This is taken from an email interview done between Andrew Byrd and Robbie Gross of the newpaper "Student Life" at Washington University. The published article can be found here

RG: How is Tin Ceiling different from (artisticially, philosophically,
logistically, etc.) other St. Louis companies, or from other U.S. companies
with a similar mission statement?

AB:The Tin Ceiling is definitely a unique entity in St. Louis. We're a
young, small company that makes up for our truly shoe-string budget
with our intense passion for theater. We've been called 'punk rock
theater', and I think that fits us, especially in the beginning. It
all started when our founder, Robin Garrels, came back from LA with a
script she had written and wanted to put it up here. She gathered up a
cast and crew from people she knew and through sweat and raw
enthusiasm found a space, constructed a stage w/light booth, and put
on a really great show. I think that because it involved, both in the
show and as audience members, a lot of people who weren't ever exposed
to theater or didn't consider themselves 'theater people' we came to
the realization that theater can still be relevant in our channel
surfing, media swamped society. The immediacy and sense of community
that it created is special and worth saving(and yes I do think theater
is dying a slow, painful death).

Ever since then our focus has been on doing new original work written
by local people. Its these local, personal stories that give our
theater its edge and relevance. Once a year we do put on a previously
published play (first was" Accidental Death of an Anarchist", this
year "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead") but our focus will
always be on original work. When we do, we try to find obscure work
and something we think will connect strongly with people today. And
we're always looking to expand the definition of theater through
improv, seven/24, and other experiments with the form. I don't think
putting on "Our Town" for the ten thousandth time is going to keep
theater alive.

RG: Who/what kind of St. Louisian has made up the general audience for your
productions?

AB: Our typical audience member is not your typical St Louis theater goer,
though we do have some of those. Most of our audience doesn't see much
theater. Typically they're younger, 20s-30s, mainly from the South
Side, who are attracted by our energy, our creative ideas for shows,
and the poignant subject matter.

RG: How do you envision Tin Ceiling adapting to any changes and/or new demands on
theater companies in the future? Is it difficult to continually be original and
heterodox?

AB: This past year we've become more organized(our first actual 'season')
and our productions have gotten tighter, through  better planning and
more experience on our part, and I believe we will continue to improve
in that area.  I think that as long as St Louis continues to produce
passionate people with things to say, we'll continue to have a voice
worth listening to.

Thanks again for your interest in the Tin Ceiling.