West Side Community Theater Project

Another Great Show!

2010-10-05T10:33:00.001-07:00

Here are some photos from "Phantom of the Kitchen"

The Phantom of the Kitchen: Sept. 10 and 11 at 7:30pm, Sept. 12 at 2:00pm

2010-08-30T10:56:00.000-07:00

You've got mail! Check out the Phantom of the Kitchen postcard below:

artwork by Tom Gau

Tickets on sale now!

2010-08-20T11:29:00.000-07:00

The 2010 WSTP production of Phantom of the Kitchen is right around the corner!

September 10 and 11 at 7:30pm
September 12 at 2:00pm

Be sure to get your tickets in advance at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/124887 or by calling 1-800-838-3006. All tickets are $10.

Sponsor the West Side Theater Project

2010-08-18T19:13:00.000-07:00

The West Side Theater Project's 2010 show, The Phantom of the Kitchen, will be performed September 10, 11, and 12 on the Paul and Sheila Wellstone Community Center stage.

We are looking for West Side individuals and businesses to volunteer their time and/or make financial contributions or sponsorships to help with the expenses of the production. This is a low-budget, largely volunteer run production and any amount of support helps.

Sponsorship levels
Friend: $1 - $300
Name listed as supporter in performance program
Supporter: $300-499
2 x 2 ¾” ad in program and mentioned as “sponsor” in the script of the play
Sponsor: $500- $999
4 ¼ x 2 ¾” ad in program and mentioned as “sponsor” in the script of the play
Key Sponsor: $1000+
4 ¼ x 2 ¾” ad in program; sponsorship recognized on all promotional and publicity material and mentioned as “sponsor” in the script of the play

Last year, The West Side Theater Project's production of West Side in the South Side had an attendance of nearly 600 people who live, work, eat, and play in West St. Paul. What a better way to connect with these people and advertise your business or service that to become a WSTP sponsor!

If you or your business is interested in sponsoring WSTP, email westsidetheaterproject@yahoo.com.

WSTP: Take two!

2010-07-06T09:47:00.000-07:00

Last year you helped us bring to the Wellstone Center Stage the premiere production of the West Side Theater Project, The West Side on the South Side.

Now we're at it again, but we need you help! Come be a part of the fun and auditions for WSTP's second production, Phantom of the Kitchen: A Promise is a Promise.

AUDITIONS:

Wednesday, July 21, 5-9pm

at the Baker Community Center, 209 West Page St.

Saturday, July 24, 9am-1pm

at the Neighborhood House, 179 E. Robie St.

No experience necessary. Come one, come all! Audition to act in the show, play an instrument (bring it with you if you play!), or work behind the scenes. Callback auditions will be held on Tuesday, July 27.

Help us spread the word!
1. Become a Fan of WSTP on Facebook, RSVP to the Auditions Event, and invite your friends!
2. Print out the below flyer (it's in black and white) and hang it up at your favorite, most frequented West Side locations.
3. Get the buzz building about the show. Performance dates are September 10, 11, and 12, 2010, on the Wellstone Center Stage at the Neighborhood House.

For questions, comments, ideas, or concerns, send us an email at westsidetheaterproject@yahoo.com.

Community Reading and Auditions coming up

2010-06-06T14:44:00.000-07:00

It's time for the next stage of the process and you can join in the fun at any time! Join us for a reading of the draft script and/or come to auditions:

Community Reading - Wednesday June 16, 7:00 p.m.
Baker Community Center, 209 West Page St.
Come hear and/or help read the draft script of our next play
Give your feedback and get a preview of the play to be performed in September

Auditions! - No experience necessary
Wednesday July 21, 5-9 p.m at Baker Community Center 209 West Page
Saturday July 24 9am-1p.m at Neighborhood House 179 E. Robie
Come one, Come all, auction to be part of the play, play an instrument (bring it with you!) or work behind the scenes.
Callback auditions will be held on Tuesday July 27.

