Collaboraction

Feeling Kinda Sunday by Anthony Moseley

Courtyard_Photos_013
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

Sam's GIFT 
from G.I.F.T. tech rehearsal....

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ACTION AT COLLABORACTION 11.06.09

MY PEOPLE

I am really excited about a lot of things this week, some concerning Collaboraction and some Concerning other national theater groups throughout the country.  I recently discovered a company based out of Seattle, WA called The Satori Group that was really engaging.  They do workshops, labs, training programs and innovative theatre.  Their current show Artifacts of Consequence is a great piece that Collaboraction did a small reading of a while back, and shows a lot of promise.  Check out their website http://www.satori-group.com, and if you are ever in Seattle check them out!

HIGHLIGHTS

 Halloween was everything I thought it was going to be, even more!  Despite the chilly weather, Chicago was a great place to be.  I think that the best costume I saw that weekend was a girl dressed up as a Franzia box of wine.  Classic.

                    Crawl                                         The Wicker Park  Halloween crawl was great, that neighborhood is always live and who can resist grown people all dressed up with instruments making a big hooplah!  Check out the GIFTISTAS and some kiddies to the left!

Bealzebub turned out to be one of the best parties I have been to in a while.  It was sexy, and in a great space which Collaboraction completely transformed.  The GIFISTAS had a great performance that got everyone charged about gettin' on the dance floor.  Click here to see some photos from the event. 



Also BIG PROPS to The Atomica Project for their performance at the event.They had a great aesthetic and covered my FAVORITE NIN song "We're In this Together" . Check out their website for live performance info, more photos, and audio.  Below is a photo of the lead singer Lauren Cheatham.

http://www.theatomicaproject.com/audio/

Atomica Project

The Haunting in the Square was also a lot of fun. Some fun families stopped by during the day, a great children's choir stopped by and gave us a treat on Saturday, and the cast of Calls to Blood did a scene from the show (which rocks by the way, check it out at the Royal George).

GOING-ONS

GIFT is coming and the GIFTISTAS are EVERYWHERE!  From After Dark to Bealzebub, the creative and interactive performers from our upcoming show have been showin' out at a lot of our events.  Be sure to reserve your space for the show!  

Also the theme and call for submissions have been officially announced for SKETCHBOOK!  This year the theme of the festival is Exponential exploring ideas of scale, human relations,  and "the exponent".  Submissions must be 7 pages or less, 7 min or less, and a world premier! 

For submission forms and guidelines click HERE!

THIS WEEKEND

Friday

  • Where the Wild Things Are Pajama Jam: free jungle juice, vegan Jell-o shots, BYOB + cash bar / $3 before 10pm with pj's or monster costume, $7 without /$5 after 10pm with costume, $10 without / 9pm
    • 3329 S Indiana, Bronzeville

Saturday

  • Tidal Wave Reggae: This looks like a lot of fun!!!  Reggae never does anyone wrong!  drink specials / dancehall DJs / free before 11pm, $8 after / 10pm
    • The Dark Room

                2210 W Chicago Ave, West Town

Sunday

  • Chicago Humanities Festival- On Sunday there are 15 different events going on for this festival including lectures by Award Winning Tony Kushner, Stuart Brown, Aaron Freeman, and a tribute concert to Johnny Mercer.  Check out Sunday and other days here
That's it!!!

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See Collaboraction Company Member Sarah Gitenstein in New Colony Theatre's Call to Blood!

Callstobloodpress_web4

I have a great show and deal for you to check out this weekend. Collaboraction Company Member Sarah Gitenstein is in New Colony's new hit show Calls to Blood by James Asmus and directed by Andrew Hobgood that has just moved to a bigger house at the Royal George. It is produced by New Colony Theatre who created the unforgettable "A Domestic Distrubance at Fat Little Charlie's 7th Birthday Party" at SKETCHBOOK 9. Check it out -

"Four young performers in sync with one another, wholly able to replicate the casual jokes and hidden terrors that fill the yuppie life in Chicago as it is lived, and, in the case of an arresting young actress named Sarah Gitenstein, wholly willing to dig deep and howl out her wounded innards with sufficient force to jolt you out of your uncomfortable seat. And that’s all you need here." Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune

http://www.thenewcolony.org/callstoblood/

Use the code HEART to save ten bucks and get $15 tickets. Works over the phone or at the box office window only.

Keep live theatre alive. See it.

Have a great day.

anthony

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MD Corner: Social Media or Social Mess?

(I will preface this post by saying I am a Managing Director and not a marketing expert. My experience with marketing is only tangential, but I feel it ought to be discussed more. So please correct me and let me know if you have better ideas than I. I hope you do.)

