Project Grant
ACHF Arts Access ACHF Arts Education ACHF Cultural Heritage
Youth Theatre Workshop/NorthStar Family Theatre will present six, full length, musical/theatrical performances of the A Christmas Carol during December 2015. The production will include artistic staff, approximately 80 performers of all ages, and 90 volunteers. Based on past quantitative analysis, approximately 2450 enthusiastic audience members from throughout Central Minnesota will attend these performances. Please note that this number includes both complimentary and paid audience totals. 1) Approximately 2450 adults and children of all ages, economic and cultural backgrounds will experience live theatre performances in a convenient, community environment in Central Minnesota. We estimate that 20% of these audience members will not have been to or been involved in a previous NorthStar production. 2) Ten emerging artists will gain knowledge and real life experience in all facets of theatrical production. 3) Approximately 80 volunteers will have an opportunity to engage with the arts in Central Minnesota. Approximately 60 performers will engage in a high quality theatrical arts experience that will also educate them in multiple musical and chorographic styles. 4) Twenty-five artistic and technical staff members will have collaborated to create this high quality arts experience. Quantitative evaluation number of performances, number of people attending, number of volunteers and performers. Qualitative feedback from participants, staff, audience, volunteers, recording of performances, audience surveys, printed materials document activities. Quantitative: 1. The number of performances. 2. The number of people attending each performance. 3. The number of performers participating. 4. The number of volunteers and volunteer hours garnered by each show. Qualitative: 1. Verbal and written feedback from participants, parents, volunteers, staff, board and audience member. 2. Recording of rehearsals and performances demonstrates artistic quality. 3. Printed materials and website document activities. Although we utilize surveys in our evaluations, we find them to be quite limiting. We also request narrative feedback from our participants. These open ended requests have garnered a much greater return rate then short surveys. Please see the sample survey and an example of a narrative response given by Jennifer Schreiffles.
There were 10 performances with 95 volunteers and 62 performers. Elk River Community Theatre is being revamped because of the experience all of the adult actors had in this show, causing them to want to do more “adult” theater. One mother helped make props from her hospital bed after miscarrying her eighth child, and being diagnosed with stage four breast cancer. Several NorthStar Family Theatre families are committed to ensuring that her daughters will be able to participate in the next show. Also, there is a young man who is severely autistic. He started out as a backstage hand four years ago, and didn’t really talk to anyone. Now he’s come so far out of his shell that he acted, danced, and sang a lead role. His mother cried she was so proud of him. Our stage manager has also come out of her shell. A quiet, reserved girl who never took charge, has stage managed several shows for us and has become confident. Her mother sent an email to Artistic Director, Eileen Anderson, thanking her for the wonderful change she’s seen in her daughter over the past few years. Many audience members commented on the fabulous costumes and set. They’ve commented before on the superb quality of acting and singing. Now, thanks to the Central Minnesota Arts Board grant, they thought the set and costumes were up to the level of the acting and singing. There is a DVD of the show, and there are program fliers. All of the cast members benefitted from the experience and opportunities for artistic and personal growth provided by this project. A new demographic of audience members connected with and enjoyed this performing arts experience. NorthStar's Emerging Artists Conservatory members gained valuable experience in a variety of performing and technical aspects of show production. Audience totals are carefully tracked by the Box Office Manager and are reported above. Cast, crew, and staff members are listed in the Christmas Carol program. Volunteer hour logs are maintained by our Volunteer Coordinator. This statistical information, while very important, does not represent the most significant outcome of all. NorthStar believes that the true value of any arts experience is the way in which it changes people's lives. This is something that cannot be measured by any survey or statistical analysis but is made abundantly clear in the letter that NorthStar's Artistic Director received from Sherburne County RSVP Director, Charlotte Strei, regarding her daughter, Leita, uploaded below.
Other, local or private