Hello! We have created something new for 2020. Every month we will be sharing our Festival Faves! Faves can be anything from books to websites to movies to recipes, or anything that we are currently into. So, check them out each month. It’s just another way to connect with our community.
 
For March, Peter Weber is sharing the book, Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel by Carl Safina. It’s description says, “…readers travel to Amboseli National Park in the threatened landscape of Kenya and witness struggling elephant families work out how to survive poaching and drought, then to Yellowstone National Park to observe wolves sort out the aftermath of one pack's personal tragedy, and finally plunge into the astonishingly peaceful society of killer whales living in the crystalline waters of the Pacific Northwest.” Below is a link.
 
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22320456-beyond-words
 
Peter said, “I just finished reading Beyond Words a few days ago and my mind is still turning over thoughts and feelings I experienced from reading this book. If you think you care about animals you should read it, if you don't care about animals you should read it.”
 
 
Actor Scott Murdock says, “… For a blend of star-power and introspection, Dax Shepherd's podcast, Armchair Expert is one of my favorite listens. Dax is an incredible host who intently listens to his guests and investigates the finer nuances of the human experience. His main theme: vulnerability is sexy. Dax and his co-host/fact checker, Monica Padman are poignant in their research and deliver interviews that are just as casual as they are philosophical. When I say star-power, I mean it. From guests like Ellen DeGeneres to the infamously private Edward Norton, Dax and Monica knock it out of the park with their bookings. But they don't pigeon hole themselves to just the entertainment industry. Other guests include evolutionary-biologist Richard Dawkins, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, and Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, the first and current Surgeon General of California. Armchair Expert has been my go-to for podcasts in the past two years.”
 
Arts Ed Director, Brooke Smith says. “Like approximately 12% of Americans, one of my New Year’s Resolutions was to eat healthier. And though about 92% of Americans do not achieve their resolutions, I am desperately trying to be one of the 8% that will! So far, I’m doing pretty good. The biggest helper has been the app MyFitnessPal by UnderArmour. It has a huge food database that lets me easily keep track of all of my calories and portion sizes, and it syncs up with my iPhone’s pedometer to count steps throughout the day. I think there are some community features that allow you to support your friends as well. Also, it’s free which was honestly the biggest draw for me. So far, I’ve logged over 30 days in a row (we’ll say my new year started in February). You can get it in the App Store on your iPhone or Android.”
 
Executive Artistic Director, Jason Richards recommends Blown Away. “You can find it on Netflix. There is only one season so it doesn’t take long to watch. It’s a reality show like so many other reality shows where each episode introduces a challenge where you have a “winner” and then a “loser” who is forced to leave the show. Blown Away is about glass blowers and the unique talent it takes to create art out of glass. It’s amazing! One of the categories they are often judged on is “creative bravery.” I love this sentiment. I thought about it a lot when choosing the 2020 season. Do I have creative bravery and how does that manifest itself in my job? Anyway, it’s a great show about a unique skill. Give it a look.
 
I hope you enjoy this month’s recs! See you in April for the next installment of Festival Faves.

Hello! We have created something new for 2020. Every month we will be sharing our Festival Faves! Faves can be anything from books to websites to movies to recipes, or anything that we are currently into. So, check them out each month. It’s just another way to connect with our community.

January Edition

Education Director, Brooke Smith says, “Last week, me and every other living woman in my immediate family watched Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of Little Women. I laughed, I cried, I had a mini-existential crisis over my place in the creative world, so, all in all, it was a supremely successful afternoon. For real, whether you’re an old fan of the book or a new convert, you will love it. Gerwig puts her own spin on the story that feels truthful to both the March sisters and Louisa May Alcott and her real life story. Take your sister, your mother, your grandmother, and all of the men in your life because they need to see this story of powerful women too!
PS. Bonus points if you saw our 2018 production of Little Women! You’ll definitely find some familiar gems in the film!”

