Charlotte theater company, now in its 10th season, strives to be a catalyst for change

More than 10 years ago, a professor’s words at Catawba College sparked something in Robin Tynes-Miller, a senior finishing a degree in musical theater.

It prompted her to open Three Bone Theatre, a professional company in Charlotte, rather than pursue an acting career in New York City.

“I had a real interest in (knowing) why we tell the stories we tell on stage,” said the 31-year-old Tynes-Miller. “(I wanted) to tell stories that weren’t being told on stage.”

In October, Three Bone kicked off its 10th season in The Arts Factory at West End Studios with “Open,” written by Crystal Skillman. Tynes-Miller also became the nonprofit’s first full-time employee as the artistic and operations director.

Balance art and business

In November 2012, Tynes-Miller and fellow student Carmen Bartlett, co-founders of Three Bone, pulled together $300 and produced the company’s first show, “Fiction” by Steven Dietz. The production was held in a black box performance space at their alma mater, Catawba College.

Charlotte was a natural home for Three Bone because of Bartlett’s connection to the city and the community’s diversity. In early 2013, auditions were held for “The Vagina Monologues,” and both experienced and novice actors came out, Tynes-Miller said. A cast of 12 rehearsed at Dupp & Swatt’s former space in NoDa and sold out at UpStage (now Salud Cerveceria).

Becky Schultz and Tiffany Bryant-Jackson both performed in that first Charlotte show.

Since then, they’ve been active in the organization: Schultz became the executive director in 2013, and Bryant-Jackson has acted in eight of the 10 seasons and now serves as the education director on the leadership team.

During one rehearsal, Tynes-Miller remembers handing Schultz a spiral notebook with the company’s finances written down and asked if she’d look it over. Bartlett and Tynes-Miller acknowledged they didn’t have the business skills to make the organization sustainable.

Schultz came on board as the nonprofit’s executive director. Her experience in the finance industry proved to be invaluable to Three Bone.

“If we wanted to be a long-lasting organization, we needed someone who understood the business side,” Tynes-Miller said. “That balance of the artistic side and having the business acumen has been critical for our success.”

Inspire, strengthen and entertain

The company’s name is derived from country music artist Reba McEntire’s quote, “To thrive in life you need three bones. A wishbone. A backbone. And a funny bone.”

Three Bone aspires to inspire, strengthen and entertain its audiences, Tynes-Miller said.

The company tells original stories and produces Charlotte premieres using local actors, designers, directors and stage managers. It works to be a catalyst for conversation and change in Charlotte, while being a professionally managed company, Tynes-Miller said. Actors and crew are paid a stipend.

“We’re not paying a living wage, but we have steadily increased our artists’ fees,” Tynes-Miller said. “A lot of times they have day jobs because that’s the art economy we have here. Being able to pay them even a little bit for their time… that’s something we feel passionate about.”

Environmental, gender, family and race issues are reflected in the stories being told in Three Bone’s productions. An audience member’s feedback, “Thank you for making me feel the right amount of uncomfortable,” summarizes the experience Tynes-Miller wants for each audience member.

“We’re telling genuinely interesting stories that are not being told on stage in Charlotte,” Tynes-Miller said. “We want our pieces to be entertaining and engaging, but we also want people to think.”

Every show is paired with a community partner organization connected to the theme of the show.

For “Open,” the local chapter of PFLAG, a nonprofit supporting and educating the community on LGBQT+ issues, was invited to be a community partner because of gay and lesbian subjects discussed within the show. Members from PFLAG were on site to answer questions and provide resource materials.

“Having community partners that are solid gives us that opportunity to help people figure out what’s next or how to help them connect,” Bryant-Jackson said. “We are giving our partners space to share what they do with an audience who might otherwise not know what they are.”

‘Space for you’

The theater company’s leadership team includes Bryant-Jackson, Ryan Maloney, Callie Richards, Becky Schultz and Tynes-Miller. Bartlett took a step back from day-to-day operations in 2015.

Bryant-Jackson credits some of Three Bone’s success to its inclusivity, especially on stage. “You know there’s a space for you,” she said. “You don’t ever have to read an audition notice and go, ‘I can’t show up there.’”

Only a resilient company could have survived shifts in venue and a pandemic, Bryant-Jackson said. For six years, UpStage was Three Bone’s theater home until it closed suddenly. The next four seasons were spent at Duke Energy Theater at Spirit Square.

That ended last season when Spirit Square announced an upcoming renovation that would close its space for some time.

Reasonably priced theater space is limited in Charlotte, and it’s been a struggle for Three Bone to find a performance venue. Three Bone’s leadership team is still looking for a location to produce the company’s remaining three shows in the 10th season.

“I don’t think it’s a secret that creative spaces are in short supply,” Bryant-Jackson said. “It would be really easy for any company to go on hiatus, but not Three Bone. It was, ‘Let’s figure out what’s next.’ ”

Three Bone Theatre

Next production: “The Children,” by Lucy Kirkwood, directed by Robin Tynes-Miller

Auditions: Dec. 12, Dec. 14

Opening: March 11

Where: The Arts Factory, 1545 W. Trade St.

Tickets: www.threebonetheatre.com/the-children or season passes are available at www.threebone.booktix.com

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