Mark your calendars for the performance dates September 10, 11 and 12 at the Wellstone Center Stage, 179 E. Robie

Next Steps -- join us

2010-05-05T19:10:00.000-07:00

We've be gathering lots of stories and are now well into the creation of a script and music for the next West Side Theater Project show.

Watch this space for dates in late June or early July for community readings of a draft script. That's your chance to get a sneak peak at the script and share your impressions with playwright Al Justiniano and director Harry Waters, Jr.

Mark your calendars for auditions! Community auditions will be held July 21 and 24th, with callbacks the evening of July 27. Times and locations to follow. (follow the blog and be among the first to know!)

Finally, you don't want to miss the show, scheduled for September 10, 11, and 12.

Food and Ghosts!

2010-03-11T20:14:00.000-08:00

The story circles in the next two weeks (see previous post for dates and locations) will welcome any and all stories from the West Side, with a special wish for stories that relate to cooking, food, ghosts, even cooking ghosts! Hope to see you there.

Come Help Inspire the Next West Side Theater Project Play!

2010-02-23T12:15:00.000-08:00

We are hosting two community Story Circles in March. Come share your stories and hear the stories of others who live, work and play on the West Side of St. Paul.

Tuesday March 16, 11:30-1:00 at Neighborhood House

Tuesday March 23, 3:00-5:00 at El Burrito Mercado (in El Cafe)

We want to hear stories and experiences from you! The stories we hear will inspire the creation of a script and music for our next play, planned for production in early September 2010.

A Story Circle is an informal fun chance to talk with your neighbors and the project artists about life in this part of town. No experience necessary! It's easy -- please join us.

For more information, or to RSVP, contact Becky at bdalel17@yahoo.com or 651/216-0060.

North East and South the Mississippi Flows

2009-10-07T19:15:00.000-07:00

Check out this .mp3 of the kids in the show rapping about the West Side. Listen here:

http://ia311012.us.archive.org/3/items/WestSideOfTheRiver/KidsRap.mp3

Pay attention, make the right connections
As the nippy Mississippi flows in all directions
When it reaches our city, the waters run East
So the South becomes the West Side of the river for a piece

St. Paul's West Side is not the same as West St. Paul
No it's North of the 'burbs West and South St. Paul, Y'all
East of West Seventh and South of downtown
It's West of the East Side and the river south bound.

North, East and South the Mississippi flows
North, East and South around the West Side (West Side)
Three of our borders are water here
On the West Side of the river (the West Side of the river)

We did it! Three show for big audiences. It was a hit!

2009-10-02T19:55:00.001-07:00

WSTP in the News!

2009-09-25T08:29:00.000-07:00

Article on the Twin Cities Daily Planet

Article in the St. Paul Voice (scroll down to page 12)

Craig's Shop, sketch by Jake Lenertz

2009-09-21T11:55:00.000-07:00

"The Studio of Art Davidii"

sketch by Jake Lenertz while working on the set for West Side on the South Side

We're going to the West Side!

2009-09-20T18:08:00.000-07:00

Working on the Set

Sustinance!

Rehearse, rehearse, and re-hearse

Rehearsal on the Stage

2009-09-11T11:03:00.000-07:00

The Cast and Production Team of
West Side on the South Side

Rehearsals:

Preview performance: Saturday, Sept. 19, 2 pm

2009-09-11T10:48:00.000-07:00

WHAT: A free preview performance of selected excerpts from The West Side Theater Project's West Side on the South Side, a new play by Al Justiniano created by and for St. Paul's West Side Community.
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 19, at 2 p.m.
WHERE: Riverview Branch Library, 1 East George Street, St. Paul, MN
Brought to you by The Friends of the St. Paul Public Library. For more information...click here!

Westside on the Southside...on YouTube!

2009-09-02T09:31:00.000-07:00

First Rehearsal and Read-through with Cast

2009-08-26T22:44:00.000-07:00

The cast gathered and read the script for the first time tonight. It was thrilling and inspiring to hear the voices in the room. The show opens one month from today and it's gonna be great! Tonight I am feeling grateful to the many many people, businesses and organizations that have contributed so much to make this happen. Don't miss the show!