Jason Richards, our Executive Artistic Director said, “My first rec of 2020 is Gimlet Media. (I am choosing Gimlet because they offer recommendation from their staff and I shamelessly stole their idea!) Gimlet Media is a company that creates podcasts. They make some of my faves including, Reply All, Heavyweight, Surprisingly Awesome, and StartUp. Gimlet offers a wide variety of podcasts that play to many different tastes. They manage to be thought provoking and interesting but still remain entertaining. Their podcast StartUp is about how they became a company that makes podcasts. So, it’s a meta adventure into their own staff and culture. It is endlessly fascinating to me. Check them out!" https://gimletmedia.com/shows 

Isaac Bont our Marketing Director said, “It seems silly to advertise for a competing theatre company, but there are hundreds of theatre companies based in Minneapolis, so I'm still going to do it. Trademark Theatre is devoted to making new theatre experiences that combine avant garde storytelling with exceptional movement and music-based works, especially when created by their talented husband-wife Artistic Directors Tyler Michaels King and Emily Michaels King. I've no affiliation with them, just the recommendation of my partner, Katie Langemo. Boy, was it a good recommendation. I saw three pieces by them last year: Understood (a stunning play about political polarization), Magic Girl (a one woman play by Emily Michaels King), and The Hollow (a dance piece that showcased a visualization of an experimental concept indie rock album....it was wild). These folks are making some really incredible, new work, and the three pieces I've seen them do knocked it out of the park. I will be at everything they ever make that I can! A strange connection to Festival I learned later when studying their work is that they were involved with a touring show that came to Festival called the Seven Shot Symphony, which was also just incredible. Learn more about them at the websites below!”
https://www.facebook.com/trademarktheater/ 
http://www.trademarktheater.org/   
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=40&v=qmQs1i_eVBc&feature=emb_logo

TD Peter Weber says, “Writer Aaron Mahnke delivers a chilling and historical journey though different cultures tales from the darkness. This modern look at what goes bump in the night is a must for history buffs and horror fans. The podcast is released biweekly on Mondays, so each month you get to look forward to new episodes of thrilling adventures that dive into our cultural mythos. My favorite episodes are about the sea and the legends that have formed out of that dark unknown. Here’s a link.”
https://www.lorepodcast.com

I hope you enjoy this month’s recs! See in February for the next installment of Festival Faves.

This week on the podcast, Isaac Bont and Brooke Smith chatted alot about the upcoming summer youth camps (titled Art in Action Camps), teaching the summer company to be arts educators, and a little about Brooke's first year anniversary being on the St. Croix Festival Theatre staff! For more information about the upcoming summer camps (there's still a few slots available in each camp) check out http://www.festivaltheatre.org/art-in-action.html

Here's the transcript!

Isaac
H!.
 
Brooke
Hi!
 
Isaac
Thanks for doing this thing with me. I think the first one went pretty well and people were excited and wanting to check it out. It's almost been a year that you've been working here which is pretty exciting. I have a lot of questions about that. But first, let's slate. Who are you?
 
Brooke
I am Brooke Smith and I'm the arts education director and an artistic associate here at Festival Theatre!
 
Isaac
Of course, I want to talk to you on the podcast anytime because you and I started around the same time and it's interesting to hear from the staff what their lives are like. But I definitely wanted to get you on right now because I know art in action is debuting in a couple weeks so I figured this would be another good chance to approach that from a different avenue and keep getting the word out.
 
Brooke
Yes art in action! Yay!
 
Isaac
Yay! Can you tell me a little bit about art in action? What is it?
 
Brooke
So art in action is our week long theatre summer camp. We do five of those. So it's five weeks, but they're all in different places, which is great because we can bring our philosophy and our teaching artists at Festival Theatre to different cities around St. Croix Falls to different people who we may not have met before at our weeklong summer camp. It's all about process-based learning and allowing our campers to take a hold of the creative process themselves. They will come in and they will create their own play from a game that we play together on the first day. They will be cast in it. They will come up with designs for a set with costume designs. At the end of the week they will put on a play for their family members or friends or anyone who wants to come and see it. It's always a wonderful really inspiring experience to see these young people take hold of these ideas and make it their own.
 
