The Firehouse Square, 459 N.Wolcott, Chicago, IL
It's funny how quickly we forget how bad things were a year ago. Every major financial institution (banks, insurance giants, fannie mae and freddie mac) were on the brink of extinction and spending had stopped. The American public had finally stopped living in the fantasy world of "buy it now, pay for it later" and arts non-profits had found themselves in a of funding and the faucet of cash flow had froze.
It was at this slippery time, that Collaboraction's landlord and patron of 5 years, Stephen Bradarich, approached us with an idea. Stephen invited Collaboraction to move across the street into the production offices attached to the soundstage and his sprawling compound (90,000 sq. feet or so?) at 459 N. Wolcott RENT FREE as his GIFT to Collaboraction to help us through these difficult times. Wow. And with one generous gift, our company's existence was greatly altered and on March 1, 2009 we moved across the street into the enormous artistic compound attached to the first Firehouse bulit after the Chicago Great Fire, which we are now calling Firehouse Square, and are developing with Mr. Bradarich and his Dadio Foundation, which he created to distribute funds to support creative expression and unselfishness (with special preference given to familes of firefighters and organ donors - Stephen recently received the very special gift of a liver transplant ).
Yesterday was the first day of tech rehearsal for G.I.F.T., our first full production in this new, unique and gifted venue. The production is being led by Sam Porretta, our Creative Director who has overseen the environment and set design of SKETCHBOOK and has really played a big part in sculpting the Collaboraction aesthetic for the last 5 years. A couple years ago, Sam spoke about a new show he wanted to build. He called it more of a celebration than a play, more of an experience than just a story, something to remind us of how precious and wonderful life was. He began an intensive process that eventually led im to an ensemble of 11 co-creators and a large and diverse team of collaborating artists and designers. The result is a true Collaboraction thing that no other company could create. It is part tour, part performance, part ritual, part technology, part fire. It uses video, dance, song, story, and community to remind us of the sacred gifts that we give and receive all day long, everyday. And it is all possible because of the gifts that have come to Collaboraction. The gifts of the Firehouse Square, the gifts of funding, of volunteers', of our artists' sweat and blood, our patrons, our Board/Company/Development Council/Associates and Staff and the precious gift of our audiences time, their life time.
G.I.F.T begins on Thur. Nov. 12th. Please make your reservation today at collaboraction.org so you don't is miss our little giving circle in our new space.
And my music video of the week is ...... Circle of Life
from G.I.F.T. tech rehearsal....
