Rural and Community Art Project Grant
Rural and Community Art Project Grant
Fences by August Wilson play performances March 27, 28, 29; April 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 2018 in Duluth, Two Harbors and Silver Bay, MN.
Adam Guggemos: graphic designer, art events promoter; Michelle Ronning: jewelry designer and maker; Tara Makinen: Executive Director of Itasca Orchestra and Strings, musician; Moira Villiard: visual artist, Cultural Programming Coordinator at American Indian Community Housing Organization; Jeanne Doty: Retired Associate Professor UMD Music, pianist; Amber Burns: choreographer, dancer, actor, middle school art teacher; Margaret Holmes: visual artist, poet, and former Children's Theatre employee; Tammy Mattonen: visual artists, co-founder of Crescendo Youth Orchestra; Kayla Schubert: Native American craft artist, writer, employee at MacRostie Art Center; Ariana Daniel: mixed media artist, arts instructor; Emily Fasbender: student liaison, visual artist
Tara Makinen: Executive Director of Itasca Orchestra and Strings, musician; Tammy Mattonen: visual artist, co-founder of Crescendo Youth Orchestra; Johnnie Hyde: choreographer and dance teacher, publisher; Anthony Kuznik: retired music teacher and school administrator, arts advocate.
ACHF Arts Access ACHF Arts Education ACHF Cultural Heritage
Specific goal: presentation of a quality, locally produced theatre for educational and entertainment purposes. - Broader goals: encouraging artistic growth; strengthening white-dominated community relations with black Americans; a deeper understanding of African-American history and culture. Measurable outcomes: - adequate volunteer support, - adequate cash flow, - verbal confirmation (crew, cast and audience) that LSCT accomplished the specific Line 1 goal above, - audience - at least 150 per performance and reflected in ticket sales, - fiscal year positive balance, - access to a main stage production written by and performed by an all-black cast, - people of color seeing this production in "significant" numbers, Spiritual outcomes: - experiencing serious literature, Cultural and (in-effect) political outcome: - a broader discussion about Twin Ports theatre institutional racism, lack of color on main stage Twin Ports play productions and action plans to address those issues. A postmortem pot luck dinner on the Duluth hillside with cast and crew leaders in May, 2018 will be convened. We will discuss/evaluate: - the set, - carpentry/set-build schedule, - scene painting, - lighting, - sound, - costuming, - makeup - production coordination, - advertising, - public relations, - fundraising, - venue selection, - house management, - ticket sales, - stage management, - play direction (rehearsals), - audience reaction, - the effects on the black community on stage, in the audience, in the area, - future-talk regarding LSCT's plans and theatre of color in the Twin Ports.
Community and agency members in Duluth emailed notifications to black Americans regarding the project. - - Black Americans attended Duluth info and audition sessions. - Black Americans were cast in the play. - Monies were raised and drawn from savings to pay for the project. - Artistic and technical delivery of the production was stellar in the following areas: stage direction, stage management, graphic design and production, set design and build, scenic painting, prop procurement and build, lighting, sound, costuming, makeup. - Play execution was stellar because of the script and cast quality, not to mention strong direction and technical delivery. It was a masterpiece worthy of the Broadway stage, especially the performances of Gabriel Mayfield, Kyliah Thompson and Julian Williams. - Expenses were much greater than estimated because of unanticipated stipends, travel costs and set materials/supply expenditures. - We performed in (3) communities. - The performances were historic: the first time an August Wilson play was performed in northern Minnesota; the first time an all-black, locally recruited cast presented an adult main stage production in northern Minnesota - We incurred a fiscal year loss. - Friendships were created among cast and tech. crew - forever.
Other,local or private