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

Hi Andrew, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
For the work I do in the City of Newark, community is a vital part of it. For instance, when we first started we were still working through what our mission would be. At that time, we hadn’t decided to focus on specific communities and some wanted to really be expansive in the works/ experiences that we curated. For me, I wanted to be direct and explicit that our work would be Black and Brown, because the City of Newark is a majority Black and Brown city. We want our work to speak directly to our community members. I want those that attend our plays, readings and performances to see Black and Brown artists telling Black and Brown stories. Though there’s a bit of a shift in recent years, it can still be somewhat challenging to find positive depictions of Black and Brown stories, especially in popular media. We will always Even though art is typically the purest form of human expression, there are times when art can be exclusionary and the line is drawn swiftly between the “haves and the have nots”. To me, everyone deserves access to art, regardless of their “social status” or their economic status or their race etc. So I want theatre to be accessible to everyone. To that end we do full scale summer productions free to charge and directly in the neighborhoods where our community members live, so they are assured that we’re curating these art experiences for them.

Additionally, I never really thought I would go on and make a living through art like theatre and film. It wasn’t until I was exposed to those opportunities in school. Our organization offer classes to young people so they can learn the craft of the art making process with hopes that they can gain a deeper appreciation for the art. Those youth that are interested also have opportunities to further their learning through our new internships, apprenticeships and mentorship opportunities so they can take their skill and craft and begin to learn the business side of art. We want to support young people by creating pathways for them to learn how to make a living as an artist.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I got my start artistically, as an actor in the theatre. Funny enough right after graduating college I got hired to teach so I spent many years juggling teaching full time with acting, so acting in the evening, running to auditions after work. I was fortunate enough to have things align so I can do rehearsals and production after work etc. I’ve done a handful of film projects but mostly I’ve been on stage in the live theatre and I loved it all. Theatre is an intense training ground. Unlike film, on the curtains open and the show starts, there’s no cuts or reshoots or 2nd takes; its just you and your fellow actors and the audience. It’s the ultimate rush!

It wasn’t until a few years ago that I started getting into directing for theatre, kind of like building on seeing plays, being in plays as an actor and closely shadowing my mentor Rodney when he would direct productions.

Another passion I have that I’ve built on tremendously over the past few years is my photography. It was a longtime hobby of mine. Once the pandemic started and I had much more free time, I began picking up the camera more and learning more about shooting in studio and lights etc etc. Before I knew it I was scheduling shoots with clients and shooting out of a space downtown in Newark.

Now through my work leading Yendor Theatre Company I get to also produce different works and get to see the development of new Black and Brown stories through theatre.

I think the thing that ties these things together is the fact that a large part of my work is Black (and Brown). I get to uplift and tell stories that connect to Black people. Now with photography I get to truly capture our beauty. I fully embrace that and lean heavily into that. My ultimate goal is how can we use these mediums as vessels for truth. So many tell lies about us. I don’t necessarily want to go after those lies, but I want to help spread truth. One of the first passion projects I did in photography was about Black fatherhood, because I believe there are some truths that exist that don’t get the same spotlight they deserve.

The journey has been a hustle for the most part. It’s always a matter of trying to get the fire burning to stay hungry and go after opportunities.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
When I think about my career pathway and trajectory, I owe a tremendous amount to Rodney Gilbert for helping pave the way for me. Rodney was the professor that made my entire college experience worthwhile. He served as an example of what success in the arts and what community giveback really looks like. He modeled the true impact of mentorship. He was the embodiment of passion and hardwork. I can go on and on for pages and pages about how Rodney helped shape my life.

Rodney transitioned in 2017, but the many seeds he sowed are still growing and blossoming. It’s my honor to lead Yendor, the organization he founded almost 20 years ago.

Website: andrewbinger.com

Instagram: andrew_binger

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewbinger/

Other: yendortheatrecompany.com yendorproductions.com

Image Credits
Tobias Truvillion Lynne Delade Redens Desrosiers Benjamin Fulton Teolinda Azzizi Andrew Binger Rich Kowalski Matt DV Williams

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.