Readings and auditions

2009-08-06T20:11:00.000-07:00

We held readings of the script-in-progress and got community feedback at sessions on Tuesday August 11, 12:30 p.m. in the Dunedin Community Room and 1:30 p.m. at Neighborhood House.

On August 14, 15 and 19 community members aged 9-80 (or thereabouts) auditioned for roles as community actors, set builders, box office help, costume construction, and more.

Mark your calendars and plan to come to the show in the theater space of the Paul and Sheila Wellstone Center for Community Building, 179 E Robie St., St. Paul 55107.

Performance dates and times are:

Friday Sept. 25 and Saturday Sept 26 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday Sept 27 at 2:00 p.m.

Tickets are Pay-what-you-can and will be available at the door

E-mail westsidetheaterproject@yahoo.com for more information.

Production is upon us: Save these dates!

2009-08-01T20:08:00.000-07:00

Spread the word! Auditions for The Westside on the Southside the new play by Al Justiniano inspired by stories from the West Side of St. Paul are coming soon. Community members are invited to come audition on Friday August 14 from 6-9 pm and Saturday August 15 from 10am-1pm. We'll post locations soon.

Also, mark your calendars for the performances September 25, 26, and 27.

WSTP needs musicians, volunteers

2009-06-23T07:32:00.001-07:00

West Side Theater Project seeks musicians to audition to participate in the creation and production of music for the upcoming September performance. We want to include musical the diverse cultures represented in the neighborhood. If you or someone you know is interested, please call Becky at 651/216-0060, or e-mail westsidetheaterproject@yahoo.com for more information.

We are also currently interviewing for several volunteer positions to assist with the production. Volunteer positions available include: stage manager and assistant stage managers, set construction, costume shop, community outreach, box office, music director, assistant stage director and more! For a complete listining with job descriptions, or to request an application, email westsidetheaterproject@yahoo.com or contact Becky at 651/216-0060.

We would like to fill as many of these positions as possible by mid-July, so contact us today!

Time to Start Writing

2009-06-02T14:17:00.000-07:00

We are moving into the playwriting, music-composing stage of the project!

Between late January and today we have held 12 story circles in 5 locations in and around the Wellstone Center, Dunedin Homes and El Burrito Mercado. We are going to have a few more story-listening sessions in the next couple of weeks, especially hoping to hear from youth.

We have heard many rich stories. We know we've barely scratched the surface: we could keep listening to stories for months to come. While we do hope to hear more stories for a future projects, it is time now, to start writing a play and some music! We have lots of inspiration and ideas and are ready for this next step.

We are looking for musicians! If you know of musicians in the neighborhood who might be interested in pariticipating in this project, let us know. We hope to include music from the neighborhood's many cultures.

Watch this space for a preview of what's to come as the play starts to take shape. Also, watch for specific dates and times of upcoming events related to the project. In July we plan to host community readings of the play, a collaboration workshop, and community art workshops to create set componants.

Cinco de Mayo WSTP Update

2009-05-05T13:46:00.000-07:00

The annual Cinco de Mayo Festival passed through the West Side this past Saturday (el dos de Mayo). Since today is the actual Cinco de Mayo (May 5) it seems a good day for a long overdue update post.

Here’s what you’ll find below:

1. What we’ve been doing: Story Circle update
2. Last open-to-all chance to share stories: May 19, 2009
3. What’s coming up: timeline to a Sept 24-29, 2009 Production
4. Volunteer Opportunities
5. New Cause on Facebook for WSTP
6. More ways to help

(I’m not sophisticated enough to make that list links, so you’ll just have to scroll through to get to what you want to read.)

