A Stance On The Flea Theater From A Fan
First, and foremost, I want to make it clear that I stand exclusively in support of the creatives that The Flea is cutting ties with, their resident directors, the Serials Crews, and, most especially, The Bats themselves. As it becomes more and more accessibly clear the systemic problems that seem to exist within the ecosystem of The Flea Theater, I feel the need to put my stance into the world.
As a preface, I have not been specifically targeted or harmed by the actions of the Flea Theater, but I have long been an attendant of their shows and a advertiser for their work. I am a creator and consumer of theater, and my roots with the Flea are deep.
My first show at the Flea, and admittedly still my favorite theater experience, was The Mysteries in 2014. I was in a deeply, deeply low state and point in my life when my friend asked me if I’d like the extra ticket he’d picked up to this show. I ended up there with a few friends, it was something to do on a Saturday evening. And, the Bats, god bless each and every one of them, put on such a fucking fantastic performance, I thought about every inch of that show for weeks. The Bats had fully captured my mind with their performance, and I had such a jolt of inspiration and an amount of reaffirming that I was given that kickstart to slowly pull myself out of that sinking depression that I was stuck in.
I saw every Flea production made between 2014–2018 (with two shows at the end of 2019), as a result, including every edition of Serials @ The Flea. The defining factor with each of them always being The Bats and their wonderful shows. I was always interested in seeing a play I wrote end up on a Flea stage. More importantly, I was writing for TDF’s PXP/SEEN Magazine, discussing every Flea show and their impact on me, my opinions on them, and the general joy of the Bats’s performances and what they made me feel. All those articles are on my portfolio, and I still stand by most of what I’ve said there, I cannot change what I felt.
More than that though, The Flea let me discover so much of the wonderful talent that operated behind those doors. I made it a habit at The Flea to go to the actors and actresses after each show ad let them know how much I appreciated their work and talent, as often as I could. I sent my friends and colleagues to see shows at The Flea, I wrote articles that at least made some traction sending people towards them, I poured my heart out about that theater because The Bats evoked so much out of me I just needed to.
But, more than anything, I learned who The Bats were and did all I could to support them. Whenever I heard a Bat I was at least a little close with was doing something, I’d see if I could get to their show and do my best to get a TDF article out about it. I won’t mention any specifically for the same reason I won’t mention any specific Bats, I don’t want to unnecessarily drag in anyone who doesn’t want to be dragged in. I don’t want to presume or make anyone uncomfortable, because I’m certain not many remember me and it just feels weird.
But, all I wanted thanks to the Flea was to support The Bats in all their endeavors, emphasized by those sad nights at Serials where I made sure to give my appreciation to the Bats who were leaving. So, that’s what I’m doing now: Supporting the Bats, and all the other creative people wronged by The Flea.
I moved from New York City in early 2019 for personal reasons, and I’m based in Oregon now. If I’d still been living in the city, I like to think I’d have been more plugged in and could’ve made a statement like this earlier in the year.
If I’ve ever asked you to go to the Flea Theater, I instead request that you don’t. I am in no position to describe the systematic issues at the Flea that I’ve now been made aware of, but nobody should be removed from their positions for pushing for unionization, people should be paid a living wage for their hard work, and nobody should be traumatized doing this work. If you need to know what the Theater is being outed for doing, you can find the rogue twitter account @FleaTheater and do some digging for yourself. Personally, I won’t support The Flea in any way unless I am given assurance from those artists within it that they’ve from-the-ground-up changed their position, but all evidence seems to imply that no changes are on any horizon.
If you’re a former Bat who I made feel worse by unwittingly validating the trauma that was put on you or validating the awful conditions that your art was produced within, I Apologize Greatly. I stand in support of you, and I only wish I was still in the city so that I could better support your work.
The Flea Theater did a lot for me, and I will always carry with my the fond memories and wonderful work of The Bats and the creative teams that gave me those memories that the Flea has now sadly busted up. But, good memories built on others’ suffering just isn’t right.
I wish the best to The Bats and those out of a job, as much as you could call it that.
