For thespians, inspiration can come from any of a wide variety of things. It can be a fond memory from childhood, the plight of an oppressed people, the love of the game (any game), or even something as simple as a self storage unit.
Main stream America has become much more aware of the role that the self storage industry has had in entertainment thanks in part to the popularity of reality shows like “Storage Wars” and “Auction Hunters.” However, the self storage industry can trace its roots in entertainment through the cinema and television to the very core of the acting profession—the stage.
The role the self storage industry has played in the theater has been both literal and metaphorical. Typically when it is literal it is in a backstage capacity, like that which the Extra Space Storage facility in Randolph, MA, recently engaged in with the Randolph Theater Company.
When the theater company recently lost their storage space, Extra Space Storage decided to help by donating a 300 square foot space for the theater to store props, set pieces, and whatever else the theater needs.
"When Randolph Theater Company unexpectedly lost our warehouse area Extra Space Storage generously offered us space in their facility on North Street in Randolph…We are very grateful to Extra Space for giving us a place to store these important items. Our thanks go out to Extra Space Storage for being a great community citizen," said Sharon Parisi, Production Manager at the Randolph Theater Company.
Along with acting as storage for the theater, the self storage industry has been the muse from which playwrights have taken inspiration and written a play with the self storage industry acting as the back drop.
Two actors/aspiring playwrights in New York wrote a play taking a satirical look at the purchase of a pair of self storage units at an auction. Joey Rizzolo and Christopher Borg of the New York Neo-Futurists based the play, "Locker 4173b," off of a pair of units they bought at auction themselves.
In 2010, Elaine Jarvick, a reporter and playwright in Utah, took inspiration from the self storage industry and wrote a short play titled simply “Self Storage.” Rather than just use a self storage facility as the back drop for the play, she used it as a means of exploring why people hold onto different things.
"I'm trying to explore self-storage facilities as a window into the things and ideas we can't quite let go of," says Jarvik.
Sources Used:
“Extra Space Storage(R) of Randolph Partners With Randolph Theater Company.” Marketwire; 15 September 2011.
“Finding the Drama in What Life Has Left Behind.” New York Times; 01 May 2011.
“Self Storage Industry Inspires SLC Playwright.” Self Storage Industry News; 05 March 2010.