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Theater troupe makes debutLOWELL -- Jerry Bisantz is bringing his dream to Lowell.Bisantz is president and cofounder of The Image Theater Company, which he plans to use as a staging ground for his long-held ambition to mount original works -- including his own.
''I've been making theater for other companies for many years, and I figured it was time to do something for myself," he said. ''It's about creative freedom."
Image Theater will offer its first production, a festival of short works called Mill City Minutes, for the next two weekends at McDonough Arts Magnet Theater. Altogether, there are 12 10-minute plays and one musical, ''Romance 101 -- The Musical!," cowritten by Bisantz and Stephen Gilbane of Arlington.
Bisantz and cofounders Ann Garvin and Gilbane see this festival as the start of a long run of original works, a start that not only fulfills their personal dreams but one that they believe adds to the vibrancy of the city's up-and-coming arts scene.
''The ultimate dream is to have a theater company where you can produce the type of work that you see as good and original," said Garvin, a Newton resident and registered nurse. ''And I think that will help us continue to do what we want to do, which is giving a voice to local playwrights."
Bisantz, a licensed optician, met Gilbane and Garvin several years ago through their theater work. The trio developed close relationships working together on various productions since then.
So when Bisantz inherited The Image Theater Company from its creators, Ron Ritchell and Polly Hogan, founders of The Lyric Stage Company of Boston, Bisantz knew he wanted Garvin and Gilbane with him.
The three considered locating their young enterprise in Boston, but they felt Image Theater could get lost among the theater groups already established there.
''After looking around Boston and pounding the pavement -- there are so many theater companies in Boston -- and trying to find space to rent and create a niche, I said, 'Forget about Boston,' " Bisantz said.
Bisantz, who lives in Lowell with his wife and their two children, decided to look closer to home.
''I think you can make a louder noise in Lowell," he explained. ''And the city is exploding with artists, and they're open to new ideas. I think they're ready for this."
As the three get going, they've found support from various circles. The University of Massachusetts at Lowell donated rehearsal space, while theater enthusiasts provided a strong showing at an April fund-raiser. Individual sponsors have helped out, too.
Boston resident Suzanne Weinstein donated an undisclosed amount to the start-up theater company. Weinstein said she and her late husband, Frederic, had been fans of the theater for many years, and they were friends with Image Theater's original creators.
Weinstein also said she was impressed with Image Theater's stage reading in February of Frederic's play, ''The Sparrow and the King."
''I was very taken with that and pleased with Jerry's work, so I'm looking forward to The Image Theater Company," she said. ''I think it will do well."
Image Theater's owners said they know they can't rely solely on such support. They've been introducing themselves throughout the area, sending promotional packages to city councilors and school board members, staffing a booth at the Lowell Folk Festival, and meeting with other arts-minded individuals. They've hung posters and sent out more than 1,000 postcards.
''It is difficult to go in as the new kid, but we so believe in what we're doing," Garvin said.
Despite their promotional work, they have not reached everyone.
Jeanne Osborn, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce, admitted she was not familiar with the new theater group. Still, she welcomed the addition to the city.
''Anything like that is great," she said. ''They have so many things going on in Lowell these days."
Lowell writer Jack Neary, whose play ''That's Our Mary!" will be performed at the festival, said he, too, welcomes the new theater to his home city.
''I think the city is alive in terms of the arts," Neary said.
Even the competition, the well-established, fully professional Merrimack Repertory Theatre, had some welcoming words.
''When it comes to the performing arts, usually the more opportunities there are, the more people will come out to participate. I look forward to seeing their upcoming presentations," producing artistic director Charles Towers said in a prepared statement.
Bisantz said he plans to market Image Theater as one willing to take risks on new, original works that many theaters have abandoned in favor of revivals of big-name shows that can guarantee steady income streams.
''Most people think that theater is very expensive, because they're thinking about the Shubert or the Colonial. They're not thinking about the smaller companies doing innovative stuff, and that creates stagnation," he said.
''Where's your next Neil Simon coming from? The next Neil Simon could be living 20 minutes away, but if no one takes a risk and presents this great stuff, who is going to know?"
Image Theater's Mill City Minutes festival of short works will be held Thursday through Saturday and on Sept. 22 to 24 at McDonough Arts Magnet Theater, John Street, Lowell. All shows start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15, $13 for senior citizens and students. Call 978-441-0102 for advance tickets. Information is available online at www.imagetheater.com.
- Boston Globe, Sunday, September 11, 2005