Isaac
Yeah. I like the sounds of that because it sounds like it really approaches theatre from a very broad perspective. A lot of times when people think of theatre camps as acting, acting, acting. But it sounds like it kind of goes through a lot of the different processes of theatre which I think is really neat.
 
Brooke
Yeah. Definitely because they are starting up creating a story that's playwriting right there 101 and then they get to also think about technical elements like scenic design. They do paint their own backdrop which is a very fun, messy day for all of us.
 
Isaac
So, you said that the story is brought up by a game that happens on the first day. Is it kind of an improv game in a way, or what is that game like?
 
Brooke
Yeah, definitely! It's a game called Story Ball. So one person starts with a ball or any sort of object (it doesn't have to be a ball) and passes it around the circle and when ball is in your hand it's your turn to add something else to the story. The only real rule is that you can't negate anything that was said before you. So you can add whatever you want, you just can't take away something that someone else has said.
 
Isaac
That's so "Yes and"! Classic improv! Improv starts tonight! .
 
Brooke
Woo-hoo!
 
Isaac
Do you remember one of the stories from art in action or a brief example of either if you've trained recently with the teaching company of this year or a story that happened? Like a brief synopsis of what came about from Story Ball?
 
Brooke
Yes. One of my favorites from last year was a story called "Gus!" Exclamation point and it was about a police chicken working at a local mall who had to stop a group of young adult shoplifters. And the twist was you find out at the end that the chicken's name is Gus. So that's where the title comes from.
 
Isaac
Wow! I would watch that!
 
Brooke
Yeah it was beautiful.
 
Isaac
I would watch adults put that on, but kids? That would be delightful! So last year, you went through the process of being taught art in action to be a teaching artist. This year, you're teaching the teaching artists how to be teaching artists. Can you talk about what that's like or  how that transition has been and how Brook Smith teaches art in action in a different way? How do you put your own flavor on it as the arts education director?
 
Brooke
Yeah, definitely. So you know last year I was a teaching artist and I did three of the four camps that we did last year so I got a lot of experience which was really great. It's really nice to be able to bring that experience into teaching teaching artists. The biggest thing that I have found helpful in teaching other teachers is making sure everything's very clear, which was really well laid out by my predecessor, Rachel Kuhnle, who is fantastic and lovely and wonderful.
 
Isaac
Yeah, she's great.
 
Brooke
So she had a lot of that information laid out in all these beautiful documents. So it's been so easy to take that over and then take it into the classroom with our interns this year and give them some real hands on experience. This year, I guess a little differently, we've delved more into the psychology of ourselves as teaching artists. We talk a lot about teacher personas as well as the co-teaching relationship. So at art in action, every teacher has a co-teacher; you are both co-teachers for the week. So you always have someone in the room with you helping you out and playing the games and being in the plays. So it's very integrated and fun. And we are a true co-teachers. There are different sorts of co-teaching philosophies like "one teach one observe". That's not as helpful for us. We need both teachers to be just as engaged even if they're not necessarily the person leading the game. So it's been a really great experience seeing how our teaching artists are learning to deal with that and learning to work with each other. And this week, actually, they will all go into turns being co teachers and they will have a great time I'm sure and do wonderfully.
 
Isaac
How do you figure out that different philosophies like "both teachers need to be engaged"? How do you figure that out? Just from the experience of running these camps last year?
 
Brooke
Yeah, I think a lot of it is just experience doing it, but also and this goes along with experience, it's seeing how the kids react. If we've got two people who are equally engaged, then the kids are going to be equally engaged. We always say that our best classroom management tool is our teaching persona. So if we come in and we are excited to be there and we are jumping in and having a great time then everyone else will too. And that's pretty much the case across the board. We have very few classroom management issues, which you know, speaks to obviously we're in a great region with some great kids, but it also speaks to the power of our teaching artists and the way they come in and take control of the room and make sure everyone's having a great time.
 