1. What we’ve been doing: Story Circle update

As we expected, there are lots and lots of stories in the 4-block area surrounding the Wellstone Center. We have met with residents of the Dunedin single adult high rise and family town homes, Neighborhood House staff, Elementary-aged children in the All Around the Neighborhood Spring Break Camp, and community members at El Burrito. We’ve heard stories in English, Spanish and Hmong. During May we will meet again with Hmong Families from Dunedin, youth and adults and Neighborhood House, and host another story circle open to the community at El Burrito.

2. Last open-to-all chance to share stories: May 19, 2009
HELP SPREAD THE WORD

If you have stories to share about the West Side, especially the area around the Wellstone Center, PLEASE COME join us at El Burrito (in El Café) on May 19 from 3:00-4:30. This is the last open to anyone story circle we’ll hold, so we hope to see you there. Tasty El Burrito snacks will be provided, so don’t miss out. I’ll send another reminder about this next week. Reservations aren’t necessary but do help us plan for food, so if you think you can come, send an e-mail to westsidetheaterproject@yahoo.com to let us know.

3. What’s coming up: timeline to a Sept 24-29, 2009 Production

January-May: Story Gathering
June: Creation of First-draft of Script
July-August: Community readings of the draft script and script revision
Early August: Community Auditions
mid-August to September: Rehearsal
Sept 24-29, 2009: Performance!!!

4. Volunteer Opportunities

We now have a list of volunteer opportunities and a volunteer application available. If you are interested in working on the project, e-mail westsidetheaterproject@yahoo.com and we’ll send you the list and the application.

5. West Side Theater Project Cause on Facebook

Stay in touch and help spread the word about the project to others by joining our “cause” on Facebook and inviting friends who might be interested:
http://apps.facebook.com/causes/262039

6. More Ways to Help

Help bring the show to life! Make a donation to the West Side Theater Project at www.nautilusmusictheater.org, click "donate online" and follow the process. Indicate that your donation is for "WSTP." You may also mail contributions, payable to Nautilus Music Theater and indicating WSTP in the memo, to Nautilus at 308 Prince St Ste 250 St Paul, MN 55101. Thank you!

Link to story in the St. Paul Voice

2009-03-31T20:45:00.000-07:00

The article isn't online any more as their May issue is now up. I don't know if it's possible to upload documents here, but if I figure it out I'll maybe add it that way later

Publicity and More Stories

2009-03-24T07:21:00.000-07:00

Yesterday the April issue of The St. Paul Voice arrived at doorsteps around the neighborhood bearing an article about the West Side Theater Project! It does a lovely job of describing the project. The April issue is not yet on their website, but we'll post a link when/if the story is on there.

Since the last post we have had 3 more story circles at Dunedin, 2 with the single adults in the high rise and one with the families who live in the Dunedin Family homes. The stories are rich and inspiring. We're putting together a schedule of story circles in April and May which we will post here on the website soon.

We are still raising funds to support the project. Please make a contribution (large or small) by going to www.nautilusmusictheater.org, click "donate online" and follow the process. Indicate that your donation is for "WSTP." You may also mail contributions, payable to Nautilus Music Theater and indicating WSTP in the memo, to Nautilus at 308 Prince St Ste 250
St Paul, MN 55101. Thank you!

First Story Circle

2009-01-28T18:28:00.000-08:00

We had our first story circle today! In a story circle the artistic team meets with community members to hear their stories and experiences. Story Circles may include casual conversation, questions that trigger stories, cultural mapping, writing exercises, theater games and more.

Today we met for informal conversation with a group of folks in the Dunedin High Rise who play Loteria (Bingo) every week. They call themselves the Forget-Me-Nots. They reminisced about the neighborhood, winters past, fear of heights, laundry, watching airplanes take off (their laundry room is on the 10th floor with lots of windows overlooking the downtown airport), living in the midst of the Cinco de Mayo festival for 2 days a year, the generosity of neighbors and more. We hope to go back to meet with them again in a few weeks to hear more stories.

West Side Theater Project - Creating theater for and with the West Side of St. Paul.

2009-01-06T08:58:00.000-08:00

What is it?

