Transcendence started with a dream
Our story opens with founder Amy Miller. Her show on Broadway had come to an end, and a question came to her: “What next?” Out of pause came inspiration, “I’ll start a musical theatre company and inspire people around the world!”
First Mexico, then the World
And the world seemed to be on her side. While traveling through Mexico, a chance encounter with the board of a 99-seat theatre led to a life changing opportunity. The crew was inspired by Amy’s dream and said the theatre was hers at no cost for an entire season. So Amy, her husband Brad Surosky, and 14 of her wildest friends quit their jobs and moved to Baja California. For four months, we performed for the community and talked about our dreams on the beach. It was truly magical, but we needed a way to keep the magic going. So the crew road-tripped across the US, interviewing inspiring theatre professionals and searching for a permanent home for Transcendence. At the time, Amy was our Artistic Director, while Brad and good friend Stephan Stubbins acted as Co-Executive Directors.
Finding Home
We found our place in the Wine Country of California. When we arrived in 2012, a state crisis threatened to shut down local Jack London State Historic Park. An idea! We could save the park by making it our stage. But officials said it was now or never. With six weeks and $83 in our pockets, we put on the show of a lifetime. 900 members of the community came out to save the park and join the magic. And Transcendence Theatre Company transcended.
Not so long ago we were chasing dreams in Mexico. Now we’ve been performing in Jack London State Historic Park for 8 spectacular years, growing our Transcendence family, and uplifting guests with art and music. Just imagine how far we’ll go in the next five… or even 50 trips around the sun! You’ll have to keep coming to find out what’s next.