We need a type of theatre which not only releases the feelings, insights and impulses possible within the particular historical field of human relations in which the action takes place, but employs and encourages those thoughts and feelings which help transform the field itself.

- Bertolt Brecht

 

 

Round 3 (2010) A-ha! Recipients:

 

THINK IT

 

Pillsbury House Theatre (Minneapolis, MN) will develop its transformation into a Cultural Community Hub. The project will focus on assessment and metrics planning that will define and measure organizational success.

Curious Theatre Company (Denver, CO) will explore innovative opportunities for reinventing the resident artistic company model for the 21st century American theatre, by re-centering artists within producing organizations.

Center Theatre Group (Los Angeles, CA) plans to conduct focus groups and interviews with students, academic administrators and theatres to explore an internship model that pairs graduate students in arts administration with Los Angeles theatres.

 

DO IT

 

Southern Rep (New Orleans, LA) will establish Youth Onstage New Orleans, LA (YO NOLA) as a pilot program to bring the arts to the underserved population at a New Orleans elementary school, via a student-run theatre company. This program includes mentoring, workshops and building life skills.

Northlight Theatre (Skokie, IL) is building Northlight On Campus, a  two-year, comprehensive residency program in one underserved suburban middle school featuring after-school drama programs, artist visits, student matinees and a commissioned play for students.

Dad's Garage Theatre Company (Atlanta, GA) will create their first season of online content in tandem with their live work. This ongoing initiative will be self sustaining and will redefine them from a theatre company to a creative company.

 

The grant applications were reviewed by an independent national panel of theatre and technology professionals comprised of Polly Carl, director of artistic development, Steppenwolf Theatre Company (Chicago, IL); Brad Carlin, development director, Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center & board member/consultant, Salvage Vanguard Theater (New Braunfels, TX); Ian Garrett, executive director, The Center for Sustainable Practice in the Arts (Los Angeles, CA); Thomas O. Kriegsmann, president, ArKtype (New York, NY) and Marilyn Tokuda, arts education director, East West Players (Los Angeles, CA).

 

Read the Aha! Program Round Three Recipients press release (PDF). 

 

Round 2 (2009) A-ha! Recipients:

 

THINK IT

Book-It Repertory Theatre (Seattle, Wa.) will investigate the feasibility of a long-term partnership between Book-It and other non-profits to create a literacy-based theatre arts complex.

Childsplay, Inc. (Tempe, Ariz.) will convene experts from theatre design, manufacturing, recycling and sustainability to explore strategies for implementing green initiatives in stagecraft.

East West Players (Los Angeles, Calif.) will develop an artist talent agency and diversity advocacy prototype.

Salvage Vanguard Theater (Austin, Tex.) will develop and test a business plan for a production element co-op for small to mid-size companies in the Austin theater community.

DO IT

 

Clubbed Thumb (New York, N.Y.) will partner with a larger theatre for co-curation and co-production that will be presented at Clubbed Thumb’s annual festival in June, and then in a longer run at the larger theater.