, England, etc. That is all exciting! But then we have a theatre which we can’t afford to pay rent on let alone put clothes on the actors or print fliers for the productions.
Carol: You mention that Florence is difficult. When people hear theatre company in Florence it sounds very romantic but I know nothing is as simple as it seems. What have been the challenges in moving from the idea of the company to getting through its first season?
Bari: I think when people hear “Florence” it sounds romantic. People have a view of this city as being international, the seat of great culture, art and intellect. And it was… 500 years ago. But today Florence is a city in trouble. Because it insists on preserving itself as an almost “living museum.” People can’t live in a museum. That is something you visit then you go home. 11,000,000 people a year do that and enjoy themselves for the 1.5 days they are here. But several hundreds of thousands live here. For them, this city does not answer the basic needs of modern life. There’s an energy here that almost challenges you to try to do anything. It’s enormous. I do feel as if I’ve tried to move the ancient stones of the Palazzo Vecchio (the seat of the government for the city) with my own body since I’ve moved here. Florence does not have a resident professional theatre company in any language. So we are not only foreigners trying to get something done, we are trying to do it in a city that doesn’t even have a long-standing support of theatre.
Bari as Vixen in “The Eight” at FITC.
Carol: What’s the hardest part?
Bari: The hardest thing I have ever done in my life has been to get FITC up and running and, frankly, I question that we’re anywhere near having done that yet even with all we have accomplished. There have been so many challenges from finding a reliable performance space, to dealing with the different culture of business in Italy, lack of sense of community support of the arts, to dealing with the diverse cultures of people performing and supporting the production, taking meetings in the Italian language has been a real challenge. I only speak at a level of less than two years.
Carol: Any regrets? What would you do differently?
Bari: As hard as it is to believe – I wouldn’t have done any thing differently. Because I think that if we had tried to grow FITC at a slower pace, then it would have taken 5 years instead of one to have produced everything we have and learn that the city is resistant to what we offer, even as it so desperately needs it. Also, I don’t believe in having regrets. I believe in learning lessons and I’ve certainly had a lot of those. I absolutely trust that I am moving in the right direction. Even if that takes me out of Florence someday.
Carol: Artists are the people who help us stay connected to our spirit, our creativity and possibilities. What do you do for yourself to fill yourself up to make sure you can do the hard work that you need to do?
Bari: Only recently I realized I was producing, producing, producing but not receiving – not in touch with the part of myself that is spirit and my true voice. I have worked 7 days a week since September of 2006 and took one day off in August from FITC and my other work here (I teach acting and writing). That is not good for creativity and spirit. Rest is important–and meditation. So I give myself an hour each morning to read, write and meditate. I think it’s changed my life.
I actually wonder if that’s what is needed in the world. We are all so productive all the time, trying to “get” somewhere. Where are we going?
Carol: I know you don’t like to be thought of as an example, but what would you tell someone who has a strong urge to do something that seems like a huge leap?
Bari: I guess I would say that if there is something you want to do…. Because you feel you should… then it’s not a huge leap. It’s a step that probably requires many actions, or some significant ones, but it’s not a “leap.” A leap indicates jumping from one location to another. In other words there’s terrain missing between the two…. And even though I lifted myself out of LA and went to Florence it wasn’t without steps to get me here…. I think I’m talking about perspective…. Not seeing yourself separated from what you want…. but called to it. And that calling then tells you what actions you will need to take. And then you take them. And, all along the way, simply accept that it isn’t going to be easy. Life isn’t easy. But it’s still beautiful and an incredible adventure.
Carol: When’s your season? If people are going to be in Florence-how can they check you out?
Bari: Ah the inevitable question which I WISH I could tell you definitively, but we ARE in Florence and since we have been trying for 3 weeks straight to get the truly lovely man from the Cestello Theatre to meet with us (I think tomorrow unless he cancels again!) then I’m not even sure we have a theatre! Of course that’s not stopped us from doing things….. so PLEASE tell people to visit our website and sign up for our newsletter which comes out no more than 1 time per month and gives all the information… as we know it!
Carol: I know arts organizations are always struggling for funding, Is there a way for our readers to contribute?
Bari: We are more than grateful for all contributions to FITC. And we are able to accept dollars now which can be tax-deducted either from individuals, corporate and foundation grants and sponsorships. I am, with FITC, a sponsored artist of the not-for-profit organization in NYC called “The Field” and all contributions can be made to us through them. For information someone can write me at bari@florencetheatre.com or find the info on our website: www.florencetheatre.com.
From Carol: I encourage our readers who love the theatre to support FITC through The Field. No amount is too small!