Arts Activities Support

1,182 patrons attended And So It Goes, surpassing our goal of 800, seeing the work of 17 artists. 52% of audience members were seeing a D and S show for the first time, so we are reaching new audiences. The top two reasons that audiences attended, the cast and creative team (31%) and because they are fans of intimate theater (23%), indicates they will support future projects like And So It Goes. And So It Goes by George F. Walker was the most successful production in Dark and Stormy’s history financially, and one of its most adventurous and successful artistically. We had the advantage of rehearsing in the performance space, which was set up in a “clock” formation – a variation of a theater in the round, with the audience spread around the space in a full circle that was generally only two rows deep (a very intimate seating arrangement). The playing space was centered by a large concrete pillar, which slightly obstructed the view of each audience member and actor from each other at times, (intentionally). This unique style of staging was new to the entire creative team, the actors, and the audience, and it proved to be an exceptionally successful artistic choice, and one we may use again. Because some of the action was placed amongst the audience, the “fourth wall” was often broken, creating a truly intimate and immediate experience that had a profound effect on the audience, according to our surveys. This experience provided a multi-dimensional challenge for our creative team and even our most veteran actors, who had to adjust to a large obstruction in the center of the playing space (they eventually found it to be a grounding force), and to the audience being close enough to touch. In addition, our assistant stage managers (usually kept from view back stage) remained on stage as a full part of the production, amongst the audience and actors. It was the first time any of the highly experienced cast had performed George F. Walker’s complicated and nuanced work. Sally Wingert, Sara Marsh, Robert Dorfman, and James Craven are all at the top of their field, well-known and well-loved by Twin Cities audiences and critics alike. They had excellent chemistry, and director Benjamin McGovern helmed a collaborative, open, engaging rehearsal room. The artists had the skills and ability necessary to successfully take on the delicate mix of humor, absurdism, and tragedy in this material, which, while disturbing and challenging, brought the actors and creative team closer together. We achieved all our goals with And So It Goes: Walker’s complex characters, structure and narrative were challenging even for our highly experienced artists (who have Broadway, national theater, and major feature film credits among them); our unconventional staging; it was the first time any of our artists, crew, or designers had worked on a George F. Walker play; it was the national premiere of this production; the playwright was thrilled with our production and hopes that we produce more of his work; and it can be best summed up by a statement from Broadway veteran Robert Dorfman on closing night, “We changed people with this play. We changed people’s lives. This makes me excited to do another play. This is why I do this.” The rest of the cast and creative team felt the same way. All in all, And So It Goes was a massive artistic success. Dark and Stormy was seeking to serve three distinct groups with And So It Goes: audience members, area artists, and participating artists. We successfully reached these groups with record attendance. And So It Goes is the second most highly attended production in our history, limited only by house size and length of run. And So It Goes played to an astonishing 123% capacity (a record), showcasing the work of 17 participating artists. Our surveys and feedback on social media show that we reached theatergoers. We offered a free preview performance, well attended by theater artists and the community. Our $5 Wednesday night performance, geared specifically toward area artists, sold out. In addition to seeing many artists after each performance, we received a great deal of feedback from artists on social media. Our outreach efforts resulted in some community diversity. Audience surveys show that, as we expected, our audience demographic is largely Caucasian, has an income over $100,000 per year, is middle-aged, and evenly split between male and female (with only a small number identifying as transgender, though over half identify as LGBTQ allies). However, as we have previously seen, we had a large response on social media from individuals under the age of 35. “Go see Dark and Stormy’s latest show ‘And So It Goes,’ tomorrow or the next day. I CANNOT get over how brilliant it is. Wow. Go see it. Really. Wow.” “Go see Dark and Stormy’s show, it’s honestly amazing, and I don’t think I have ever recommended a show on here.” “You are incredible and I loved watching you and supporting your work tonight!!” “Fantastic performance! I would say it’s a must see production :)” We received many incredibly moving survey responses, messages, and emails from audience members, such as this: “My wife and I lost our 23 year old daughter…she had struggled for many years with bi polar disorder and clinical depression…You and your company did an amazing job capturing the horrors of dealing with mental illness and untimely death. As one of the lines in the play stated parents never quite recover from the loss of a child. Yet – with help – we do find ways to move forward. Let me simply say thank you.” Our outreach efforts met our goals in making our project open and accessible to all who might wish to participate; we offered discounted tickets, used free spaces to publicize (like social media, leaving postcards at strategic locations, word of mouth, etc.), and our accessibility and low prices compared to larger theaters were highlighted by the press. In addition, excellent reviews from critics and a large feature on artistic director Sara Marsh in the Star Tribune dramatically increased visibility. We also worked with our partner, Artspace, to offer a discount to our fellow tenants. We will continue to build partnerships will fellow organizations to be even more inclusive and accessible."