Grant Opportunity - The National Theater Pilot

The National Theater Pilot explores creating a system of support for professional artist-led collaborative theater. Modeled after NEFA’s National Dance Project, and with leadership funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the pilot is selecting two rounds of six projects each to test assumptions about supporting ensemble theater development and touring in the U.S. Click here for more detail on the background.

The goal of the pilot is to encourage artists and their collaborators to create high-quality works of contemporary theater and provide for extended life of these works through touring to multi-disciplinary presenters, producing theaters, and other venues.

The National Theater Pilot:
Supports the creation and development of original, high-quality, devised, collaborative, and/or ensemble theater works with intention to tour.
Brings visibility to touring this type of contemporary theater work and the elements required for successful touring.
Creates a national network of presenters, producing theaters, and ensemble theaters with venues that will increase the potential for touring.
Establishes a strong core of advisors who are seeing, talking about, and referring others to theater works of interest.
Collects data and narrative information to inform future grantmaking.
The Pilot Advisors will select six theater projects in each of two pilot years. Participation in the pilot will include support for the development and touring of the work over an 18-36 month period. Award size will depend upon the needs of each project and will range from $80,000-$130,000, including support for development, evaluation, and touring.

Eligibility
National Theater Pilot will consider projects submitted by U.S.-based nonprofit organizations as well as individual artists who have identified collaborators.

Applicant organizations must have nonprofit status. Organizations without nonprofit status and individual artists may also apply but must provide a nonprofit organizational partner to serve as fiscal agent.

The project must be a devised, collaborative, and/or ensemble theater work with intention to tour.

All projects must have at least one committed, U.S.-based organizational partner who will participate in the development of the work.

In addition, identification of at least one interested U.S.-based touring partner is strongly recommended

Grant Deadline: March 31, 2011

Click here for more information on the program.

Grant Opportunity - Chicago Community Trust

ARTISTIC AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY
Deadline for Letter of Inquiry is March 15,2011

A new Artistic and Cultural Diversity Initiative invites arts organizations and/or presenting venues of all sizes to apply individually or as a collaboration. Collaborators are encouraged to work together to submit complementary proposals requesting separate grants to support the clearly defined role of each partner. All projects should aim to achieve the following goals:

• Showcase the talents of diverse and culturally specific artists;
• Perform/exhibit/conduct programs in arts venues that are located in areas of Cook County that are culturally underserved;
• Perform/exhibit/conduct programs in public venues (such as libraries, parks, community colleges) that are located in areas of Cook County that are culturally underserved;
• Plan and implement projects with meaningful involvement by leaders/collaborators from the target community or audience;
• Ensure affordability and accessibility for the target community or audience;
• Include an effective means of tracking market penetration and participant response;
• Include well-defined strategies for building on or sustaining the collaboration, cross-promotion, or presence within the target market or community;
• Increase the Trust’s visibility within the target community.

Grants will be made through a competitive process that will select projects/productions by different organizations each year. It is not designed to support the same organization for multiple consecutive years.

One of the most significant outcomes of the Arts Engagement Exchange, a 4-year collaboration with the Wallace foundation, has been the realization that broadening and diversifying audiences depends less on ceaseless and creative marketing than on the relevance and authenticity of the artistic product, as well as its accessibility. Artistic collaborations have demonstrated the most measurable success in creating productions that are likely to resonate with a broader audience, and the Trust has recently funded a series of sessions on how to structure and nurture such collaborations, in partnership with the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs.

Guidelines can be found online.

Two informational sessions are planned to outline the goals of this grantmaking program and to answer specific questions:

Monday, Feb 14th – 2:00pm – 4:00pm
eta Creative Arts Center
7558 S. South Chicago Avenue

Wednesday, Feb. 16th – 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Better Boys Foundation
1512 S. Pulaski

If you plan to attend either session, please RSVP to arts@cct.org.

Woyzeck Project is Seeking Proposals

About Face Theatre, The Hypocrites, and Collaboraction announce The Woyzeck Project

Submission Deadline: February 14th, 2011

Woyzeck Project Description
Woyzeck Project is seeking proposals for artistic projects based on Georg Buchner’s Woyzeck, to be a part of the Woyzeck festival at the Chopin Theatre and Collaboraction space in May 2011. Woyzek was left unfinished by Buchner who died in 1837 prior to completing it. Since
then its fragments have fascinated avant-garde artists with a violent examination of what it means to be human. All pieces must be inspired in some way by Woyzeck, but in no way need to be straight adaptations.