Isaac
Any funny or weird anecdotes about this process of teaching your summer company? Anything crazy happen?
 
Brooke
Last week, they have all been experimenting with their facilitation of games which means that while they are facilitating, the rest of us get to be children. So that has obviously been a wonderful time as they all tap into their little child selves and show us exactly what they were like as children and it's exactly what you think if you have met any of these people. So you've got people who are very strict rule followers and then kids who are fun little weirdos who will say whatever comes to their mind, which is true for you know the kids who will be at camp. But it's also true for us when we think back to ourselves as children.
 
Isaac
That's funny. Yeah now we're all fun big weirdos. I can see how that personality would translate. That would be a fun exercise. While you're on staff here, you also said you're an artistic associate and I feel like summer is where things get crazy for the Arts Education Director because you've got Marvelous Wonderettes. Four girls, they're onstage singing almost the entire time and then Fools, you've got a great part and a huge part in Crimes of the Heart. There's also improv going on. There's a whole lot going on for the arts education director this summer at Festival Theatre. How are you doing with all that?
 
Brooke
I think I'm doing well. So far you know we're still at the beginning, but we've already got a lot of balls in the air. We've got the resource guides that come out with every show that tell a little about the show and that's Arts Ed. And then we've got teacher training shows, like you said, in improv. We really have a great team of interns this year. I mean, we always do. But this year, you know they're so willing to jump in and help out with everything. It's been so helpful. I'm so proud of them. Just how they're handling all the work that comes their way because sometimes they have more than I do when they come in for work calls: to paint and everything. They're so willing to help each other, which is very helpful for all of us on staff, I think, when they can jump in and help each other with things.
 
Isaac
Yeah, they're a good group.
 
Brooke
So they have really made things a lot easier than I ever could have imagined. Though obviously, it is a busy summer and it will continue to be a busy summer. But it's all things I love. So it's a wonderful time.
 
Isaac
You're doing great work. I love watching you perform. I love watching your arts education stuff. You're an inspiration. Thank you for your time.
 
Brooke
Thank you.
 
Isaac
I look forward to hearing more about art in action camp. The first one is in two weeks?
 
Brooke
Yes, our first one is July 15th in St. Croix Falls. The next week we are back in St. Croix Falls, so two in St. Croix Falls. Then we are in luck. Then Grantsburg then finishing it out in Scandia.
 
Isaac
And if somebody were, to say, want to find more information they can go to our Web site?
 
Brooke
Yes, they can go to our website: festivaltheatre.org or come into the box office. We have registration forms here in our lobby and we also have posters hanging up that say a little more about it.
 
Isaac
Super! Actually one last question! I probably won't get around to interviewing you again before you've officially been here for a year. So, what are your thoughts a year into being on staff at Festival Theatre?
 
Brooke
It doesn't feel like a year at all. I guess, because we move very quickly here. So that takes away some of the time, but also because it hasn't felt like work. It's been so fun to be around my friends and to be around this community that loves us so much, and who we love so much, that it's gone by so quickly! It doesn't feel like it's been a year at all.
 
Isaac
That's great! All right. Thank you Brooke.
 
Brooke
​Thank you Isaac.
 

Festival Theatre Announces Youth Auditions for
The Diary of Anne Frank
Thursday May 9, 4:00 pm - 6:15 pm*
Friday May 10, 4:00 pm - 6:15 pm*
*Auditions will be held in 45 minute time slots. Sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0f4fa4ac28a5f49-auditions

Did you know auditions for The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood are happening on the same day? 
Check out some more info about that here!

