MEMBER FOCUS: Craig Watson

Craig Watson has always loved writing. First it was to get the attention of girls at school, and then it became his primary creative outlet once he was introduced to the world of spoken word poetry. “After college, a friend and I happened to go to an open mic at this spot called Tropical Soul on 2nd Street. We looked at each other and said, ‘Hey, we could do this!’” Craig was inspired to create something that took what he loved about open mic nights to the next level.  “People needed a stage to be able to share talents and gifts, but we wanted to polish it,” Craig explains. In 2003, Craig formed Lyric Ave: a poetry-based variety show that showcases performances from comedians, actors, musicians, and dancers. “We started out in underground nightclubs in Shockoe Bottom and then grew into playing theaters all over the country,” Craig says. He explains how he built a community of creative people that has become a staple in Richmond — “And we're about to begin our 19th season as a group!” 

In mid-2021, Common House reached out to Craig with hopes of bringing Lyrics Ave’s electric performances to the Richmond House. “When the Director of Programming reached out, I really felt like I had to dust off my creativity after over a year without performances,” Craig says, laughing. But he was excited about the opportunity to bring his brand of storytelling to further connect the Common House community and bring people together. “I came up with the name Poetry in Common, and we decided to put on a series of three events. The first one was held outside, and the energy was just flawless,” Craig says. “You could just tell that it was meant to be.” Craig explains that members were so excited to be introduced to this new kind of performance and he was able to meet a lot of people that he may not have been able to reach otherwise. “That same energy continued for all three events. And when the series was over, people were coming up to me saying ‘What do you mean it’s over?’” Craig says, smiling. 

In addition to organizing his performance group, Craig is also hard at work building a new non-profit to bring his mission beyond the stage. His goal is to provide a platform for creative growth to people of all ages. Craig explains that the performers in Lyric Ave come from very diverse backgrounds, with careers ranging from lawyers to teachers to community activists.   “These are people who have professional lives and careers, but they’re looking for a space where they can be open with others, and share their talents and passions. People have these passions that they’re itching to express, and I’ve been surprised how much of a need it is.” Craig wants to provide a space for these creative pursuits to flourish and be nurtured by a community of peers and mentors. “This is especially important for our teens,” Craig explains. “They need an outlet to make social and emotional connections in a safe space — and to recognize that we have more in common than we have differences.”

After such a positive reception from Common House members, Craig and Lyric Ave have decided to continue their performances, with the next one taking place on December 10th. “The show we bring to Common House is snippets of our full performance — this allows us to introduce people to Lyric Ave and connect in a way that you can’t with a big production.” For this next show, Craig will be bringing performers in from across the northeast region to connect and perform together. “I want people to come together in this space to help spur connection, because I know that it’s way more than a building — it allows people to get connected to the Richmond community at large and engage with new people and new things. Networking and building relationships is where I see the whole focus of Common House.” 

Craig explains that because he’s been able to live his dream as an artist and performer, he wants to be able to help others do just that. “Ultimately, this is my outlet and that’s what makes it personal for me,” Craig says. “Common House is a great facilitator for that because it allows you to connect with others and build relationships. Even the bartenders are connecting with me and asking when the next performance will be. It’s so much more than an event or a space when relationships are being built and connections are being made.”

Get all the details on Lyric Ave’s next performance and RSVP for the show on our Goings On page.