DALLAS – It is with immense optimism that the announcement arrives regarding the dear departure of the darling, dangerous, and inimitable Our Endeavors Theater Collective (OETC). Having been granted an occasion to reevaluate artistic, administrative, and individual goals, the Board of Directors, key leadership, and fourteen member Ensemble have made the formidable decision to allow the passing of one of Dallas' finest theatrical offerings.
Our Endeavors Theater Collective has achieved notoriety through the creation of visionary and groundbreaking performances with an emphasis on quality and an eye towards innovation. Founded in 1997 by Executive Producer Patti Kirkpatrick and Artistic Director Scott Osborne, OETC quickly secured a reputation for artistic integrity and production excellence. Throughout its tenure, OETC has filled a unique niche within the profile of local arts organizations. Passionately devoted to pioneering the theater of the future through the discovery of new forms of expression, OETC has always focused particular attention on experimental design and performance techniques.
Our Endeavors' productions have been recognized for possessing a remarkably distinct aesthetic. Over the past eight years, the company worked to develop its trademark approach that combined literary and intellectual sensibilities with the bawdy spectacle of popular culture. For the primary purpose of edification and amusement, OETC artists have fearlessly championed creative exploration and sought to find the place where art and entertainment collide.
Our Endeavors' whimsical and diverse repertoire has ranged from the experimental, zany and absurd (my head was a sledgehammer, Gorey Stories, The Artificial Jungle, What Happened A Five Act Play, Fortitude) to the epic, classical, and poetic (Caligula, Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Butterfly's Evil Spell). Primarily recognized for its critically-acclaimed productions of original musicals (The Ultra-Happy, Super-Sad, Mega-Variety Revue, Extreme Acts, The Last One-Nighter on the Death Trail), world premiere adaptations (I Patty Diphusa, International Sex Symbol), and rarely produced avant-garde masterpieces (Dainty Shapes & Hairy Apes or The Green Pill), OETC has been known for creating spectacular events that consistently thrilled, amazed, and inspired.
Upon inception, the name "Our Endeavors" was chosen to represent a collaborative approach to making art. The OETC Ensemble was comprised of fourteen distinguished and multi-talented actors, directors, playwrights, technicians and designers. The organization has been nurtured by the collective efforts of its resident artists, Board of Directors, generous sponsors, and loyal patrons. "Having accomplished our mission, it is with heartfelt praise that we seek to acknowledge the noble and altruistic endeavors of the many people who have generously given to such an invaluable undertaking," notes Executive Producer Patti Kirkpatrick.
The time ahead symbolizes new hope for the devoted individuals that have been involved with this unique adventure and signals exciting change for the Arts in Dallas. With this loss comes magnificent promise embodied in the transition of talent at home and abroad. "It is with the precious realization that great art results from extraordinary sacrifice that we move forward having experienced the excitement and satisfaction that comes from providing our community with a glimpse into our own unique version of entertainment paradise," says Artistic Director Scott Osborne. "What remains is the idea that if it could have been done, we probably never would have done it. There is inspiration to be found, however, in the acknowledgement that we are all only images within a much larger spectacle. All we do now is simply hold tight and wait for our next cue."
# # #