ABOUT THE SHOW: A living, lyrical, gifted girl confronts her rapidly changing life and the horror of her time with astonishing honesty, wit, and determination. The Diary of Anne Frank captures the daily existence of the eight people hiding in that attic—their fear, their hope, their laughter, their grief.
A PRE-AUDITION WORKSHOP will be held Saturday, April 27 at 10 am. The audition workshop will take approximately 45 mins and will provide some basic audition coaching. Youth will receive an introduction to the stage area, a few vocal & physical exercises, and a “pep talk” for how to prepare for their audition. Youth should dress comfortably and be well-rested.  If you have never auditioned for Festival Theatre, we highly encourage you to attend this workshop!  Parents are urged to attend as well. Please register in advance for the PRE-AUDITION WORKSHOP through SignUpGenius at this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0f4fa4ac28a5f49-preaudition
WHO: We are looking for between 3 and 4 actors ages 13+. Two to three girls for the roles of Anne, Margot, and Miep. One boy for the role of Peter
PERFORMANCES:
The Diary of Anne Frank                    
2:00pm:     10/6, 10/12, 10/13, 10/19, 10/20
7:30pm: 10/5, 10/10, 10/17, 10/24, 10/26
**Additional yet-to-be scheduled student matinee dates not included

REHEARSALS for The DIary of Anne Frank  will begin approximately the week of September 2nd. To aid us in creating a successful rehearsal calendar, please be as accurate and detailed as possible with known and potential conflicts on audition registration form. A complete rehearsal schedule will be made available to cast members at the first  rehearsal.

What is needed for the AUDITION?

• PLEASE REGISTER in advance by email (preferred) or telephone for a specific audition time slot.
• TO REGISTER: sign-up for a timeslot through SignUpGenius at this link:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0f4fa4ac28a5f49-auditions

• A COMPLETED REGISTRATION FORM with all scheduling conflicts during the listed rehearsal and performance schedules.  Registration forms can be received via e-mail or picked up at Festival Theatre.

A physical copy of the registration form will be accepted at time of audition, not before. ​

• A RECENT PHOTO (headshot preferred – school photo is fine) and a list of any performance experiences, classes, or performance camps. Please attach the photos and list to the registration form.  Photos will not be returned.
• PERFORM A MEMORIZED MONOLOGUE (30-45 seconds only – not longer). Choose a piece from a play, a poem, very short story, part of a story, or even a joke.
• ARRIVE FIVE TO TEN MINUTES EARLY FOR A PROMPT START. Late arrivals will be rescheduled if space allows. Arrive well-rested, dressed comfortably for movement, with a ready attitude for small group activities.

**NOTE: This is a joint audition with our 2019 Youth and Family Series production of The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood. Youth actors may indicate on their registration form they would like to be considered for both, however they may only be cast in one due to overlapping rehearsal schedules. If you would like to be considered for both, register for ONLY ONE audition slot and indicate both on your registration form.
Can parents/guardians watch the auditions?
In order to provide a safe and distraction-free environment for all participating youth, we ask that youth NOT have their adults along in the audition space. However, if it seems essential to be present, one parent/guardian may request to be present at the back of the theatre and must be completely quiet. Siblings or friends who are not auditioning may NOT attend.  Requests must be made at least six hours in advance of audition.

Are there some favorite roles you wish to have mention?
Some favorite roles include Bluebeard (Bluebeard's Dollhouse), Leonardo Da Vinci (Flying & Falling), Van Helsing (Dracula), Figaro (Le Nozze di Figaro), Mr. Peachum (The Threepenny Opera), Collatinus (The Rape of Lucretia), and Bottom (A Midsummer Night's Dream). Here at Festival I've loved all my roles, but Sancho Panza (Man of La Mancha) is my favorite so far! 

Are there any aspects of your training in the theatre arts that you wish to share?
My first official training the theatre arts that was legitimately lifechanging came from the absolutely incredible Kym Longhi, as she shared a physical acting methodology known as Margolis Method with me my sophomore year in college. It's this incredible style that focuses on the energy between actors, objects, audiences, and everything. Anybody who has the slightest interest in theatre work would do well to look into Margolis Method workshops held in Minneapolis by the wonderful Combustible Company! The UMN - Twin Cities BA program was wonderfully eclectic and extremely helpful in learning about many different forms of theatre-making and their faculty is full of incredible artists and people that also happen to put their all into helping their students succeed.

