FALL NEWSLETTER 2008
In this issue:
Tracey Maloney on Blackbird
Breaking Ice in Biloxi
Honors for Excellence
Vote YES
Chicago Ave Project Fills the House
Company Updates
Pillsbury House Theatre is proud to present Blackbird by David Harrower in the Guthrie’s Dowling Studio from November 6 through November 30. The show is directed by PHT company member Stephen DiMenna and stars PHT and Guthrie favorites Tracey Maloney as Una and Steven Yoakam as Ray.
In the play, we encounter Una and Ray who were in a relationship fifteen years ago and haven’t seen each other since. Now, at age 27, she’s found him again. The 2007 Laurence Olivier Award winner for Best New Play, Blackbird is a daringly provocative no-holds barred drama that is a portrait of two people damaged by an illicit love.
Tracey Maloney recently sat down with us over a cup of coffee to talk about Blackbird.
What was your initial reaction to the play?
It’s a relatively new play and I didn’t know anything about it until my brother in law, Mark Nelson, said “I just read this play. It’s amazing and it’s a great role for you.” I picked it up and immediately liked the craftsmanship and the language. It has a mysterious quality because at first you don’t where it’s going. Then as I got into it, I was mortified. But by the end, I was blown away; not only because of the subject matter but because of the way the play approaches the subject.
There’s so much complexity worked in to it, and the characters are extremely well drawn. The dialogue is a huge component of that. It’s so spare and quick yet at the same time very poetic and unique. The play is going to force people to abandon preconceived notions, of how you would judge him and what you expect from her and their relationship. It causes you to really think about a very difficult situation. Its one people will be talking about for a long time after they see it.
Have you worked with Steven Yoakam before?
We’ve been in many shows at the Guthrie together but never like this, like two soldiers on a stage. I’m really excited to start digging in and start working with him on this piece. I met him when I first came here many years ago and thought he was so cool. Now it’s come full circle and I really get to finally work directly with this amazing actor.
How will this be different from past Guthrie and PHT experiences?
Well this is going to be such a cool melding of these two worlds. You have the support of the big institution that is the Guthrie coupled with the grassroots hands-on work of Pillsbury. It’s going to be new and interesting for everybody, not just for the two theaters, but for both of their audiences as well.
What do you hope audiences experience both from the play and from seeing PHT at the Guthrie?
It’s going to benefit both Guthrie audiences and Pillsbury House Theatre. Guthrie audiences come to these studio shows to find new theatre that doesn’t hold back and takes chances. I know that after seeing Blackbird they’re going to come to many more Pillsbury shows. They’re going to see what great work Pillsbury does and continues to do.
by Heidi Hunter Batz
Last spring, Breaking Ice immersed itself in the town of Biloxi Mississippi, a community still rebuilding itself in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The process of creating a show for this community was both challenging and enlightening. The media showed us unbelievable devastation of the land and the destruction of homes. Each of us gave in our own ways toward the efforts, but it was not until I engaged one on one with the people that I realized on such a personal level just how much change there has been and how much change lies ahead for the Biloxi community.
When Katrina hit, the community came together. People of all ages, races and socio-economic backgrounds shared a single bottle of water as they worked to help keep each other above the sludge.
But when the government checks came in, a feeling of resentment and anger developed as some were able to move on while others felt left behind. Residents are tired and exhausted, and they want that feeling of community back.
Over two trips and nine days in Biloxi, Breaking Ice attended town meetings, shared meals with residents, interacted with clergy and conducted interactive workshops – true community immersion. We performed in open forums and schools engaging audiences of different cultures, ages, and socio-economics in dialogue around life before and after the storm. People began to talk to each other about sorrows, fears, and frustrations that have kept them from coming together in an effort to rebuild their community.
As one audience member put it “this is the first group that has come down here that has actually talked about Katrina…it is good that we are all here together—the answer lies in communication—if we are going to rebuild we have to do it respecting each other.”
PHT’s commitment to create challenging theatre to inspire choice, change and connection has been recognized by two major awards: Otto René Castillo Award for Political Theatre and the Nonprofit Mission Award for Anti-Racism Initiative.
The “Otto” is named after the Guatemalan poet, Otto Rene Castillo, who was murdered by that country’s military junta in 1968. It is the only award in the United States that recognizes the achievement of individuals and theatre companies, who conceive, produce and foster the development of innovative and socially challenging political theatre. The award is an original sculpture newly designed each year by the noted Brazilian-born contemporary artist and stage designer, Sheila Goloborotko. PHT company member Daniel Alexander Jones accepted the award on behalf of
PHT at a June ceremony in Manhattan
PHT’s Breaking Ice was nominated by our MN nonprofit peers for the Nonprofit Mission Award for Anti-Racism Initiative. The Minnesota Nonprofit Awards are a joint project of the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN) and MAP for Nonprofits. Through the Nonprofit Mission Awards, MCN has showcased the work of nonprofits for 21 years. As the recipient of the award, Breaking Ice will receive the honor and distinction of being recognized as a leader among Minnesota’s nonprofits, a video production capturing Breaking Ice’s work, a one of-a-kind art glass award, a feature profile of Breaking Ice in MCN’s Nonprofit News, and cash award. PHT staff will accept the award at the MCN Annual Conference on October 3.
Pillsbury House Theatre is proud to accept these awards as a further confirmation of the importance and impact of the work we do.
