Today we’d like to introduce you to Josh Galitsky.
Hi Josh, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
Ah, where to begin? A story as long as a Russian novel and perhaps as interesting as watching enamel dry.
I was born in Fall River, Massachusetts, same town where Lizzy Borden “took an axe.” Grew up in Somerset, MA on New Hampshire Ave. in a little section of matching “little boxes” townhouses called Americana Terrace. Very 1970s. I was the class comedian in school, not the class clown mind you, the one that runs across the football field naked but the class comedian, the one who convinces him to do it. I was crappy at most sports, coming in 10th out of 10 during the Field Day 100-yard dash (and feigning injury), was skinny as a #2 pencil, and was beaten up regularly on the wrestling mat in gym class.
I went to three high schools. First one I failed out of. The second I got kicked out of. The third, in my now-considered “hometown” of New Bedford, MA, I did well enough to be the editor and a photographer for the school paper, having been just a little too nervous to try out for the school plays.
In sophomore year of college at UMass, Amherst, my hallmate Randy convinced me to audition for Grease. I couldn’t dance. I couldn’t sing. I couldn’t act. But hey, they needed guys, most of the musicals did, so I was cast fairly easily and worked my butt off to try to make up for my lack of any legitimate skills or God-given talent. Awkward as I was, this love affair with theatre had begun. I graduated in 1990 with a creative writing/theatre bachelor’s and I acted in community theatre productions for a few years after college.
In graduate school at Emerson College in 1996, I fell in love with directing and that became my focus. Flash forward a few years and I came to LA in 99 to pursue my dream of not being a middle manager.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The greatest obstacle for everything in life is Fear. And Fear manifests itself in a variety of ways, all of which are the ego’s need to exist and protect the body vessel from destruction. The only cure for Fear is Love. Love of art, creativity, expression, growth, and service. Love comes from the soul. When Love is stronger than Fear, that is where Art happens. That is where Joy happens. That is where Beauty happens. It is my job to help encourage Love to be stronger than Fear in the hearts and minds of those I am blessed to be able to guide and work with.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
The kind of theatre I love most is devised, using a big, open theme like Love, Faith, Magic, etc. and building a fully original show around it based on the exploration that happens during the rehearsal process. I try to create a safe playground where actors and artists can initiate, explore and discover their most genuine, intimate, and dynamic self. My job is to help folks break through their fear obstacles to do their very best, most honest work. I guess you could say I’m part creative life coach, part director, part teacher and part cheerleader.
My most recent work was a live show for the Hollywood Fringe Festival 2021 called Your Reason for Being. It was based on the Japanese concept of Ikigai, living your purpose, which integrates 4 elements into a happy, productive life. 1.) What do you love? 2.) What are you good at? 3.) How can it help the world? 4.) How do you get paid for it? When we discover our Ikigai, we have found the holy grail of living. My show explored for each performer what gets them out of bed every morning, what is the “big dream” and how to try and make it real.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success can be measured in infinite ways. But for me, it is the quality of our relationships. Do we have strong friendships? Do we honor our families? Do we have community? Do we serve others? Do we create to express our deepest truths, hopes, and longings to make our lives and the lives of those we meet better? That is the only “success” that matters to me. Are you better in some way from knowing me? Am I better for knowing you? Do we make each other’s lives more joyful, easier, kinder, more loving and more grateful? Everything else is frosting.
Contact Info:
- Email: thesacredactor@gmail.com
- Website: thesacredactor.com