For many theater companies today, especially the small ones, social media has become a major component of marketing campaigns. It allows us to "play with the big boys" for a lot less money. Impressions are cheaper and more targeted, which plays to both our resources and our needs. And best of all, for the most part it really only costs you time. Which we have plenty of, right? Right?Facebook-advertising

Well in the for-profit world, an advertising campaign would be measured by its return on investment, including the direct costs of creating and placing the ads, as well as any allocation of the indirect cost of people's wages (time). In order to complete this calculation you obviously need to be able to accurately measure the revenue that the campaign generated. And therein lies a significant challenge for many nonprofits, especially arts organizations.

But I use bit.ly to track all my links, so I know where my traffic is coming from. Yes, that will allow you to track clicks and links and the like. But once someone is on your site or in your store, do you really know whether that link-clicker bought anything?

But we have google analytics set up to track referring pages, and geographic location of site views. OK. But where did they first see you and what was the driving factor that brought them to you? Was it the news article about your new show or the article about your move to  a new space?

We have people enter discount codes or notes on transactions that tell us where they came from. OK. Did they get that code from Twitter? Myspace? Facebook? Website? Blog? Email Campaign? Haven't you linked them all to cross-post anyway to improve content visibility?

                                                                                                                                        Marketing_data My point is not that we are doing the wrong thing or that it's an impossible task. But I am  trying to say that there is a resource scarcity that prevents many of us from being able to implement the tactics needed to accurately measure our efforts. Which is not to say we shouldn't engage social media strategies for marketing purposes. All I would suggest is that we be honest with ourselves about what it can really do for us.

As Nancy Schwartz pointed out in this post about social media, while 79% of organizations are using websites, social media, and other electronic marketing platforms to grow their brand, only 18% of those on the receiving end are actually donating or buying something at that point. Which as Schwartz put it, means the social media world right now is "more about friendraising than fundraising." And I couldn't agree more. So while trackbacks and bit.ly's and retweets are great and you can use them to create some sorts of numbers, I would rather view these platforms as a means to build a community. A community of people that become interested and vested in each other. And then maybe the community will start supporting each other financially. Am I crazy?Community

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Feeling Kinda Sunday with Anthony Moseley

Sky from haunting

Wow. We just finished a huge Halloween weekend that included launching our new home, the Firehouse Square, as a unique artistic destination, a costumed procession through Wicker Park and Beezlebub, a party with major production and rituals for 600. In the world of temporal creations, it was a big weekend, and we have a collection of photo, video and memories to show for it. The sun has set on this week and Sunday evening leaves time for reflection and forecasting. I am exhausted and still vibrating. Good ole Sundays.....

I took this photo on Friday evening as the clouds rolled by. They made me feel like we live at the bottom of an ocean of air. That the clouds were waves on the surface and we were swimming below. In this world, we actually feel each other's air ripples and they connect us to one another, just like the events, stories and rituals that we create in hopes of reminding us that the air we breath unites us all.

Special thanks to our rock star gen ops and artistic staff who helped make the whole weekend happen and to our landlord Stephen for providing us with a beautiful home on the bottom of the ocean.

Good night....


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ACTION AT COLLABORACTION 10.29.09

MY PEOPLE

What is good? Hopefully a lot of things.  On my part, I have been really enjoying the changing of the seasons, and all the great theater and entertainment going on in the city. I recently read a travel magazine that rated Chicago poorly on nightlife and entertainment!!!!  WHATEVER whoever did that obviously does not know what is going on and where to go.  But I digress....

GOING-ONS

Congratulations to Collaboraction Associate Artistic Director and company member Seth Bockley who won a Jeff award last Monday for best Adaptation of a new play for JON. Check out this clip of the show below.  There are a lot more on youtube.com just search for Collaboraction. 

We are all getting really excited for GIFT, which is sure to be a one of a kind experience.  The show is going to be free with a suggested donation, but space is limited so you have to reserve your seat!

Click HERE to reserve your seat for G.I.F.T

Another "going-on" I have to briefly bring up is the buzz about Sketchbook 10, I can't say too much right now but be on the lookout for the official announcement of the theme, submission guidelines, and audition info!!!!

Tonight Collaboraction will be showing out strong at the 2nd annual Bealzebub, the  "party of parties" which will feature crazy costumes, live performances, and general merry times in the spirit of Halloween.  I will be sure to report on the shananigans that occur. 

THIS WEEKEND

Friday

Haunting in the Square 

Collaboraction's 1st annual Halloween event featuring family fun programming in the day, and a rockin' party at night.  The Thin Man will be performing at 5:30 on Friday, and I just got the scoop that there will be fire spinners at the event both Friday and Saturday.  Emily Schwartz has written two original ghost stories that will be performed.  But the real action will be commencing at 10 when DJ ANAOXIC and POPS Q perform. 

