Annu Al Report
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ANNUAL REPORT 2017 2018 Cover: Zachary Stevenson in Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story. Photo by Michael Brosilow; Above: Ensemble member Michael Mahler in Ripped: The Living Newspaper Festival. Photo by Maia Rosenfeld. ARTISTIC DIRECTOR LETTER We experienced the biggest year of growth in our 32-year history! Thanks to our artists, donors, patrons, employees, and other supporters who made this season a record-shattering year. We produced our full season at three venues (Stage 773, The Edge, AMERICAN BLUES THEATERAMERICAN and American Blues Theater’s administrative office), utilizing a variety of seating capacities to fit our programming needs. We produced five mainstage productions across 29 weeks from July 1, 2017 - June 30, 2018. There were 143 performances seen by 13,881 patrons. This was a 17% increase in audience capacity from the previous year. (Psst...we’re not even counting the additional 10 weeks of the Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story “Encore run” because those shows took place in a different fiscal year.) Our mainstage programming received multiple awards and nominations from the Joseph Jefferson Awards, Black Theater Alliance Awards, African American Arts Alliance of Chicago, and The Alta Awards. We increased our arts education initiatives in two impactful ways. First, we served 3,000 Chicago Public School students with our free, in-classroom, integrated arts program - The Lincoln Project. This increased our reach by 50% from the prior school year! Secondly, we launched our free matinees to CPS students, including complimentary transportation, lunches, and engagement materials. Our community service expanded through our accessibility offerings, special on-site visits by artists, and resource drives. We also continued our commitment to new work through our diverse development programs— Ripped - The Living Newspaper Festival, Blue Ink Playwriting Award and its festival, and Blueprint Development which consists of commissions, staged-readings, and workshops. In addition to our artistic growth, both our earned and contributed revenues increased while we continued our conservative approach to expenditures. Since our 2009 rebirth, American Blues Theater has been carefully managed and carries no deficit nor outstanding liabilities. Finally, we were honored with our non-profit theater’s first endowment—$2.5 million dollars— known as the “Ruth D. and Ken M. Davee General Operation Support Fund”. The Davee Foundation has been a transformative donor for many years prior to this jaw-dropping commitment to our mission. Thank you for supporting American Blues Theater’s programs and incredible communities we serve. GWENDOLYN (WENDY) WHITESIDE Artistic Director AMERICAN BLUES THEATER | ANNUAL REPORT 2017-2018 Artistic Affiliate Camille Robinson and Ensemble member Ian Paul Custer at 2018 Blue Bash. Photo by Jennifer Girard. ABOUT AMERICAN BLUES THEATER Winner of American Theater Wing’s prestigious National Theatre Company Award, American Blues Theater is a premier arts organization with an intimate environment that patrons, artists, and all Chicagoans call home. American Blues Theater explores the American identity through the plays it produces and communities it serves. American Blues Theater follows three guiding values both on and off its stages – to be accessible, responsible, and true. Our diverse and multi-generational artists have established the second oldest professional Equity Ensemble theater in Chicago. Our Ensemble has nearly 600 combined years of collaboration on 34 stage. As of today, our theater and artists received 204 Joseph Jefferson Awards and nominations ENSEMBLE MEMBERS (as of June 30, 2018) that celebrate excellence in Chicago theater and 36 Black Theater Alliance Awards. Our artists are honored with Pulitzer Prize nominations, Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, Emmy Awards, and numerous other accolades. American Blues Theater is committed to developing the classic plays and musicals of tomorrow. Our new work development consists of a variety of programs – including world and regional premieres, the Blue Ink Playwriting Award, Blueprint commissions, and Ripped: The Living Newspaper Festival of new short-plays. More than half of our mainstage productions are world and Chicago premieres. DEFINITION OF “ENSEMBLE” An Ensemble theater is a group of individuals dedicated to collaborative creation and committed to consistently working together over years to develop a distinctive body of work and practices. Ensemble members, both artists and administrators, are empowered to help shape their theater’s artistic direction and organizational structure. BUILT BY THE AMERICAN BLUES FAMILY 13 American Blues Theater was founded in July 1985 by a