Philosophy of
Second Wind Productions

Second Wind Productions, Inc. strives to create theatre that approaches contemporary social and political issues from the human perspective. We embrace the art of theatre as an instrument of personal catharsis and education. Theatre, at its finest, should be a mind-altering drug. It is a sock in the intellectual jaw, a searing burn across the heart, and the uninhibited laughter of a six-year-old. Theatre should make us examine our place in the world. The stage offers us a window into another house, another life, and when the lights go dark at the end of the night in that other house-- and rises in ours-- it should be our face we see reflected in the glass. In this mirror we can see how well we are living up to our values and how our lives affect others. In this mirror are planted the seeds of personal realization.

From this standpoint, the actor's work becomes the most important aspect of the theatrical experience. If you walk into a Second Wind production and immediately exclaim, "What a magnificient set!", then we have already led you down the wrong path. We, as story-teller/magician, have got you admiring the sawdust, when it is the twinkle in the actor's eye that counts. Which isn't to say there can't be moments of technical splendor during the course of a performance. These moments are merely subordinate to the story, and to the actor.

In 1999, Second Wind re-visisted its goals in an effort to make them compatible with the diverse community of San Francisco, to make them relevant to our community and our time. We place our emphasis not on stunning production values, but rather stunning emotional values. On stories that illuminate an understanding of ourselves and the world around us. In a community that already has Black theater, Gay theater, Asian theater, and a host of other necessary, valuable theaters, we create theater that delves into the marrow between these distinctions. Our theatre examines the differences between cultures, politics, and social beliefs, whose defining characteristic is the immense depth to which it plumbs our emotional and intellectual world.

In 2013 Second Wind grew a second arm-- a media production company called Hurricane Images, creating powerful images and cutting edge videography. It's clients include Illy Coffee, Levi's, the California Department of Public Health, Hilton Worldwide, Sheikh Shoes, and others.

Second Wind incorporates its beliefs in its choice of plays, the way it conducts business, and in its rehearsal process. Rehearsals are a time for exploration and growth. They are a time for exploring our relationship to the issues and to the lives of the characters, the worlds they represent and our own. They are conducted in a more collaborative relationship between the actor and director, and between disgners, directors, and the daunting demands of production. Second Wind attempts to work collaboratively with other businesses and organizations as well, choosing companies that are consistent with our goals and values. We don't simply have sponsors, advertisers,and patrons, we support and involve them. By creating linkages within a unique corporate-artist structure, we have developed meaningful relationships with funders that have enabled us to offer plays at prices that the community as-a-whole can afford. By developing relationships based on common philosophies, rather than economic need, we have created an atmosphere wherein artistry can thrive.

We're always on the lookout for designers, actors, and technicians. If you'd like more information, please visit our audition page.

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