ITHACA, NY (CortacaToday) — If you’re familiar with Ithaca, chances are you’re familiar with Kitchen Theatre Company. Their motto is “Important conversations happen in the Kitchen”, and it’s not hard to see why.

In July of this year, Emily Jackson was promoted to Producing Artistic Director and has been involved with KTC since 2012. Starting as an Artistic Fellow and serving as an Artistic Associate for two seasons, she is well-versed in how the company runs. She has directed and performed on the mainstage, managed front of house operations, as well as played integral roles in marketing, development, and season planning.

“I have to take this for my life, for my career,” she recalls telling herself when she got the call that she was offered the job.

Although very familiar with the theater, stepping into a new role is always an adjustment, especially when it involves taking on an all-encompassing managerial role. Luckily, she and her husband, Tyler M. Perry, are able to split those responsibilities well. Perry has taken on the role of Director of Production at KTC and has designed over thirty productions for the company. The two met in 2012 while working on Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune.

“Our working relationship is very collaborative, as is our personal relationship. We’re always making decisions together and getting each other’s input as coworkers, spouses, and as parents,” says Jackson of mixing business with pleasure.

Tyler painting the KTC building, photo courtesy of Kitchen Theatre Company

Moving their family from Riverdale in the Bronx to Ithaca this summer has been no small feat, but coming back has allowed them to reconnect with the community and get back to the roots they planted here years ago. Striving for partnerships in the community is one of the many responsibilities they have taken on, as cultivating a reciprocal relationship with the community and those who attend the theater is a top priority.

“The motto of the theater sums up how we interact with our audience. We want to have open dialogue and demystify theater. We don’t have a literal curtain, but we pull back the metaphorical curtain and try and get as much community input as we can on how to make theater and what the best experience will be. Having those conversations plants kernels of connection that carry out to the community past just theater,” states Jackson.

Perry shares the same sentiment and feels wholeheartedly that being connected and attentive to the community is a pillar of what they do at KTC.

“Those conversations can be directed and can be really specific. We can anticipate how to support the community and have a say in what perspectives are shared and put out there, which is really important. Being a local and professional theater, we bring people who are professionals at storytelling to the local community,” he says.

Their upcoming shows share many similar themes, mostly being that they are simply fun shows that tend to include dance parties. Laughs in Spanish is set to run from September 11th to the 22nd. A telenovela style show with comedy, drama, and an aforementioned dance party at the end, it is their biggest show of the season. To learn more about the show as well as KTC in general, check out their website and see how you can contribute to the important conversations had in the Kitchen.