Today, we’d like to introduce you to Timothy Braun.
Hi Timothy, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m a writer, but basically, I’m just a guy, you know?
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
As a playwright, I have navigated a labyrinth of obstacles, each one shaping and refining my craft.
There were times when the blank page loomed like an insurmountable chasm, demanding courage and perseverance to fill it with words that resonated. I have faced the challenge of balancing artistic vision with practical constraints, transforming limitations into opportunities for creative innovation.
The struggle to find my voice amid a cacophony (I love that word) of influences was a journey of self-discovery, requiring me to peel away layers of doubt and insecurity. Rejections and criticisms, though often harsh, became catalysts for growth, teaching me resilience and persistence.
The collaboration brought its own set of trials, as melding diverse perspectives into a cohesive whole demanded patience and empathy. Empathy is my number one Gallup CliftonStrengths Skill :D.
The evolving landscape of theatre, with its shifts towards digital mediums and immersive experiences, required me to adapt and rethink traditional narratives, embracing new technologies and forms of expression with the characters, but it also had me come back to what I love and believe in theatre.
Through obstacles, I found, and still find, a deeper understanding of my craft and myself, emerging with a clearer vision and a renewed passion for storytelling.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I call my aesthetic “American Baroque.” My stories begin with an organic, character-driven narrative, often intertwined with contemporary issues. From this foundation, I craft a world shaped by the desires and needs of the characters.
This world is then stretched and twisted as if seen through a funhouse mirror, grounding the audience in the familiar while simultaneously separating them from the fantastical. I focus on the interplay of structure, shape, emotion, and the dimensions of time and space, which is essential for these elements to resonate.
I delight in working within site-specific spaces—subway cars, bathtubs, and elevators become stages where the ordinary transforms into the extraordinary. My performances find homes in festivals and intimate black box theatres.
Notable venues include La MaMa E.T.C., The Ohio/SoHo Think Tank, The Ensemble Studio Theatre, HERE Arts Center, Bowery Poetry Club, The Ontological-Hysteric Theater, The Off-Center, Salvage Vanguard, Seattle Fringe Festival, The New York International Fringe Festival, The Howl Festival, and The Re/Mix Festival. Lately, I’ve been working in L.A. alot and love the venues it offers.
My exploration has ventured into diverse theatrical expressions through podcasts and site-specific performances, often yielding varied outcomes. Currently, I am examining the convergence of live performance art with social and new media, seeking answers to questions like “What is next for the playwright?” and “What is theatre in the post-pandemic world?”
In this quest, I have sought collaborations with contemporary artists, musicians, designers, choreographers, and animators, striving to create a new, vibrant tapestry of storytelling.
We’re always looking for lessons that can be learned from any situation, including tragic ones like the COVID-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
It was difficult to do live theater in a pandemic, but now the theatre and performance is the embodiment of action, a dynamic interplay with the audience just being there.
Theatre is and should be kinetic, where every gesture, every movement, propels the narrative forward with an undeniable energy of what it means to just get out of the house and have this experience with each other.
The stage is a canvas of perpetual motion and language, painting vivid pictures in the minds of the audience. This is what I got out of the crisis. With that, I just love two characters on stage talking with nothing happening, and yet we are still there together with each other and them.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://timothybraun.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timothybraun/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/timothy.braun.716
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothy-braun-69658830/
- Twitter: https://x.com/TimothyBraun42