The West Side Theater Project is and artist-led effort to create theater for and with the people of the West Side of St. Paul. Professional theater artists gather stories from neighborhood residents, create a script with community input, audition professional and community actors, musicians and production members, and produce and perform a professionally directed and designed show in the neighborhood.

The first “pilot” production will focus on a small 4-block are of the West Side between State, Cesar Chavez, Anita and Winifred Streets and including The Paul and Sheila Wellstone Center for Community Building, Neighborhood House, El Rio Vista Rec Center, the Business district at State and Cesar Chavez, Parque Castillo, and Dunedin Homes. The play will be performed somewhere in this same area, as yet to be determined.

Project partners include Neighborhood House, Teatro del Pueblo, and Nautilus Music-Theater. The artistic team leading this project includes Becky Dale as producer/composer/music director, Harry Waters, Jr. as stage director, Al Justiniano as playwright, Ben Krywosz as process dramaturge, and Sandy Agustin as advisor.

Timeline for first project: We will gather stories and craft a script in the winter and spring of 2009, with auditions, rehearsals and a production in late summer or early fall of 2009.

How can you get involved?

We are looking for the support of businesses, organizations and individuals to make this project work. Here’s how you can help:

Promote the project – help spread the word about story circles, auditions and the production by telling your friends, colleagues, or customers about it. Post promotional materials as they become available
Join a story circle to share your stories
Audition to be a part of the production
If your organization or business is in the project zone, host a story circle
Make a financial contribution to help this project come into being! Project sponsor acknowledgements will be made in all publicity materials and program advertisements are available. If you’d like to make a donation you can do so online or by mail to Nautilus Music Theater. Be sure to designate “West Side Community Theater Project”By mail: Nautilus Music-Theater 308 Prince St Ste 250 St Paul, MN 55101Online: https://www.networkforgood.org/donation/MakeDonation.aspx?ORGID2=411721692

For more info contact Becky Dale at westsidetheaterproject@yahoo.com or 651/216-0060.

This activity is made possible, in part, by funds provided by the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council from and appropriation by the Minnesota Legislature

Project Leadership Team photo from first meeting

2008-12-29T18:36:00.001-08:00

I finally figured out how to get photos off my phone! Here are a couple of pictures from the first project planning meeting in early December.

First Grant and How You Can Help

2008-12-21T19:08:00.000-08:00

This activity is made possible, in part, by funds provided by the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council from and appropriation by the Minnesota Legislature.

Hurray! We got our first grant for this project from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council. In order to access it, though, we need to match it.

We welcome support in any forms – moral, physical and financial among them. We need all the good wishes and encouragement we can get! If you have creative ideas or suggestions, let me know. If you want to volunteer with the project we’ll need lots of people power. If you are interested in contributing financially you can make a tax-deductible contribution thanks to the fiscal sponsorship of the non-profit Nautilus Music-Theater.

If you’d like to make a donation you can do so online or by mail to Nautilus Music Theater. Be sure to designate “West Side Community Theater Project”
By mail: Nautilus Music-Theater 308 Prince St Ste 250 St Paul, MN 55101
Online: https://www.networkforgood.org/donation/MakeDonation.aspx?ORGID2=411721692

Project Artistic Team

2008-12-20T07:32:00.001-08:00

Producer/Composer/Music Director - Becky Dale
Director - Harry Waters, Jr.
Playwright -- Al Justiniano of Teatro del Pueblo
Process Dramaturge -- Ben Krywosz of Nautilus Music-Theater
Community Partner/Advisor -- Sandy Agustin of Neighborhood House

Community-Engaged Theater Process Summary

2008-12-20T07:31:00.000-08:00

Community-Engaged Theater Process Summary
-- based on Cornerstone Theater Company’s community collaboration method; quotations are from Cornerstone Theater Company Community Collaboration Handbook: a method.

