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The Kentucky Cycle
We hope to acquire financial backing through grants, donations, and sponsorships t to support and produce The Kentucky Cycle on a continuing basis each summer, beginning summer 2004.
July 2002, ACT brought a major six-hour production to an area, which is not regularly exposed to theatrical experiences. However, when sold-out audiences of Appalachia sat through five hours and fifteen minutes of their native story being told and then many returned to see multiple shows, we knew the challenges had been overcome. When the women of the audiences reached to hold their husbands’ hands when they heard the first creaking timbers of the impending coalmine collapse, we knew the work had been worthwhile. When entire audiences, with tears in their eyes, stood in appreciation of their stories finally being told honestly and proudly, we knew every risk that had been taken had meaning.
As we continue to pursue artistic quality, we will continue to push the edge of the envelope. We as a company strive to use theatre not only to entertain, but also to give artists and audiences alike material with which to enhance and advance their own personal life choices.
Summer 2003 Youth Initiative/Workshop Program Summary
ACT’s Summer 2003 Youth Theatre Initiative/Workshop program goals are to instill in our youth an appreciation of their cultural heritage, enhance their appreciation of the arts, and, hopefully, evidence results of a positive outgrowth of enhancement of local pride, self esteem, confidence, and compassion. In our underserved area of eastern KY and southwestern Virginia, our youth, teens in particular, have very few activities that involve them in structured and supervised experiences and opportunities to express themselves creatively and create personal relationships beyond the family they were reared in and the classes in which they are educated. Our schools offer the basic core curriculum but limit activities that teach our youth to take advantage of naturally creative opportunities. Youth seek extracurricular activities of this nature, but are frequently offered chances to drive around in their and their friends specially equipped cars or ingest legal and illegal substances that alter their perceptions and attitudes. It is ACT's goal to provide these youths with controlled, supervised experiences that would allow them to function in their present environment, instill in our youth the ability to respond effectively and guide them to have confidence in their own judgments, adapt to everyday living after graduation from high school or even college. And, we must have our youth yearning for more than the vehicles and drugs with which many of our area youth seek to express themselves. These learning essentials are developed in art programs regardless of socioeconomic circumstances. Arts participation is highly correlated with future socio-economic status, and is the most significant predictor of academic performance. Creative art also positively affects relationships and attitudes in families, in leisure time, and in everyday routines. Therefore, Artists Collaborative Theatre's Summer 2003 Youth Theatre Workshop will provide to our region the arts as a fundamental learning opportunity and a chance for our youth to connect with opportunities that they would not have within a reasonable driving distance.
Elkhorn City Area Summer Youth Theatre Program in Collaboration with Shelby Valley Youth Initiative Program
ACT has joined with ARCHEI (Appalachian Rural Cultural Heritage Education Initiative) and its other partners to work on the START Project (KY Arts Council), which will play a significant role in building participation in the arts in eastern Kentucky and southwestern Virginia with a particular focus on the outreach/underserved communities. The primary goal of this project is to develop and implement the Summer 2003 Youth Theatre Institute/Workshop. This Initiative will provide the opportunity for local and area youth to participate in theatre workshops.
Program Details
Session 1: June 23-July 11 (no classes on July 4th)
Session 2: July 14-August 1
Session times: 9:00am – 1:00pm (morning class sessions w/ snack break)
1:00pm – 2:00pm (lunch/play)
2:00pm – 5:00pm (afternoon play rehearsals w/snack break)
Age groups: 6-12
13-17
Staff to student ratio: 1 staff person per 10 each students
During 2003 summer theatre workshops ACT will provide the opportunity for local and area youth to participate in theatre workshops that will include: mask work, jazz dance; modern dance; movement exercises; improvisation/theatre games; voice warm-ups; acting; musical theatre among other theatre activities.Each session will culminate in a final production created and rehearsed for performance for a public audience.
Spaces are limited.
Application forms are available.
Contact ACT for more information.
Summer Storytelling
Summer 2003, ACT is proud to bring storytelling to the banks of the Big Sandy. Every Thursday evening, we will feature professional and local storytellers down by the Big Sandy River in Elkhorn City, Kentucky. Bring your family, your dinners, lawn chairs and enjoy an evening of good ol’ mountain entertainment. Local bluegrass bands will be playing sets of favorite tunes. Admission is free, but bring some dollars – the hat will be passed and you’ll want to give.
Premiere Season
Sept 2003-May 2004
Main Stage
Second Stage
Experimental
New Works
Readings
Grassroots Story Theatre
Poetry nights
ACT is planning its premiere season. There will be indoor, year-round staged productions with visiting directors utilizing our pool of local talent coming September 2003.
Artists Collaborative Theatre, Inc. (ACT) also plans to produce original works by local writers, material that is related to the history of eastern Kentucky and/or southwestern Virginia, and writings about the people of the same heritage. We will also involve the members of our communities in public readings of the same and differing materials.
Theatre Home
As we enter into the next phases of our theatrical mission, we are looking for a theatre home. We do have some possibilities and hopes, but as of yet, due largely to funding, ACT has no home. However, our prospects of a permanent year-round theatre home will require financial support.
We Are Looking For:
ARTISTS!!!
Directors
Actors
Scripts
Playwrights
Storytellers
Technical Staff
Designers
Musicians
And…
Financial support!!!!
A Permanent Home!!!! |
