Meet Alex Zavistovich | Founder and Artistic Director, The National Edgar Allan Poe Theatre

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alex Zavistovich and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alex, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
On my desk, I have a paperweight on which is engraved the question, “What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?”

Another way to look at it, to paraphrase Alfred Lord Tennyson, is that it’s better to have tried and failed than never to have tried at all.

That sums up my opinion about risk in creative pursuits — whether establishing The National Edgar Allan Poe Theatre or any of my other professional and creative ventures.

I find that many people are so intimidated by failure that they never take action on their ideas. Consequently, they spend much of their days under a cloud of self-reproach, or being needlessly jealous of the achievements of others.

There are many ideas that seem so large that it can be daunting to know where to begin, and people around you may not provide the emotional support you need. When I started working on The National Edgar Allan Poe Theatre, people were quick to point out that there are no other theatres anywhere with that mission. When the pandemic hit, they assumed that would be the end of the idea.

For me, the fact that The National Edgar Allan Poe Theatre may have been going against conventional wisdom actually showed the uniqueness of the vision. That made it all the more attractive for me to keep pushing at it. When the pandemic struck, and undermined our efforts to create a physical venue, I chose to pivot to an audio drama model. Our work doing radio drama adaptations of Poe stories continued uninterruptedly over the past two years — even though some of those plays and recordings had to be done by me, in isolation, recording material in the walk-in closet of my bedroom (for noise dampening purposes).

The work has been worth it. Since we began, The National Edgar Allan Poe Theatre’s radio dramas have won five international awards and are being archived by the Library of Congress for our historical and cultural significance to the public record. We’ve worked cooperatively with universities overseas, and I have been interviewed numerous times about not only Edgar Allan Poe, but theatre and radio drama itself.

As we appear to be approaching the downward slope of the pandemic (or so we hope), The National Edgar Allan Poe Theatre is planning its debut stage production in the spring. Along the way we’ve gained the support of many talented individuals who have been persuaded by the success we’ve accomplished as a fledgling organization.

On a recent Uber drive, my driver — an entrepreneur himself — said something that I’ve added to my arsenal of thinking about risk. He said, “If you keep doing what you’ve always done, you’re going to keep getting what you’ve always had.”

That’s the truth. There are very few things in life that will truly stand in the way of following your ambition. The biggest stumbling blocks to starting are the ones you put in your own path.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I have been a union actor for the past several decades. Along the way, I have founded three non-profit theatre ventures. The latest, The National Edgar Allan Poe Theatre, is the only theatre in the world to be dedicated to adapting the works of Edgar Allan Poe for the stage, for broadcast, and for education.

While no achievements are easy — especially those in the creative community — it’s good to surround yourself with people who can lessen the load. The Poe Theatre board of directors, which we continue to expand, is extremely important to ensuring that the many tasks that need to be accomplished are met. They also provide a much-needed pressure valve during those times when obligations are overwhelming.

That’s not to say that all people who attach themselves to your vision are going to be helpful. There is absolutely a fraction of those you will meet who will position themselves as supporters purely to advance their own agenda. That happens often, and it can be frustrating and demoralizing when their promise of support fails to materialize, but it is very much characteristic of most ventures. Understanding that will mitigate your disappointment.

Remember that no one will believe in your vision as much as you do. That phenomenon manifests itself so often that I call it “The Little Red Hen” syndrome. Very few people want to help make the bread, but everyone wants a piece when it’s made. And a sliver of those want credit for having said, “You’re right, there should be bread. Go make that bread.”

So surround yourself with good people, do what you promise, and understand that you’ll still be the one staying up at night working on details. It’s how things work.

As for me, I hope that people see me as both creative and practical — as a skilled professional who still prioritizes opportunities for others as the result of their vision.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Start first thing in the morning on the weekend for the outdoor market at Fells Point. The foods, the produce and the art will impress you with how talented and diverse the Baltimore’s creative community is. Later visit Sound Garden for a glimpse into the glory days of record and CD stores.

Baltimore prides itself as the city that reads, and its many bookstores prove that. Charm City Books in Pigtown is a remarkable independent business. Stop off at Greedy Reads in Fells Point or Remington for other well-curated books. Atomic Books in Hampden is another amazing spot for book lovers, with an emphasis on graphic novels, as well as books on art and design.

Take a trip to Druid Hill Park, to visit Rawlings Conservatory, the second oldest glass-enclosed botanical conservatory in the US. On the way back, visit Clavel, a restaurant serving elevated Mexican street food, and an excellent array of cocktails. Their bartender was voted best in the city by Baltimore magazine.

The Poe House and Museum on West Amity Street is a pilgrimage for fans of Edgar Allan Poe. The writer lived in that tiny house with his wife and mother in law for three years, during which time he authored some of his best-known works. Then visit Westminster Hall downtown to see Poe’s tomb. Just to the north is Lexington Market, an indoor food market that has been in continuous operation since 1782.

Beyond Poe, the city has been the home for many other literary greats, including H.L. Mencken and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald’s home in Bolton Hill is now a private residence, but H.L. Mencken’s home in Union Square is now a museum to the writer and essayist, and is worth a visit.

Baltimore has a vibrant theatre scene, and not far from Lexington Market is the Hippodrome for national touring shows. Also nearby is Everyman Theatre and the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, where you can see some of the best regional talent.

Baltimore also has a legitimate magic scene. Poe’s Magic Theatre in downtown and Illusions nightclub in Federal Hill will offer you a fun evening of magic, mentalism and more.

And of course, Fort McHenry on the south side of the harbor is a must for history buffs, as the location where Francis Scott Key wrote The Star Spangled Banner.

They call Baltimore “Charm City,” and it is that. It’s a first-rate food scene, a literary mecca, and home to some amazing creative people. It’s unpretentious, fun and friendly place to visit and live. There’s an unofficial slogan here that goes “Baltimore: Actually, I like it.”

And I do.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The work I’ve accomplished over the years would not have been possible without the support of my family and friends — many of whom serve or have served on the boards of directors for the companies I have founded. I’d like to specifically recognize Stephen Demczuk of Raven Beer, who has been a loyal friend, advisor and board member for many years. I’d also like to recognize the rest of the board of directors of The National Edgar Allan Poe Theatre: Laura Holt Jones, Sue Medicus, Peter Fawn, Roxie Allison-Holman and Olivia Jackson.

Thank you also to Jennifer Restak, my best friend and partner for the past nearly seven years. Without her patience and support, The National Edgar Allan Poe Theatre could have stalled many times along the way.

Website: www.poetheatre.org

Twitter: @poe_theatre

Facebook: poetheatreus

Image Credits
all images by National Edgar Allan Poe Theatre