Vote yes on the clean water, land and legacy amendment
No doubt, November 4th will be a very big day in the US. Citizens will elect a new president, new governors, and new senators. MN citizens will also have the opportunity to make history by providing the arts and cultural institutions of MN with approximately $59 million a year in additional funding by voting yes for the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment.
The arts need a stable, long term and protected source of funding. Just like our lakes and great outdoors, Minnesota’s cultural resources are a vital part of our quality of life and tourism industry. Passage of the amendment means better access for our kids and all of us to cultural opportunities statewide. While the arts are a very tiny part of the state’s budget (less than 3/100ths of 1% of the state budget), they are slashed almost every time the state has a budget deficit.
With 1600 arts and cultural organizations in the state, annual arts attendance of more than 14.5 million people, and an arts advocacy coalition of more than 42,000, we know that Minnesotans care about access to arts and culture, and that it is important to the state of Minnesota that we pass the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment on November 4th.
What will this amendment do for MN?
Voting Yes will allocate approximately $300 million/year and will also create language in the constitution that specifically allocates the funding among four purposes: 33% for water quality, 33% for wildlife habitat, 19.75% for arts and cultural resources, and 14.25% for parks and trails. Minnesota has done a substantial amount of planning work to determine specific needs. The scale and scope of this proposal is intended to provide adequate funding for existing plans. Funds come from a miniscule increase in sales that equates to less than 15 cents a day for the average Minnesota family. That’s a small price to pay to protect our environment and the arts.
Why put the arts and environment together in the same package?
Minnesota’s natural and cultural resources are both critical to maintaining our state’s high quality of life. Unfortunately, they are also both among the first areas to be cut in times of budget crisis.
Doesn’t this tie the hands of future legislatures that might need this money for something else?
Actually, the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment would give the legislature more flexibility with general fund dollars by reducing competition for limited resources. Because this proposal is entirely funded with new money, no additional strain will be placed on the state’s budget now or in the future, while ensuring that our state’s long-term priorities no longer fall victim to short-term budget needs. If passed, this proposal would sunset in 25 years, allowing future generations even greater flexibility.
Won’t this take money away from other priorities, such as education and health care?
Because this proposal creates a new funding source, other programs would not be affected. If anything, funding these priorities from a dedicated fund reduces competition for general fund dollars.
This amendment is about preserving our way of life:
Minnesota has a long and proud tradition and history of arts and cultural resources. Arts and cultural education are critical not only to our children’s future but also to our state’s economic well-being. It is a well-known fact that Minnesota’s largest employers have great success in recruiting and retaining executives to our state because of our way of life: a strong arts community, a civic-minded population, and a rich tradition of arts and cultural resources.
The Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment is about future generations, and increasing our investment in the future of Minnesota. Minnesotans understand that core values are well worth protecting in our Constitution, especially when future generations rely on our actions today. Voting Yes on November 4th will ensure that we properly protect our water, parks, wildlife, and arts and cultural resources for our children and grandchildren. That is an investment well worth making.
For more information on the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment, please visit www.YesForMN.org. Thank you to Vote Yes MN for providing us with information and materials.
Please note that if you leave the ballot blank, it will be counted as a NO vote.
Chicago Avenue Project’s (CAP) recent show, Up, Up and Away! featured the world premiere of eight youth playwrights on August 25th and 26th. Each play was mentored, directed and acted by area theatre professionals. Each of these adults volunteer their time and skills to help introduce theatre to area youth.
The youth participated in playmaking classes at PHT and then attended a writing retreat at the Baker Near Wilderness Settlement with PHT staff and eight playwright mentors. For two days, the playwrights and their mentors were able to focus on creating scripts in a natural and peaceful environment. Gary Rue, an accomplished musician and composer, was also on hand to write songs for each of the plays.
After the retreat, actors and directors rehearsed the plays and songs in preparation for the performances. Up, Up and Away! was a smashing success and played to full houses.
Congratulations to our playwrights AJ Lindberg, Aniyah White, Fanta Diallo, Thierno Diallo, Welton Alexander, Jailynn Alexander, Jaiden Brown, and Myasia Tyson.
Company Member Updates
Faye m. price recently served as the transliteration artist for the Penumbra Theatre production of August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean presented by the Guthrie Theatre. The next time you see her, ask her what that means!
Noël Raymond will be directing the Carlyle Brown and Company production of Are You Now or Have You Ever Been… - a drama based on the life of Langston Hughes - in November & December. Noël will also be directing a workshop of Carlyle Brown’s play Down in Mississippi in the winter.
James A. Wiliams was in Tanzania with the International Theatre and Literacy Project (www.itlp.org) doing a two week intensive playwriting festival with Tanzanian high school students. He can be seen this fall in Penumbra Theatre’s production of Fences by August Wilson.
Daniel Alexander Jones just finished writing his newest play, Hera Bright for the McKnight National Residency and Commission Program at the Playwrights’ Center and is also working on a new performance project, Jomama’s Hope Warriors.
Kimberly Joy Morgan was blessed with another baby boy on June 30th. She is currently living in South Carolina and working on her next play.
Stephen DiMena is proud to be directing PHT’s fall production Blackbird. He recently directed Vigil by Morris Panych featuring Timothy Busfield at The Westport Playhouse in Connecticut.
Heidi Hunter Batz will be performing in Animal Farm at the Southern Theatre in November.
Ellen Fenster will be assistant directing Jon Ferguson on Animal Farm at the Southern Theater, opening Oct. 31st, 2008 and planning this year’s Lights Up! series at Illusion which will take place at the end of January.