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The Death of Gaia Divine
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Through our investigation of shared mythologies, we curate works of live performance that record, reveal, and react to human progress over time.

RECORD

Momentary advocates for artists across all disciplines to contribute their work to the vast record of human history. The company prioritizes new writer development with a series of workshops and programs dedicated to cultivating and documenting the new play process. When producing pre-existing content, the focus will shift to new dramaturgical interpretations, design aesthetics, and character portrayals. The record we create is one of diverse and unique voices.

REVEAL

Momentary fuses the forms of theaters and museums, two ancient practices with their own distinct philosophies. Each will inform the other to create something new and contemporary; putting ideas and actions on exhibition while upholding the importance of a narrative in telling an honest history.

REACT

Momentary facilitates cultural conversations through active audience and community engagement. Our work is connected to the world from which it is devised, and will always evolve with and reflect this moment in time.

the curators

 

Momentary Theatre is committed to working with emerging artists with a focus on new playwrights; developing skills and providing resources for growth within the industry.​ As Co-Curators rather than Artistic Directors, Matthew T. Messina, Jacob C. Shuler, and Alexa Costa work to facilitate an enlightened environment of cross-disciplinary collaboration. We value artists who are progressive, passionate, and present.

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MATTHEW T. MESSINA 
Matthew is a director, experiential content creator, and guest experience specialist. He graduated from The Theatre School at DePaul University with a degree in Dramaturgy/Criticism in 2014. Through his work, Matthew tells stories that speak to the battle between memory and progress; the epic in the everyday. He is a Senior Research Fellow at I-SITE (The Institute for the Study of Immersive Theatrical Experiences) and an artistic associate of Birch House Immersive.
 
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contact: matthew@thisismomentary.com
JACOB  C. SHULER 
Jacob is a 2012 graduate of The Theatre School at DePaul University where he merited a BFA in Playwriting. He authored Momentary’s inaugural production, The Death of Gaia Divine, which also received a staged production through The Theatre School’s New Playwright Series. While at DePaul, he also wrote and directed an adaptation of August Strindberg’s The Stronger. Jacob is the Literary Manager of The Blind Owl; a socially-charged theater where he dramaturged Christopher Shinn’s The Coming World and debbie tucker green’s dirty butterfly. In addition to producing, Jacob dramaturged Momentary’s Spring 2020 co-production of Nahal Navidar’s My Dear Hussein with Silk Road Rising prior to its COVID-19 cancellation. 9 to 5, Jacob works at Chicago’s Field Museum where he oversees visitor analytics and structures an engaging visitor experience. 

contact: jacob@thisismomentary.com
Alexa Costa 
Alexa is a Chicago based actor, director, and Artistic Associate at Momentary. Her last project, STRONG: The Boston Marathon Project, encouraged survivors and first responders of the Boston Marathon bombings to share their stories and for their voices to be heard. Through her work, she hopes to extend the conversation from beyond the stage. She has also directed Momentary's 3-season Holiday Fundraiser series. 
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