Name: Jasmine Joshua
Organization: Reboot Theatre Company
Years Serving the Community: 10
When did you start working in nonprofit organizations and what was it that helped you
decide to make this your career?
Before I founded Reboot Theatre Company ten years ago, I worked at a theatrical PR agency who represented nonprofit arts organizations all across the Bay Area including TheatreWorks, Smuin Ballet, Opera San Jose, and many more. Advocating for an art form that I love so dearly was such an honor and it felt good to make a difference.
What specific cause is the most important to you and why?
Theatre arts are vital human storytelling. I am especially passionate about supporting and uplifting under-represented voices in the arts so that we can all benefit from each other’s points of view. I believe that all stories are human stories. There is always something that we all can relate to, even if it’s from the perspective of a culture or identity that isn’t ours.
How has your work helped the community in real ways?
I have had many audience members over the years come up to me and thank me and Reboot for the work we do — both for helping people see stories from a different perspective from their own as well as representing their own. Showing queerness represented on stage in a story that wasn’t written for it, or subverting what Western culture considers “default” for a hero, not only challenges harmful institutions, but opens up audiences’ and artists’ imaginations. Moving that Overton window one musical at a time. Additionally, Reboot has launched the careers of many queer and/or BIPOC theatre artists who might not have been considered for roles that weren’t written for them or just needing the experience to grow into their career. It brings me unbelievable joy and pride to see them work at other theatres with our name on their resume.
What are the challenges that you are currently trying to work on and solve?
Funding for the arts is in danger, especially in the next four years when nonprofits are being threatened with legislation that could stop us from upholding our missions.
Is there any specific event or memory that stands out to you about the impact you have
had?
When we did our genderbent production of Little Shop, a child, maybe ten or so, came up to me and the director and said that they never thought they could be anything they wanted on stage until they came to see our show. I’ll hold that in my heart forever.
How do you use collaboration to achieve goals and better outcomes?
Theatre is a team sport. Everything we do is a collaboration. Reboot Theatre runs no differently — I am the Artistic Director, yes, but I have a team of hardworking and fiercely intelligent volunteer board members who collectively shape our policies and procedures (as well as run box office, marketing, cleaning up after audiences, building sets, etc. etc.) Everything we do is collective and it would be a miserable experience without my incredible team.
What would you say to the community to get them more involved and to care about what
is going on?
I’d say start watching for the canaries in the coal mine, which will always be the more vulnerable and smallest organizations. It’s likely also happening in the big org’s backyard, too, but you’ll see the effects first in the smaller orgs.
If you weren’t working in nonprofits, what are your other passions?
I am also an actor and a playwright, but I suppose that is still working in nonprofits, though not necessarily. I also love reading; I just finished the Fourth Wing books and am eagerly awaiting the next one. My favorite authors are Terry Pratchett and Tamora Pierce.
How do you plan on surviving and making the most out of the next 4 years with the new
administration?
This is a tough question. I don’t know that I have all my “plans” fully formulated because I think that being dynamic in our response is going to be very important. I do know that I want to drill deeper into my local community, where I have the most impact and where I can both support and be supported. For the first week or so after the election, I had to make my world smaller. Focus on getting the next show cast. Focus on getting that next draft written. Focus on making sure my organization had what it needed. After all, how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.
What are some of the things people can do at home or on their own to help make a
difference in the community, specifically the area that you focus on?
Go see plays. I know, I know. Your couch and streaming videos don’t require pants. I get it. But the Puget Sound has a remarkable arts community, and I promise you will find something that delights you, or makes you think. Even if you see something that you didn’t care for, you will have experienced something collectively, so share a giggle with a stranger on the way out. That’s where our humanity lies. In shared experiences. So go get some!