Festival Theatre is so lucky that you've joined the full time staff! What are you most looking forward to about your new job?
Festival has been so vital to my own growth as a professional performing artist. Not only is the work incredibly high quality, but the culture of Festival Theatre is warm, inviting, and vibrant. It's an honor to be a part of that culture, and as marketing director, I am delighted to find the best ways to invite this community to share in that. Festival first shared it with me and it was lifechanging, and I can't wait to share it with the community at large as best as I can!

      Festival Theatre was lucky to get to chat a little with Colleen Raye this week about her upcoming show (That'll Be the Day: The Music of Gene Pitney, Linda Rondstadt, and Roy Orbison) showing only this Friday, and some of her experiences in the life of a performing artist/musician! Check out some of her great insights in this quick Q&A!

Festival Theatre - What was the creative spark or genesis of "That'll Be the Day"? How does putting a show like this together look?
Colleen Raye - For this particular show, Wayne Luchau had been singing Roy Orbison/Gene Pitney for years and wanted to collaborate to book more shows. I decided to write a show around that music, add a female singer, and write the dialogue between songs. I wrote the show, paced it out. You know, when you create a show, it’s different than just going song to song, you want to be uptempo for one, say something funny between, a little bit of comedy, find the right time for ballads, having a closer that’s meaningful. There’s more to building a show like this than what people might think.

Festival Theatre - As a performing artist/musician, with lots of shows under your belt, do you have any interesting or funny anecdotes or experiences recently in your performance work? Any cool or crazy venues?
Colleen Raye - I’ve performed for hundreds of shows professionally, so I’ve been everywhere from the nightclubs of Las Vegas and Atlantic City, Philadelphia, all over the nation in some of the biggest showrooms, television, etc. So I’ve had some very embarrassing stage moments! What do you do? You just laugh it off! Everything from falling flat on my face walking on stage, to hairpieces flying off, in some of the biggest places like Las Vegas! You just gotta laugh it off! By this time, I’ve gone through almost anything, and you learn you gotta roll with it. That’s live entertainment. You know, what’s funny, when that does happen, and you’re not embarrassed about it, people are with you. They love it! They love when you make fun of yourself, because you feel connected!

Festival Theatre - You wrote this show, as well as many of your other shows (such as Sirens of the 60's and the upcoming Christmas Show). Is there something in your shows that audiences might be able to see as an artistic handprint of yours if they're looking?  
Colleen Raye - All of my shows have this; first of all, high quality musicians and singers. The big thing I want is I want to reach the audience with the music, with our personalities. Because I really do believe that when you’re up on the stage, you’re not just performing for the people, you’re connecting with the audience. After each show, we love going out to the lobby, and connecting more with the audience after. We have a little bit of sing along, a little comedy, some touching moments, and also the way they’re paced, they move very smoothly. It’s not “oh hey, what’s the next song” with dead time, it moves very smoothly and professionally. You walk out of there feeling like you had a good time, were involved, and you had an experience.
​
Don't Miss "That'll Be the Day": A Colleen Raye Production:
Wayne Luchau, Colleen Raye,Debbie O’Keefe and The Echoes Rock and Roll Band performing the dynamic music of Roy Orbison, Linda Ronstadt, and Gene Pitney.  You’ll hear your favorites including Roy Orbison’s “Pretty Woman”, “You Got It,”  “Crying,” Gene Pitney’s “Town Without Pity,” “24 Hours From Tulsa,” “Liberty Valence,” and Linda Ronstadt’s “Blue Bayou,” “That’ll Be The Day” and “Desperado.”  Filled with stories and humor as well as masterful musicianship and impressive vocals, the show will take you on an emotional, energetic and nostalgic journey you won’t forget.

"That'll Be the Day" shows only on Friday, September 28th at Alliance Church of the Valley in St. Croix Falls, WI!
Reserve your tickets at the link below today!
​https://festivaltheatre.secure.force.com/ticket#sections_a0F2A00000TYbVEUA1