Theatre of the People offers friendly environment

The words that guided Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address in 1863, “of the people, by the people, for the people,” are the same ones that guided IU alumni Hannah Moss and David Nosko when they founded the local nonprofit theater company, Theatre of the People.

Moss said while TOP has offered performance art opportunities to both experienced and inexperienced participants, it has especially developed into a refuge for theatre artists who have been overlooked and undervalued or who are “tired of backstabbing backstage politics.”

“TOP strives to provide a family atmosphere that most anyone can call home if they so choose,” Moss said.

Since 2008, TOP has served more than 125 IU students, Bloomington residents and other Hoosiers.

Any person can participate in a TOP project. TOP’s IU student group, the TOP Artistic Collaborative Troupe Players, is open to any major or any level.

“The only prerequisite is that participants are not total jerks,” Nosko said.

Elizabeth Forsythe, a sophomore double majoring in theater and drama and creative writing, said her favorite part of being involved with TOP as a TOP ACT Player is without a doubt getting to work with the rest of the company. She has found her IU family in this organization.

TOP is an entirely volunteer-based program whose productions primarily consist of “modern interpretations of classic works, original adaptations of worldwide folklore and new plays by local playwrights,” according to its website.

Senior Patrick French, the program’s technical director, heard about TOP from a friend who mentioned that the company needed a stage manager.

Now, thanks to the “incredibly supportive” environment at TOP, he said he has been able to evolve from stage manager to lighting designer.

Also due to his current position as tech director, he is gaining experience he may not have obtained anywhere else.  

“TOP is like triple-A baseball in a local theatre market of all professional teams,” Nosko said. “Not only does TOP offer developing actors and talented artists the opportunity to hone their craft on a small town field, TOP’s minimal budget enables TOP to relish in the fun of play instead of worry about signing a first round pick or how many ‘W’s’ are in the win column.”

TOP is preparing for its upcoming fourth season.