Sharing is Stage Magic: Why Collaboration Matters in Theater

One thing I learned fast working in theater is you can’t do it alone. Not the director, not the designer, not the person making a giant enchanted rose out of plumbing parts and hot glue. Theater is teamwork. Always. And that goes beyond your own company. It’s time we talk about how much stronger we could all be if we leaned more into sharing, collaborating, and reusing what we already have.

Recycle, Reuse, Repurpose… It’s Not Just for Sets

We in the theater world are masters of making magic with what we got. Cardboard can become a stone wall, an old sofa finds a new life in a period drama, a pile of broken jewelry becomes a crown… But sometimes, beautiful things get built, used for one show, and then tossed in the trash or sit forgotten in a storage unit. Why? Because no one thought to ask: “Hey, does someone else need this?”

Sharing props, sets, costumes, (and even knowledge!) helps us all save money and resources. It’s better for the environment, too. The landfills don’t need any more painted foam or torn up ball gowns.

The Green Monster of Jealousy

Now, let’s be honest: sometimes theater companies get a little... territorial. There’s a quiet (or not so quiet) competition: who has the best sets, who gets the bigger audiences, who has that one designer everybody wants to hire.

This can create a mindset of scarcity: "If I share my stuff, maybe another theater will outshine us.” Or, “If I rent them my costumes, they might not hire us next time.”

But here’s the truth: art isn’t a winners-losers game. Just because another company puts on a beautiful production doesn’t take anything away from your hard work. In fact, when a theater in your area gets better, everyone benefits. Audiences grow. Community interest builds. Donors take notice. And when you’re the company known for being generous and collaborative, guess what? People want to work with you!

Building a Culture of Sharing

We can shift this culture. Here’s how:

1. Create a local sharing network: online groups where theater folks post available props, costumes, set pieces, or even tools. (I created a FB group for props and sets exchanges in the bay area. Ask me about it!)

2. Host community prop swaps: once a season, invite other companies and schools to trade what they no longer need. You’ll be amazed at the treasures that come out. And actually, Summer is the perfect time to do so, after the last show of the season, and before the next one!

3. Encourage cross-company rentals: sometimes you can't give something away, but renting at an affordable rate helps everyone. It also builds relationships instead of walls.

4. Acknowledge each other's work: celebrate when a neighboring theater does something brilliant. Jealousy shrinks when we recognize that someone else’s success doesn’t mean our failure.

The Heart of Theater Is Community

At its core, theater is about human connection. That should apply backstage, too. We don’t serve our art (or our audiences) when we hoard resources or let envy creep in. We serve it when we remind ourselves that we’re all storytellers trying to bring beauty, truth, and a little magic to the stage.

So the next time you’re cleaning out your prop shop or sewing room, ask yourself: Who else could use this? And when you see another theater do something wonderful, cheer them on. There’s room for all of us backstage! (figurative speech... of course... We all know there's never enough space backstage!)