For all categories, Woyzeck Project encourages applicants to be as creative as possible. Projects should run the gamut of creative expression in relationship to Woyzeck. Multi-media, video, dance, movement, devised pieces, panel discussions, play readings, street performances, one-person shows are all acceptable forms of expression for Woyzeck Project. Please do not hesitate to propose something, even if it stretches the limits of “traditional” theatre.

The Festival will consist of three types of projects:
1) Very short projects between 5-20 minutes. These will be performed as part of a performance party at Collaboraction. Some pieces may also be selected as curtain-raisers or lobby performances during the festival, leading up to the performance party.

You will be provided a performance space, a short tech rehearsal, rep stage lights, sound equipment and an operator. We will also provide the party. You provide all other production needs for your piece. You will receive no box office revenue.

2) Installation Art and/or Photography. A small group of artists will be selected for a curated gallery show in the Chopin’s lobby. We also encourage visual artists to collaborate with performance artists in the other categories.

3) Full length performance events based on Woyzeck. Events shall be between 60 and 90 minutes. These will have one featured slot in the festival, and will be performed on stage at the Chopin Theater. We will provide performance space, a technical rehearsal, sound, lights
and an operator. You provide all other production needs.

To submit: One Page Project Proposal. In one page please provide a detailed description of your proposed project.

One-Page Bio/Production History
On a second page, please provide bio of lead artists and history of producing organization. Be sure to include specifics regarding any extraordinary technical requirements.

Submission Details: Email literary@aboutfacetheatre.com with all submission materials. Put Woyzeck festival in the subject line. Be sure to include a primary contact person for your company in both the body of the email and in the attached documents.

Applicants will be notified of their acceptance to the Festival by Feb 21, 2011.

Submission Deadline: Feb 14, 2011

Submit all materials to literary@aboutfacetheatre.com. Please email literary@aboutfacetheatre.com with any questions.

Industry Ticket Offers

The Wedding - TUTA Theatre Chicago at Chopin Theatre Studio Stage, 1543 W. Division, is offering $15 industry tickets to all Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. through March 6th. To redeem these specially priced tickets present a headshot, resume or business card at the box office day of performance. For more information http://www.tutato.com/.

reasons to be pretty - Profiles Theatre, 4147 N. Broadway, is offering $15 industry tickets to all Wednesday performances at 8 p.m. through March 9th. Advance reservations are required and present a headshot, resume or business card at the box office when attending. For reservations, call (773) 549-1815.

Jailbait - Profiles Theatre at The Second Stage, 3408 N. Sheffield, is offering $15 industry tickets to all Thursday performances at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m. through February 27. Advance reservations are required and present a headshot, resume or business card at the box office when attending. For reservations, call (773) 549-1815.

What Can We Do?

Last week we sent all the Aldermanic candidates (even those who are running unopposed) packets of information about Chicago theatre and a list of theatres in their wards. We also sent copies of those packets to each theatre in the ward. Please follow up with your aldermanic candidates by letting them know that you care about arts policy in the city and letting them know about all the great things you do in your ward. As we get responses from the candidates we will post them on our website. Don't know what's going on in your ward? Find out here.

Did you go to ArtsPowerChicago.com yet? Not only can you sign the petition theatre, but there is lots of good info.

What can we do to help? Do you need talking points? Need a template for a letter? Email us or give us a call, we would be more than happy to work with you to develop something.

Look in your inboxes next week for an invitation to the Mayoral Debate on February 17. I hope to see you all there.

Deb

The Alternative History of Chicago Theater (Abridged)

Wednesday, March 2 2011 @ 7:00pm
Chopin Theatre
1543 W Division
Chicago , IL 60622

Presented by Chicago Public Media (WBEZ-Chicago)

In the past ten years, Chicago has emerged as America’s Theater City. With institutions like The Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, and Victory Gardens Theater as well as a host of smaller storefront and itinerant groups, including Theater Oobleck, The House Theatre, and WNEP Theater – when talking about the stage, Chicago is no longer the second city.

And while the history of Chicago’s theater scene is well documented from A Theater of Our Own: A History and a Memoir of 1,001 Nights in Chicago by long time Chicago Tribune critic Richard Christiansen, and Jeffrey Sweet’s Something Wonderful Right Away (an oral history of Chicago's The Second City troupe), missing from the written histories is a seedier, funnier past known only to those that were there.