It’s Artist Led – build an artistic team to lead the project

“The artistic process for our community collaborations is artist driven. In other words, a production’s aesthetics are largely generated and certainly guided by the professional artists rather than the community participants. This does not mean that community members are left out of the process. Our collaborative partnerships are deeply valued and community input profoundly enriches the art. However, the artists’ contributions to the project are their artistic skills, insights and points of view. They are responsible for decisions about the art and the art-making, including casting, design, and script choices.”

Get to Know the Community/Build Community Partnerships

“Community Partners are vital to meeting other community members. They introduce us to people who will become new project advocates and participants, and these new people will in turn introduce us to other new people, and so on. As the number of community members we meet increases, so does the diversity.”

“Although the purpose of a community collaboration is the creation of a work of art, the hearing and telling of stories can have tremendous significance for community identity. In the sense that communities know themselves by their stories, storytelling often has the power to clarify and even strengthen community identity.”

“Mutual Mentorship – the entire research process is based on the premise that the community participants are teaching us so that we may build upon and create from that knowledge. The more that the professionals and the community learn from each other, the more the script can attentively give voice to the community’s most integral issues.”

Develop the Script

Script may be adaptation of an existing text or an original play. Playwright and other members of the artistic leadership team gather stories from community members for script development through Story Circles, Workshops that involve theater and writing exercise, one-on-one interviews, questionnaires and discussion sessions. When a draft script is ready one or more community readings of the script are held, gathering feedback from the community using Liz Lehrmann’s Critical Response Process.

Casting

“The most effective way to get people to audition is to talk to them, one at a time.”
“Every stranger is an auditioner you haven’t met”
“Invite people to audition. Initiate conversations with people walking by. Tell them about the project in general, and extend the invitation to audition. Encourage every community member to audition for the show.”

This method includes 2-5 professional actors performing side by side with community performers. (In the West Side Community Theater Project we plan to use 2 professional actors).

“The audition process should be positive, affirming, joyful, and fun for the people auditioning.”

“Often the main audition is done using unrelated text, sometimes a random sentence from a newspaper. The auditioners are asked to read that sentence several times, each time with a different intention. For example: read the sentence as if it makes you angry, or like it’s a bit of gossip, or as if it’s the funniest thin you’ve ever heard, etc.”

Director, playwright and music director/composer are present during auditions and consult in casting decisions.

Rehearsals

“The key is to learn while you teach, and value what community-based artists bring in terms of experience and knowledge of the community – life experience, really. Remember that their life experiences are just as valuable as the theatrical skills we are teaching them.”

“A community collaboration is a professional play involving first-time actors. This paradox often requires a great deal of flexibility from stage management.”

“Creating an artistically innovative professional production with frist-time artists is a paradox that must be embraced. This embrace is needed at every poin in the process, bt nowhere is it so necessary as in the rehearsal room.”

Project Launched -- First planning meeting

2008-12-07T18:01:00.000-08:00

December 2, 2008 was the first planning meeting for a community-engaged music-theater project on the West Side of St. Paul, MN. These are the notes form that meeting:

Notes from meeting 12/2/08
Includes additional thoughts/questions from Becky

Present: Becky Dale, Harry Waters, Jr., Al Justiniano, Sandy Agustin, Ben Krywosz

Proposed agenda:
Artistic Content/Aesthetic
Roles
Scope
Timeline
SWOT/C (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats/Challenges)
Language Access
Fundraising

Artistic Content

What do we envision this piece to be? Will there be a single narrative with developed characters that change over the course of the piece? Or will it be a series of vignettes? What is our aesthetic? How do we reach consensus about that?

