Here in town, at New Leaf Theatre, wer’e developing a kind of working model of this type of organization which is still developing but enjoying some success - check out our blog there for some more insight into how we operate. And we’re not the only ones in town doing this internal nurturing of the company approach. I’d say that the Neo-Futurists have elements of tribe-thinking in the way they develop playwrights, and if I’m missing any that really use this ensemble-developing-each-other model, feel free to plug them here in the comments.

Many of my theory-based ideas on creative tribes come from reacting to another theater blog, Theatre Ideas, which goes a little bit more into the theory behind the model. He also borrows heavily from the book Beyond Civilization. That’s a definite must read as well.

Anyway, those are some resources out there. Chicago’s a really special town, and one of the only cities in the world where the ensemble company is really being explored and nurtured, and I’ll be the first to tell you that there are some potential issues with it (the potential for internal roadblocks to diversity being a major one) In the end, those are just problems that need solving within a really strong idea. I think more than the model of the freelancer - individual achievement and personal fame and success - theaters built like a creative tribe could lead to a self-sustaining theater community including a new audience, and healthier regional theaters as well.

I am very intrigued by your tribal idea of a new theatre company. I am in the middle of teaching a theatre management class and Loyola to undergrads. Their project is to make a new theatre company on paper. We have been discussing models, the use of technology and social networking, etc…I would love to perhaps have you as a guest in my class…interested? Let me know. I would love to add your prespective into the conversation.

Cheers, April