The Out of the Box Productions Vision

 

Out of the Box Productions seeks to markedly enhance the cultural and artistic world in which we live with our unique flavor and illumination, and to provide a safe haven for artists to grow and discover their true potential.

 

We believe that an artistic and diverse God created the whole world, and we, created in His image, are called to produce excellence in every expression of our creativity.  Further, we believe that all men and women are created by God, and therefore worthy of His love and support.  As artists, we strive for excellence in our work and try to find every opportunity to help educate, inspire and fulfill the hopes and dreams of other artists within our circle of influence.

 

Out of the Box Productions officially started in 1998 by Wende and Michael Gilmore, but the ideas behind the organization were formulated long before that.  Originally, we were envisioned as a community theatre company for all of Lee County.  Without a building to call our own, we reached out and embraced other community theatre groups, actors and theatres, partnering with them as well as participating in their productions.  To date, our members have performed in almost every theatre venue in Southwest Florida.

 

However, theatre is only one aspect of Out of the Box Productions.  A few years ago we realized there was not only a need for high-quality dramatic productions for theatre fans in Southwest Florida, but also a dire and growing need for a safe haven for a variety of people to explore their artistic gifts and talents.

 

To that end, we have sought out younger and less-experienced artists and actors to mentor, contributing not only to their creative aspirations, but also helping them mature and grow as productive young men and women in our community.

 

As Out of the Box Productions has expanded, our commitment to supporting the community has also grown.  We have formed partnerships with community organizations like The Genesis III Counseling Center, The AIDS Resource Council, The Florida Repertory Theatre, The Florida Gulf Coast Symphony, The Children’s Home Society, and most recently, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, raising a record amount of money for their inspiring “Making It On Purpose” mentoring program.

 

As our vision continues to expand, we hope to soon ground our future in concrete and steel, founding an actual physical safe haven for artists, actors, writers, and composers.  A building where we can devote our money towards facilitating creative dreams and consistently aiding the community we live in, rather than paying to rent someone else’s facilities.  A place where we can inspire the hopes and dreams of students and showcase the growing artistic talent we continue to discover here in Southwest Florida.  Perhaps more importantly, a place that will become the epicenter for changing lives in Lee County.