Background experience and Roles in this project

Becky brings:
Experience as Theater Composer (Nautilus, Ten Thousand Things, Macalester College Theater Dept, Playwright’s Center, Cornerstone Theater Company)
Experience with Community-Engaged Theater through Cornerstone Theater Institute 2008, also Nautilus/Ten Thousand Things project with Eric Ehn in 1999
Knowledge of West Side (18-year Resident, Coordinator of West Side Family Center 1996-2000)
Experience in Community building and Nonprofit Admin (Casa de Esperanza, Prevent Child Abuse MN associate director 2001-present)

Becky’s roles in this project:
Convener
Producer
Composer/Music Director

Ben brings
Extensive experience as Producer, Director, Dramaturge. Artistic Director Nautilus Music Theater
Teacher of integrated singer-actor-movement training
Composer-Librettist collaborative training
Developer of collaborative tools for theater artists

Ben’s roles in this project:
Advisor, Leader of a collaboration workshop to guide our process
Nautilus is serving as fiscal sponsor for the project

Sandy brings
Experience with community-engagement and arts (Intermedia Arts, Neighborhood House)
Knowledge of West Side and immediate area surrounding Neighborhood House
Experience as performer and creator (Dancer, Choreographer)

Sandy’s roles in this project:
Advisor
Community partner representative (Neighborhood House)

Al brings:
17 years experience as artistic director of Teatro del Pueblo, located on the West Side, including many projects that have connected with community in similar ways. He’s know to many West Siders as “that theater guy” J
Interest in developing the work, writing, capturing the voices of the community
Has had previous contact with Laurie Woolery from Cornerstone and is interested in connecting with her again, possibly bringing her here

Al’s roles in this project:
Playwright
Teatro may be interested in helping with fundraising

Harry brings:
Experience as an actor and director
Experience in Cornerstone community engaged theater model through Cornerstone Institute (2004), and participation in Guthrie’s Cornerstone project a (2006)
Has worked with many diverse groups, teaching acting across language barriers
Students! Teaches a class in community engaged theater – class of 25 students in spring 2009 can participate

Harry’s roles in this project:
Director
Student liaison

Scope

We have narrowed the community participation focus to the few blocks immediately surrounding Neighborhood House and participants in Neighborhood House itself.

We discussed considering this a “pilot” in order to get moving with trying it out and do something that can fit within whatever budget we come up with. This will allow us to learn more about how to do it, introduce it to the community, and build time and momentum for raising funds for a full production.

Questions: What then, is the scope of the pilot? Length of script? What are the forces involved?

SWOT/C

Strengths:

Strong leadership and advisory team
The artists and partners already gathered have wealth of relevant experience and knowledge
Artistic
Community-engagement
West Side
Addition support/guidance/mentoring available from Cornerstone

· West side has a strong identity about immigration and place

Weaknesses:

Opportunities:

· Food is a great incentive for engaging community participation
· Might want to share this idea with the program committee of the NH board
· Neighb is working to connect participant youth to college - connection with Macalester students might work well with this effort
· Neighb new President is expressed interest in “community engagement” in a local newspaper article
· We can also refer to past theatrical events on the WS we’ve been part of – Teatro productions from Al, Ten Thousand Things productions Becky helped bring to the WS several years ago.

Threats/Challenges:

Be clear to community about what they’re gonna get – avoid “art speak”
Economy – funding climate for participating organizations is tough. Fundraising for this project, too, may be a challenge.

Funding

Becky will check into the following suggestions that were made at the meeting:

Creative Capital (R & D)
Nathan Cumming Foundation (Social Justice Documentation)

We didn’t talk much about this – Becky will update group on what’s been done so far and ideas yet to do at next meeting.

Other ideas raised:

Documentation - How does this get documented so that the story stays alive? How do we document the process? What is the impact on the community?

Involve kids interviewing elders as one way to gather stories

Build “wow” events to engage the community – stepping stones to participation. Perhaps students can help build those “wow” events.

Recommendations that Becky check out Claire DeCoster “Riversedge Playback Theater” (http://www.riversedgeplayback.org/) and “Undesireable Elements” (http://www.undesirableelements.org/ ) I took a look at both – both very interesting! Thank you.

Agenda for 12/9/08

Decision-making process – proposed: consensus with some decisions assigned by role(s)
What’s missing from SWOC/T?
Timeline
FundingCircle back to Artistic Content/Aesthetic, Scope