Join WBEZ Dueling Critics Kelly Kleiman and Jonathan Arbarbanel and a panel of distinguished Chicago theater experts – including critic Albert Williams, Broadway actreress Kate Buddeke, and Victory Gardens' founder Dennis Zacek – as they tell of their favorite moments watching and creating theater over the past six decades. The evening will also include original pieces created and performed by sketch comedy group Robot vs. Dinosaur, spoken word troupe BoyGirlBoyGirl, fringe theater companies The Plagiarists and RoShamBo Theater, and southside educational theater company Tofu Chitlin' Circut. Reception to follow.

Admission:
$15/general admission
$12/WBEZ members
$10/students (with valid ID)

Click here to buy tickets

Spring Space Availability at The Building Stage

The Building Stage is available to rent for performance from March 1 through April 24. Contact Blake Montgomery at blake@buildingstage.com or 312-933-4858 for information or to arrange a site visit.

Industry Ticket Offers

Three Tall Women - Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis, is offering $10 industry rush tickets. Rush tickets can be purchased in person at the box office beginning one hour before curtain, and are subject to availability. This offer applies to all performances but Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday performances tend to have the best chance of availability. One industry rush ticket per person, proof of industry (H/R, business card, etc.) required.

Conviction - Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont, is offering industry comps to previews February 3, 4 and 5 at 7:30 PM and February 6 at 3 PM. Bring Valid Credentials; On First Come Basis at the Door. Visit http://www.convictiononstage.com/ for more information.

Odradek by Brett Neveu - The House Theatre of Chicago at the Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St., offers $10 industry rush tickets available at all performances pending availability one prior to curtain at the box office window through March 5, 2011.

Join TCG's Town Hall Discussions: The Artist-Theatre Relationship

As part of their current Field Conversations between independent artists and theatres, TCG is encouraging theatres to organize Town Hall meetings in which artists and theatres talk openly about successes and challenges they face in working together.

Participation is entirely voluntary - just fill out the "Join-In Form", and get started!

Guidelines to help you structure your Town Hall:
- TCG will provide talking points taken from Roundtable conversations to be used as starting points for dialogue;
- Host one 3 hour session held between January 23 –February 15, 2011 on a date/time that works for your schedule;
- Meeting location is at your discretion – at your theatre if you have a facility, at a local coffee shop or via SKYPE;
- Meeting Size is at your discretion, but we ask that the participants include non-staff individual artists in your area, as well as theatre staff;
- Try to include a range of performing artist disciplines – including but not limited to actors, directors, playwrights, designers and dramaturges;
- Appoint a facilitator for the conversation – it could be someone on the theatre’s staff, an artist associated with the theatre, a theatre trustee or someone from your community, TCG does not expect you to formally contract a facilitator;
- Appoint a note taker to capture key discussion points, and report back to TCG on the key points form (link) by February 18, 5pm EDT;
- Notify Sarah McLellan if you can offer the option of calling into your meeting either via a landline or SKYPE. TCG Staff is trying to observe (listening, not participating in the discussion) as many of the Town Halls as possible.

If you have any questions, please contact Sarah McLellan at smclellan@tcg.org. Thank you for taking part in these important discussions!

Not for Profit Incorporation and Tax Exemption Workshop

Lawyers for the Creative Arts
Thursday, March 3, 2011, 5:30-9 p.m.
213 W. Institute Place, Ste. 403
The cost is $100 for one person, and $125 for two people.
This workshop will discuss whether to start a NFP, how to establish a NFP, as well as certain recurring operating problems. It will also cover in detail how to obtain a 501(c) (3) tax exemption and discuss several legal issues regarding maintaining tax exempt status. A full package of documents is included. Although this workshop is intended for artists of all types, it has been very popular with lawyers as well as it provides comprehensive coverage of the subject.
Please call LCA at 312-649-4111 to register.

Spring Space Availability at the Viaduct Theater

Viaduct Theater Mainstage available for $700 per week in March & April. Viaduct offers full-service bar, box office services, parking lot, wi-fi, PAV license, and new heating & air conditioning system. Contact whitney@viaducttheater.com or 773-544-4029.

Industry Ticket Offer

In Darfur - TimeLine Theatre, 615 W. Wellington Ave. is offering $15 tickets for the Friday, January 21 preview at 8 P.M. For tickets call 773.281.8463 and mention this industry offer. Visit www.timelinetheatre.com for more information.