What: Halloween fun and craziness

Where: 437 N Wolcott (grand and WOlcott)

When: 3pm to 12

Devils Night

Debonair Social Club, a Wicker Park watering hole, will be having a fun Halloween night with PBR, drink specials, and a costume contest.  Don't worry, you won't remember it in the morning.

What: Devil's Night

Where: 1575 N Miluakee (North, Damen, Miluakee intersection)

Saturday

Haunting in the Square II

Be sure to come by on Sat because it is going to be great weather and great programming.  More family fun in the daytime, but on Saturday night Dark Wave Disco will be spinning at night!!!!!!!

What: Halloween fun and craziness

Where: 439 N Wolcott (grand and Wolcott)

When: 3pm to ???


Sunday

Catch some theater today! Culture is good.  My recommendations are:

  • "Fedra Queen of Haiti" Lookingglass Theater 3:00 and 7:30  Lookingglass
  • "Frankenstein" The Hypocrites Museum of Contemporary Art 7:30 www.mcachicago.org
  • "Animal Crackers"  The Goodman Theater 2:00  The Goodman
That's it for this week people!@!@!2

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Eric Z.: Compare and Contrast

-Eric Ziegenhagen

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Feeling Kinda Sunday with Anthony Moseley

Chicago Performs
photo from our Chicago Performs spontaneous street performances in Little Village today. 

What a beautiful Sunday it was. Today, we gathered at the Collaboraction HQ at 10 am and prepared for a day of spontaneous street performances. Collaboraction was commissioned to suprise people in public and bring them happiness through performance by the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation as part of their incredibly progressive and unique program, Chicago Performs. We brought an ensemble of other worldy beings and the loudest boom box we could find to Maxwell Street Market brought come surreal Collaboraction joy to thousands of Chicagoans. Our team, weaved through the crowd while dancing, living and gifting it up. The faces of the children as our strange, happy bunch approached were full of wonder and excitement and we were able to bring smiles to many before we packed up and moved to Little Village where we spread the magic at Cermak Prodce, Dulceria, a formalwear store and many the street corner. It was a wonderful thing to be able to hire a team of artists to focus on spreading happiness. Thank you Uncle Rich! (check back soon for video from our escapade).

This week Collaboraction is busy preparing for Halloween. On Thursday is Beezlebub, a extravagant Gala that we are the lead creative team for. Friday is the first day of Haunting in the Square, our two day Halloween celebration at our large compound on the near west side (with ghost story plays by Emily Schwartz, a maze for kids, beer garden, a bonfire pit, and much more - see collaboraction.org for details) and Sat. @ noon we will be leading the Wicker Park Halloween Prowl. We will be meeting at the Chopin Theatre in Wicker Park at 11 am and then starting a jam session in the Polish Triangle before prowling through the neighborhood. We'll have 20 artists, musicans, jugglers, etc. to get things going, but please wear your costume and join us as we frollick up Milwaukee.

On Friday evening, Company Member Anacron Allen will be DJing for the last time in Chicago before he moves back to LA. Anacron and i have collaborated on many the experiences over the years and mashed many worlds in the process. He is an inspiring aristist/businessman and will be missed. We'll be throwing it down with him one last time before he takes it to the left coast. On Sat., the studs from Dark Wave Disco will be lighting up the soundstage to help bring this Halloween weekend to a close.

There is something transfomational about putting on a mask and celebrating life. Forgetting who you are and just getting lost in the moment. Whether weaving through Maxwell Street Market, Wicker Park, or the dance floor at 1 am on Halloween, may we loose ourselves in the tradition of costumes and character that is Halloween and remind ourselves that life is theatre and we are all an ensemble.

Wicker park prowl
photo from the rehearsal of the Wicker Park Halloween Prowl.

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ACTION AT COLLABORACTION OCT.23.09

MY PEOPLE

Halloween is upon us! Get your costumes out, because there is so much cool stuff going on both at Collaboraction and all over the city. But before I start my usual routine I have to give a MEGA musical shout out to Basement Jaxx and Massive Attack.  Both of their new ish is amazing.  Feels like 1998 again, which ain't all that bad.  Check out both songs below. 

Massive Attack "Splitting the Atom"

Splitting the Atom This entire EP stays true to their trip hop, London down tempo roots while also breaking new ground.  It's perfect to listen to on a rainy fall day, and even better to get you in the mood for Haloween night-time fun.

Basement Jaxx "Scars"

Scars     This song is hawt, featuring Kelis and all of her sass.  The album, also entitled Scars is eclectic with pop electro tunes like "Raindrops", club bangers like "Twerk" and  ephemeral ballads like  "Distractionz".   This duo is bringing us what they do best: bangin' beats, uplifting tunes, and sexy songs that make you want to kiss someone.  




