We’re looking forward to introducing you to Jennifer Decker. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Jennifer, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
No day is the same as any other for me. I teach classes at Houston City College and I run Mildred’s Umbrella Theater Company. Some days are 14 hours, starting with classes at 8am and ending rehearsal at 10pm. Other days are flexible all day, with rehearsal in the afternoon or evening. I keep a paper day timer so I can keep up with what happens day by day.
Within that chaos, my ideal first 90 minutes would be alone and silent, having two leisurely cups of coffee, sitting next to my dog while I do the wordle and crossword and read the morning news. Some days that happens. Often, I’m out of the house before 7, and can’t do that, but it’s a treasure when I can.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a co-founder and the Artistic Director of Mildred’s Umbrella Theater Company, a Houston-based nonprofit dedicated to honoring and elevating women in the theatrical arts. I co-founded the company in 2001. In its early years, Mildred’s Umbrella was not specifically focused on female artists; we primarily produced experimental work in a city that, at the time, had relatively few large professional theaters.
As the company evolved—and as my co-founder, who was the playwright for much of our original work, moved on to other projects—I found myself increasingly drawn to producing published plays by women. Many of these were by prominent playwrights whose work was being produced internationally, often in London, but was rarely staged elsewhere. Over the years, Mildred’s Umbrella premiered Houston productions of plays by writers such as Naomi Wallace, Dawn King, Edna O’Brien, and Sarah Ruhl. Recognizing this consistent commitment, we formally shifted our mission in 2013 to focus on work by women.
While our emphasis is on female playwrights, we are not an exclusively female company. Men are an important part of our artistic community—our Associate Artistic Director, Rhett Martinez, is a man and an exceptional director—but our programming prioritizes stories written by women.
In addition to my work with Mildred’s Umbrella, I am a freelance director and have recently directed productions in Houston for the Garden Theatre, the Evelyn Rubenstein JCC Joe Frank Theatre, Wordsmyth Theatre, and the Fade to Black Festival. I am also a college instructor at Houston City College. I am also volunteering with several non profit organizations focused on justice reform in America.
Coming up next, Mildred’s Umbrella will present GRAND HORIZONS by Bess Wohl, which I will be directing at Spring Street Studios. More information can be found at www.mildredsumbrella.com
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Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
In 2000, I was finishing a college degree at University of Houston, and I took a creative writing class with a professor named John Harvey. I was also acting and I told him and some of the classmates about a show I was in. Later, after the class was over, he reached to me and told me he had written a play and would really like to produce it. He rememebered I was involved in theatre and asked if I would be interested in collaborating. This conversation led to the founding of our theatre, Mildred’s Umbrella Theater. During the years I collaborated with him on this, he also encouraged me to go to graduate school and earn two MLA degrees (English and Theatre) from St. Thomas University, and then put in a good word for me when he also encouraged me to apply for a job as a professor at Houston Community College. I got the job, and the theatre is still running, though John has moved out of Houston now. I never thought I would be doing anything I’m doing now. I never would have imagined I could run a company or become a college professor. That relationship was one of the most important relationships of my life, because without that friendship, I might never have had the confidence to start on the path that led me to where I am today.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
After years of struggling financially to keep a non-profit theatre going on small donations and rented venues, I was burnt out. You really have to have some money to get any money. Having wealthy contacts that know other wealthy contacts is something I never had when starting my company in 2001, and my company has struggled with that the whole time. While we have been praised for our artistic contributions and our payment of artists, finding the money to pay anyone to run the company has not been easy. I was doing all of the admin work for the non-profit, while also teaching a full load at the college, which distanced me from participating in the artistic work for a while, taking all the joy out of my involvement. I was on verge of closing the company due to the burnout. Right about then, I worked with an actor/director who ended up becoming a collaborator and is now my Associate Artistic Director. Having a partner has lessened my load and allowed me to be an artist again, which has restored my interest in keeping the organization alive.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes. I am an open book. There is nothing you see from me in public that isn’t real.. This isn’t always a good thing, but it is true.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
I would stop spending time doing anything that does not feed my mind and soul. I would completely stop spending any of my free time doing things out of obligation, unless it was in support of someone I admire and love deeply. I would spend more time in silent solitude with the ringer off, and I would adopt more pets.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mildredsumbrella.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mildredsumbrella/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifergdecker
- Twitter: not these days.
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MildredsUmbrella
- Other: https://vimeo.com/mildredsumbrella
Image Credits
Gentle Bear Photography
