Our History
Artist’s Strategy was started by Joshua Morgan in 2014 while running a theatre company he had founded in Washington, DC. Trained as an actor, producing fell into his lap somewhat accidentally. On the path to building a successful theatre company by marketing, networking, fundraising and smart producing, he had the thought “why aren’t we applying these same principles to building acting careers?”
That idea turned into a codified system, specific to freelance artists. The system was created using basic business principles based on his experience running for profit and not for profit companies.
Since its inception, Artist’s Strategy has worked with actors all over the world helping them develop structure in what is a structureless industry. It began as only one on one consulting and continued to develop into a one-stop shop of diverse resources for artists all over the world empowering them to work and learn in any capacity that best suits them.
Joshua Morgan
(Founder + Consultant)
Joshua is a proud graduate of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.
A diverse, singing actor, his regional credits include roles at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, Arena Stage, Theatre Under the Stars, Folger Theatre, Triad Stage, Signature Theatre, Olney Theatre Center, North Carolina Theatre, amongst many others.
He was last seen in the Broadway musical, Ain’t Too Proud: the Life and Times of the Temptations, having originated the role of legendary manager, Shelly Berger. Before that, he had most recently finished production on NBC’s upcoming series Lincoln. He is currently developing stories for TV and streaming content.
Before moving to NY to appear in the most recent Broadway revival of Les Miserables, he was the co-founder and Artistic Director of the Helen Hayes Award winning organization, No Rules Theatre Company, in Washington, DC and Winston-Salem, NC making it the first ever dual city theatre company. During his 6 years with NRTC, he produced and often directed several award winning premieres and created outreach programs for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing and those for which theatre is often unattainable.
While in DC, Joshua performed at most major theatres. Highlights include Folger Theatre’s production of Twelfth Night, the world premiere of Nick Blaemire’s Soon at Signature Theatre and the DC premiere of Sam Hunter’s A Bright New Boise at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company.
Directing credits include the area premieres of In Love and Warcraft (Helen Hayes Nomination) by Madhuri Shekar, Medea’s Got Some Issues, Touch by Toni Press-Coffman, Suicide, Incorporated by Andrew Hinderaker, The Last Five Years and Hedwig and the Angry Inch to name a few.
He brings his vast experience to his work as a teacher having taught at American University, Gallaudet University, the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (his alma mater) and the Catholic University of America.
Following his diverse business ventures, he founded Artist’s Strategy to help freelance creative entrepreneurs develop strategic business plans, working towards a sustainable future in the arts.
Mike Labbadia
(Consultant)
Once a client himself, Mike credits Artist’s Strategy for fundamentally transforming his perspective and creating a positive relationship with his business. He is also a graduate of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts where he received his BFA in Drama.
Since graduating Mike has worked as an actor both regionally and in New York City. Most recently he closed a mini-tour of Bedlam’s much lauded 4 person productions of Shaw’s Saint Joan and Hamlet at Gulfshore Playhouse and Alabama Shakespeare Festival. NYC Credits include: Strictly Dishonorable with the Attic Theater Company (for which he received rave reviews in the Huffington Post and New York Times), Hedda with Bridge Production Group, and Othello with Match Lit. He’s had the pleasure of participating in various readings and workshops with companies like Keen Company, The Lark, and Rhinebeck Writers Retreat.
As a producer, his recent short film Come Be Creepy With Us premiered to a glowing review on the prestigious Short of The Week. It has a successful run at festivals like Bushwick Film Festival, Women in Horror, Oaxaca Film Festival and Picture Farm Film Festival. He also directed, co-wrote, and co-produced the web series Today in New York, which was featured at festivals like Big Apple Film Festival and Miami Web Fest. He is the founder of the non-profit production company Little Worms Creative, Inc, which has two films in post-production.
Mike has been working with Joshua and Artist’s Strategy as a client since 2018. He is humbled to make this transition into a consultant position and to help actors take control of their careers.
Questions?