When I was studying the explorers in elementary school, I was always amazed at their willingness to just get on a boat and go somewhere where no one had ever been before.  Or start walking through a forest just to see what was on the other side…or IF there was another side.

Scott Elliot is an explorer.

And one of the most adventuresome and entrepreneurial we have in the theater.

As you’ll hear on this podcast, he had the instinct to go places that he had never been, and he just went there, hacking through the forest, sailing over rough waters…and on the other side, he founded The New Group.

And now, that theater company, responsible for great productions like Hurlyburly, This Is Our Youth, Buried Child, Rasheeda Speaking, and more is also exploring new territories when so many other companies would rather just sit on the beach.

Scott and I chatted about where he got his “I’ll just figure it out” attitude on this week’s podcast, as well as:

• Why The New Group doesn’t want a Broadway Theater.
• What happened to commercial Off Broadway.
• Why you can’t be afraid of “no” when you’re raising money.
• Thinking about starting a theater company?  Here’s his shocking opinion.
• The reaction he hates from audiences.

After my interview with Scott, I found myself wanting to explore a little myself, and I think when you listen, you’ll feel the same way.

And doesn’t that make life, and art, more interesting?

Listen to it on iTunes here.  (And if you like the podcast, give it a great review, while you’re there!)

Download it here.

Sorry about the sound issues in this podcast. We found the bug and fixed it in later episodes. It gets better, I promise 🙂