Although the Free Play Theater Cooperative was denied a charter last semester due to a "duality of purpose" with existing clubs, the Student Union reversed its decision after the nascent group had a successful semester, distinguishing it from other theater groups on campus.FPTC artistic Director Josh Mervis '08 said Union senators requested that FPTC ask again for a charter allow the club to request money from the Finance Board. However, Mervis emphasized FPTC did not financially depend on the Union's approval. "We had a plan to be self-sustainable," he said.

Jennie El-Far '07, a member of the FPTC board of directors, believes it had a greater case because "W-e made ourselves distinguished in the quality of our productions."

She and other members said they felt the quality of shows from other theater groups on campus was inconsistent.

FPTC memebers believe that the "free" in their title sets them apart. To them, "free" means that they provide theater for little to no cost to the theatergoer, and that they allow themselves the freedom of experimental artistic expression.

They hope to have more of an academic focus than the Undergraduate Theater Ccompany, yet provide even more opportunities for production than the Theater Department already does.

To support the "free" part of FPTC's mission, board members write grants proposals to obtain funds from various academic departments and institutes around campus. "[Working with many Brandeis departments] can be a lot of work, but by joining forces, we are able to do more," says Managing Director Nick Brown '10.

Never the group to back down from a challenge, the FPTC took on more ambitious shows with larger casts this semester, said El-Far, who is directing FPTC's first show of the season, Marisol.

Marisol will be staged in the Clare Rojas exhibit of the Rose Art Museum, using two levels of the space, and will focus on issues of gender identity.

The remainder of the season will consist of Julius Caesar, directed by Sam Zelitch '09 and an original rap musical titled Greed, written and directed by William Chalmus '07.

"Who says you have to restrict yourself to one venue?"Mervis said, mentioning that other theater troupes' plays have been produced with each scene in a different physical location. Last semester, FPTC used such unorthodox spaces as Gluck Lobby.

A change of performance space may allow an audience to be freer in its thinking. "If we change the perspective it might open audience members' minds to a different idea," El-Far said. "The idea is you shouldn't have to pay to be exposed to new things. Art should be free when it can be.