director, playwright, designer, and actor. MEMBERS RESIDE The company dedicated itself to new and classic American plays. Richard Christiansen of the Chicago Tribune cited American Blues in his editorial “Chicago Theater Forges New Standards of Glory.” OUTSIDE CHICAGO In August of 1993, the company leased a warehouse on Byron and Lincoln. In 38 days, James Leaming led a community-based 90+ volunteer crew to transform the space into an intimate 134- seat theater. From 1994-1997, the Ensemble was lauded with numerous Joseph Jefferson Awards and After Dark Awards. LEADERSHIP FROM OUTSIDE THE ENSEMBLE From 1997-2009, the company was led by Artistic Directors from outside of the Ensemble. Under the leadership of Brian Russell and Damon Kiely (‘97-‘07), the theater’s name changed to American Theater Company (ATC), the mission statement was revised, and the business expanded greatly. In 2008, under new management, the Ensemble theater practice was dismantled. After 18 months of talks with the new management, all four Founders and every Ensemble member prior to 2008 chose to leave the ATC organization (now obsolete) in March 2009 citing “major administrative and artistic differences”. BLUE SKIES AHEAD The Ensemble reformed under its original name American Blues Theater. Founding Board members reconstituted the Board, giving tremendous support and guidance. Ensemble member Gwendolyn + Whiteside became the Artistic Director. Whiteside further diversified the Ensemble, ushered in 7 Artistic Affiliates, the annual Blue Ink Playwriting Award, Blueprint Development, implemented TYPES OF community service into the company’s mission, and adapted the free arts education program The ARTISTIC DISCIPLINES Lincoln Project for Chicago Public Schools which serves 3,000 students annually. REPRESENTED AT BLUES (acting, directing, writing, “Feels like home.” – The Wall Street Journal “One of our favorites in Chicago!” – Dean Richards, WGN designing, stage & production “Ensemble founded one of Chicago’s most venerable off-loop theaters.” – Chris Jones, Chicago management, composing, & more) Tribune AMERICAN BLUES THEATER | ANNUAL REPORT 2017-2018 MAINSTAGE PRODUCTIONS - ”THE BEAT GOES ON” Artistic Affiliate Wandachristine in Beauty’s Daughter. Photo by Michael Brosilow. MAINSTAGE PRODUCTIONS - ”THE BEAT GOES ON” CHICAGO PREMIERE JULY 7 - AUGUST 5, 2017 Written by Dael Orlandersmith Directed by Ron OJ Parson Starring Artistic Affiliate Wandachristine This Obie Award-winning depicts one woman’s incredibly 5 emotional journey through life’s obstacles in an East Harlem WEEKS neighborhood. Artistic Affiliate Wandachristine takes on 6 different characters during the course of this solo play – some broken, some on the way down, and all memorable. AWARDS & REVIEWS Black Theatre Alliance Award for Leading Actress (Wandachristine) African American Arts Alliance of Chicago Award nomination for Solo Performer (Wandachristine) Joseph Jefferson Award nomination for Projection Design (Artistic Affiliate Paul Deziel) “3.5 stars (out of 4)” – Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune “Electrifying theatrical magic finessed by Wandachristine.” – Chicago Sun Times “Profound lyricism…Wandachristine is a powerhouse…Ron OJ Parson delivered.” – Let’s Play “Wandachristine is a sorceress, transforming herself with ease.” – Newcity “Triumph…agile grace.” – Windy City Times “Powerful” – Around the Town Chicago 22 “Revelation…deft sound design & potent projections.” – Stage & Cinema PERFORMANCES “A tribute to the liberating power art has in people’s lives.” – Picture This Post “Acting and directing are both sublime.” – Chicago Theatre “Stunning heartfelt performance…brilliant storytelling.” – Chicago Critic “Superb solo performance.” – Spotlight on the Lake “Any audience will thoroughly enjoy Wandachristine.” – PerformInk COMMUNITY SERVICE We offered complimentary tickets and held post-show events for The Night Ministry, Young Chicago Authors, Chicago Public School students, The Family Institute at Northwestern University, and donated proceeds of “Pink Previews” to The Lynn Sage Foundation for cancer research. 1,292 PATRONS AMERICAN BLUES THEATER | ANNUAL REPORT 2017-2018 MAINSTAGE PRODUCTIONS - ”THE BEAT GOES ON” Ensemble member James Leaming in This Wonderful Life. Photo by Michael Brosilow. MAINSTAGE PRODUCTIONS - ”THE BEAT GOES ON” CHICAGO PREMIERE NOVEMBER 2 - 26, 2017 Written by Steve Murray Directed by Ensemble member Carmen Roman Starring Ensemble member James Leaming Ensemble member and Chicago’s original “George Bailey” 4 James Leaming inhabits every role in this hilariously touching WEEKS stage adaptation of the iconic holiday film “It’s a Wonderful Life”. James’s performance has toured the United States – Asolo Repertory Theatre (FL), Syracuse Stage (NY), Cleveland Playhouse (OH), Laguna Playhouse (CA), North Coast Repertory Theater