Austinist Interview: Salvage Vanguard Theater Artistic Director Jason Neulander

A: To my knowledge, no one else (or at least nearly no one else) in town consistently runs anything in their theatres on off nights. Presumably, they don't think anyone will come. How are you planning to draw the artists/audiences to keep this initiative thriving?

J: We don't need a big turnout at these events to keep our doors open. I think that over time, we can build audiences for the work. So we're willing to let turnout be low initially. Plus, I think that the performers will draw their own audiences. For example, the poetry slam draws a huge crowd every Wednesday night at Ego's.

A: Can you tell us more about this talk show? Is it SVT-produced? What's it about? Who's hosting it? Is it filmed or is a performance event?

J: It's a performance event like David Letterman or something. Not 100 percent sure on the host yet, but I have some ideas. SVT will produce it. The goal is that this show will be a "must" for celebrities who are rolling through town. Ultimately, I'm envisioning getting it broadcast, either on the radio or on TV.

A: After so many years without a permanent performance space, why does SVT need its own theatre now?

J: We're at a point where our shows are consistently selling at 75 or 85 percent. We need to be able to have better control of our schedule (to be able to extend, for example). And I've got a vision: the space will be programmed more like a rock club than a theater. We're going to have events six nights a week. We're going to have two stages (a 100-seat theater, and the rehearsal space that can double as a 50-seat theater). We've got a real gallery and artist studios. It's going to be like nothing else in town.

A: In other news, your Intergalactic Nemesis Trilogy seems to be everywhere we look these days, what's all going on with that show?

J: Heh, heh. First, we're touring the country with it this fall. Literally from coast to coast. We've got gigs in San Diego, San Luis Obispo (CA), Chicago, Carbondale (IL), Great Barrington (MA) and NYC. Plus, the UTPAC is opening its season with the original Nemesis on September 8 at the 1200-seat Hogg Auditorium. We also have a commercial NY production coming along for the entire trilogy. I can't go into detail about that yet, but I wish I could because I am through the roof with excitement about it. I'll keep you posted as I am able.

A: Is this the only SVT touring show, or will there be more?

J: In the next five years, we're going to try to launch several of our other shows on the national stage: The Death of a Cat, Genghis Khan, and Tilt Angel start off that list.

A: So what’s the nation’s impression of the performance community here in Austin?

J: Depends who you ask. Some people are keenly aware that Austin is incubating some great new work and new artists (Lisa D'Amour, Physical Plant, the Rudes, etc.). Other people are like "there's theater in Texas? I thought that place was where all the rednecks hang out." I think that over the next five or ten years, though, our reputation is going to be sealed.

A: Why? What's going on that will make that happen?

J: There's a trend right now of work from Austin moving out of the city limits. In the next few years, I think that Physical Plant's reputation is going to grow, for example. On the SVT side of things, I think that Dan Dietz's career is going to bust wide open. I'm planning to bring multiple shows to NY. We've got this great booking agent who is getting our work on the national stage. Over time, this is going to play out in ways that I can't imagine yet, but I know will defy Austinites' low expectations.

A: Where do you see the company going in the next 5 years? The next 10?

J: My goals are pretty much the same as they've been since I started the company: paying artists more money. I'm seeing the space and the national success as a way of increasing our paid Resident Company from four people to ten. I'm seeing us increasing our paid staff. I'm seeing us providing health insurance. I'm seeing us having the capacity to create big national reputations for the playwrights, actors, composers, and designers we work with. (And our production and stage managers, too, who got pretty sweet press in the reviews of our last show!)

A big goal of mine is to provide affordable housing opportunities for artists in Austin.

A: Holy crap. This seems outside the boundaries of most theatre companies/producers. Are you working on this now? How would you even start to make that happen?

J: My wife works in the affordable housing arena, as do some other close friends. The space we're moving into is an interim step. I imagine that one day we're going to build a facility from the ground up that will include affordable (HUD subsidized) apartments for artists.

I want to make Austin a place that artists come to rather than leave from.

Photo (c) Salvage Vanguard Theater