Legacy Arts and Cultural Heritage

1. To create an entirely new original story-and-song concert about insanity in American history titled “Crazy About You” that will add to my performance repertoire; 2. To offer that show for free to three communities in west-central Minnesota; 3. To offer a post-show Q and A to discuss the craft of creating the show; 4. To design and lead three free “Crazy About Writing” workshops associated with the performance to teach writing skills and focus on writing about our most colorful family and friends; 5. To perform a child-friendly mini-concert before the full performance; 6. To provide childcare during the three community performances; 7. To defray the costs of the performance to the three venues presenting my show; 8. To market performances and workshops to local communities using internet, press, and radio; and 9. To provide resources about mental illness to my audience and the communities I perform in. Attending the performances will result in: 1. Having a positive performing arts experience 2. Increased awareness of American history, and the history of insanity in specific 3. Increased empathy for the experiences of individuals with mental illness 4. Increased curiosity about the back-stories of people who may not fit in who have otherwise been rejected by their communities. 5. At least 150 people will attend the performances. Attending the post-show Q and A will result in: 1. Great understanding of the process of songwriting, storytelling, performing, and crafting a performance Attending the workshops will result in: 1. New or improved writing skills 2. Increased awareness of the value of colorful characters to our stories 3. Increased awareness of the value of colorful people in our lives as the inspiration for stories and songs 4. At least 15 people will attend the workshops (at least five at each workshop).