Target Margin Theater (TMT): Live theater is coming back! How do you feel about the return happening?

Ali Andre Ali (AAA): Overall I’m really excited to be able to participate in and watch live theater again. I think so many companies and individuals did a great job of pivoting to the digital world in the past year, and we’ve learned a lot about the capabilities we have in continuing to tell stories in a digital format, but there is nothing like coming together with a group of people in the same space to share in the magic of live performance.

TMT: How have you kept in tune with your creative energies during the last year?

AAA: At first it was definitely a challenge. I had a lot more free time on my hands at the beginning of the pandemic than I was used to and I thought that I’d be super creative with this time but that wasn’t the case right away. After a while I was able to get into a rhythm and find time to tune into my creativity. Early on in the pandemic a couple of friends started hosting informal zoom readings of Shakespeare plays which was a great way to be a little creative and connect with people. I was able to get together with my music partner for our band fajjr+ali a couple of times and to work on our music and write new material which was great, and now we are hoping to record some of this material later this month! I was also lucky to be a part of some virtual readings as well as a full virtual production in the fall. And of course getting together with Target Margin in person has been a delight!

TMT: Did you produce any works during the pandemic, or produce projects virtually?

AAA: Like I mentioned above, I was able to work on and write some new music over the past year which has been great. My bandmate and I have been working together for about 6 years now, and much of that time was devoted to writing, recording and releasing our first body of work, our EP eleven90. The slow down of the past year gave us the opportunity to get back to what I love which is writing new material! You can learn more about us at www.fajjrplusali.com or follow us on social media @fajjrplusali to keep an eye out for this new material, hopefully later this year!

TMT: Tell us about your creative additions to NOW GO

AAA: What I love about Target Margin work is how everyone contributes to the making of the piece. It doesn’t matter if you are a performer, a designer, or have any other title, we all share in the making of it. Together we read stories about generosity, shared personal stories, created songs and some movement, and put it all back together in order to share the ideas of hospitality and generosity with the audience.

TMT: What does it feel like performing for an audience again?

AAA: I’m not sure if it has quite hit me yet. We had our first official shows last night and it felt really normal and almost as if not that much time has passed since I’ve performed live. Even though I have performed live over zoom in the past year, it’s not quite the same as being in the same space as an audience (and other performers). I think as the run continues, I’ll be reminded of how special the communal act of live theater is.

TMT: Why should we see this show? Why is the message produced in this piece important to hear in this time?

AAA: All of us have struggled in some way this past year as we adapted to life in the pandemic. It can make you feel cut off from your loved ones and from the world. I think this show reminds us to be generous to yourself and to others, through times of hardship and times of joy. I think the themes of being kind to strangers and welcoming others are a great way to welcome people back to the theater and to the world as we try to get back to normal. With a little support from the people and strangers around us, we can get back to building the world we want to see.