Ruthie Buescher Productions is a collective of artists seeking to introduce devised and physical theater to the greater San Antonio area through performances, workshops, classes, and trainings.
In February 2023 Ruthie and her team staged We Sail On In Darkness, an original physical theater production, and among the first of its kind on San Antonio stages. It performed to sold out audiences, and was nominated for two Alamo Theatre Arts Council awards (Outstanding Original or Adapted Script and Outstanding Music Direction.)
Ruthie Buescher Productions continues to offer performances of new work, devised projects, and physical theater explorations.
Devised theater is an umbrella term for theater that operates in a nontraditional way; instead of starting with an existing script and staging it, it is a collaborative process during which an ensemble creates an original piece of theater. It often incorporates very old types of theater, such as clowning or mask work, and pulls in whatever inspiration it needs, whether from dance, music, tech, spoken word, etc. It is also often used to create a welcoming and exploratory space for those who do not consider themselves to be artists or performers.
Physical theater often goes hand in hand with devised theater, but the term more generally refers to theater that uses movement, acrobatics, props, dance, etc to enhance the project with non-linear storytelling. Physical theater does not rely on realism or spoken dialogue, but seeks to engage the entire person, and not just their intellect.
Trained in devised and physical theater methods, Ruthie Buescher is a director, playwright, producer, and teacher with fifteen years of experience in the world of theater. Ruthie received a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Wheaton College and a Master of Arts in Educational Theatre at NYU Steinhardt. Ruthie has worked with theaters in Pittsburgh, Chicago, NYC, and Boston, and spent time as a playwriting artist in residence at Laity Lodge, Harrison Center for the Arts, and Grunewald Guild.
She currently resides in San Antonio, where she works as a theater director, producer, and playwright. Her work has been sponsored by local organizations including the City of San Antonio Department of Arts and Culture, the H.E. Butt Foundation, the Mays Family Foundation, and the Institute for the Study of Contemporary Spirituality at Oblate School of Theology.
