Community Arts

Children's Castle Theater achieved each of its artistic goals as they related to the production of "Billy Elliot," though some of the goals were not met to the full capacity projected. The primary artistic goals are listed below in detail. In order to assist in evaluating these areas, actors were asked to fill out a post-show survey. Surveys were anonymous and actors were given four days to complete them. Parents of youth actors were asked to fill out the survey with their child. A total of 23 surveys were completed out of 49 actors. In the future, participants will be given a longer amount of time to complete surveys (at least one week). Surveys will also be available beginning on the final production date. This will be done in attempts to increase the number of completed surveys. Each of the artistic goals (listed above) are discussed below in detail. Goal 1.) Assisting actors in growing their performance skills. This goal was achieved through choosing a production that had the right amount of challenge for the actors/participants (100% of survey takers agreed with this) and through hiring production staff who were knowledgeable in their skill set (78% of survey takers strongly agreed and 22% agreed). In addition to staff reporting that actors improved in various areas, each actor who filled out a survey felt they improved in multiple areas. Below lists the percent of survey takers who felt they improved in each area (listed highest to lowest); 96% improved in meeting new people and social skills. 87% improved in singing and music comprehension. 83% improved in acting and emoting AND in working in a group environment. 61% improved in direction following and listening skills. 52% improved in memorization skills. Goal 2.) Fostering a place where actors could contemplate themes within the production. This goal was achieved by encouraging actors to consider how they would feel if they were put in a similar situation as the character they were playing in the production or the characters others played in the production. Survey results were used to assess if actors felt the production helped them contemplate various themes. Below lists the results (listed highest to lowest); 91% contemplated gender stereotypes. 78% contemplated friendship. 74% contemplated charity AND financial hardship. 70% contemplated gay/lesbian themes AND loss due to death of a loved one. 61% contemplated self-realization. 4% declined to answer due to age of youth participant Goal 3.) Increasing audience sizes. This goal was achieved through the selection of a popular show title, quality performance from actors and through a large amount of show advertising and marketing. Overall ticket sales were up from an average of 14 tickets per actor to 21.9 tickets per actor. A total of 1071 tickets were purchased. This number met the lower end of the audience goal of 900-1900 persons. In the future we look to grow these numbers by beginning on-foot at least 6 weeks prior to performances. The project came close in successfully reaching all participants, audiences and communities that it set out to reach. The communities and the success at which they were reached are listed below in detail. Community 1.) The project projected to serve 50-80 youth and adult actors primarily from Dakota County communities. The project fell slightly short of this goal, reaching only 49 actors. Though 54 actors were cast, 5 actors choose not to participate. Participants were residents of the projected communities with 8% residing in Lakeville, 12% in Rosemount, 24% in Farmington, 51% in other communities in Dakota County and 5% residing outside Dakota County. After review, it is believed prominent reasons why less actors were reached than projected included the following; actors/parents were not comfortable with adult language in the show. The Children’s Castle Theater Board feels keeping the adult language in the production was important in order to keep the integrity of the show and would not change this if the project was repeated. Community 2.) The project projected to serve 900 to 1900 audience members. Though this goal was met with 1071 audience members (setting a new Children’s Castle Theater record for tickets sold per actor), it was a lower number than desired. All marketing methods in the original narrative were met with the exception of promoting the production at Farmington Dew Days. This was not done because Children’s Castle Theater chose to market a show that was closer to the time of Dew Days instead. In review, both shows should have been marketed during this time. Additional marketing methods used that were not listed in the original narrative included; attending local Farmers Market, online promo videos, live interview and performance on FOX 9 Morning Buzz and general street marketing. Community 3.) The project projected to provide contract employment for 4+ teaching artists. This community reach was exceeded as the production created contract employment for 4 teaching artists as well as 8 additional local artists who assisted with the production in non-teaching, performance/tech capacities. Overall, the project met the diversity discussed in the narrative. It reached actors from across Dakota County at various levels of experience and ages. Actors ranged in age from 6 to 50+ with no one age group (12 and under, 13-17, 18+) making up a large majority of the cast. The actors also ranged in experience levels from true beginner (first theater production) to professional actor (has previously been paid to perform at local theaters). Production staff worked to make the project open to all who might wish to participate by creating open audition and performance environments that were acceptant of all persons regardless of age, race, gender, sexual identity/orientation, learning/comprehension style, mobility, etc. The cast included actors who identified with various age groups, racial backgrounds and learning styles (actors identifying as having Asperger’s, Depression and Bi-polar traits). The first most significant outcome of this project was that it helped actors contemplate themes they may not normally think about; themes including gender stereotypes, charity, loss due to death, and gay/lesbian themes (results listed earlier). The second was that actors were able to participate in an activity that included persons of varying ages and experience levels.