Highlights

Last weekend Collaboration provided entertainment for the We Live In Public after party, and I have to say that it was one of the coolest film premier parties I have been to.  The open bar was top notch, and the performances were amazing featuring fire dancers (who were MESMERIZING) trapeze and aerial acts, foxy burlesque dancers (that somehow all ended up in pasties, hey I'm not complaining), and wild characters in "pods". Check out the trailer for the film below.

WE LIVE IN PUBLIC  

GOING-ONS

We have been busy little bees around the office gearing up for Halloween.  Next weekend we will have several awesome events going on, one being the Haunting in The Square and the other being the Wicker Park Halloween Crawl.  Both are going to be quite the spectacle, Dark Wave Disco will be spinnin' Saturday night at the Haunting in the Square, and the WP crawl is going to be fun Halloween mayhem with a procession of dancers, theatrics, and awesome costumes. Stay tuned for more info!

THIS WEEKEND

FRIDAY

  • ****DEBONAIR SHAPES AND SIZES PARTY OPEN BAR 10-11Pm, free before 11pm  1575 N Miluakee Ave*****
  • DOLLAR FRIDAYS AT CROBAR $1drinks all night long, bumpin dj's, open until 5AM reduced cover with RSVP

SATURDAY

  • PICK YOUR POISON FALL FASHION SHOW AND WINE TASTING:
    Showcasing top Chicago designers this exclusive event gives you the best of all worlds - wine, art and fashion. Sip wine, check out the fine art collection from local artists and enjoy informal modeling of the best in Fall 2009 collections. Looks awesome!  
         When:Sat 10/24 (4PM)
         Where: The Poison Cup
         Address: 1128 W Armitage Avenue Chicago, IL 

         Cost: FREE!

  • DREAM THEATRE PRESENTS: ANNA IN THE DARKNESS  Check out this awesome Halloween treat:  A young teacher has barricaded herself in the basement while the entire bloodthirsty town masses to kill her.
        When: Sat 10/24 4:00 and 10:30
         Where: Dream Theatre
         Address: 556 W 18th St
  • ROLL IT BACK 1984 @ THE BURLINGTON: Ok I have def been to a rockin' party at this bar.  It is a bit of a destination location but once you have arrived you will feel priveledged to be there. 

       $1 PBR and $3 1984 shots / giveaways / Moneypenny DJs / 10:00pm

       3425 W. Fullerton Ave., Logan Square 773-384-3243

  • ***HAUNTED DRIVEIN: BYOFLASK GHOSTBUSTER SCREENING*** It's going to be cold so bring lot's of whiskey! This movie rocks!
        Wicker Park
        1425 N. Damen Ave,
        312-742-7583

SUNDAY

  • RAVONETTES @ THE METRO Chicago, IL:  nostalgic rock and roll band with an eye for crafty drum beats, pop melodies, and sinful themes 
              Cost: $18  3730 N Clark Street

THATS IT FOR THIS WEEK!!! PEACE AND LOVE!!!

W

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Neat Things: 10/20/2009

Hello all,

I'm going to depart from the general template here for a moment: woke up this morning cranking on a number of ideas that have been stewing in my head for a while, and I thought I'd use this platform to send them out into the world.  

Some of our compatriots on this blog and others have been talking about what they want theatre to be.  As a die-hard Greek Tragedy addict, I'm always excited to be around the inventive and new ideas of what theatre-performance-art can be that are kicked around at Collaboraction ("One of the hippest companies in town" according to this enterprising young blogger, Zev Valancy).  That being said: I've run into arguments several times in other cities, especially with people 10-15 years older than myself.  It seems like people keep saying that, to be "socially productive," (in the activist sense, not the "hey-lets-throw-a-great-party" sense) theatre has to educate on a societal problem, or be a Call to Action.  I'm not disparaging this type of show: I think they can be very productive.  However, I think there is also something to be said for theatre that leaves you feeling like this guy as he gets across the street:



Or that leaves you feeling like this video does:




Right?

What am I getting at here?  We also need theatre that makes you sit up and say..."oh!"  Whether that's through spectacle or truth or a great costume choice or just a really well-played scene.  I think even if art doesn't bring you some new information on the injustices or troubles of the world, it can still be useful.  Several of my favorite pieces of art simply made me get up and want to make more art.  Charles Mee's "Hotel Cassiopia" at Humanafest two or three years ago did this with a sound cue and a costume choice.  Same with the "Visions of the Apocalypse" exhibition down at the Hyde Park Arts Center.  Back in Ohio, Chloe Nisbett's dance piece "fragmented rooms," a duet with an empty door frame, did it with inventive use of space and the ability to create an entire relationship without a narrative (a plug: she's in Chicago now, working with the Space/Movement project.  Check them out).  I know I am occasionally frustrated: "How many lives has my artwork saved?  How many children has it helped feed?  Shouldn't I be doing something more useful?"  I guess I'm not sure that's the right question- or maybe just not the right way to ask it.  Art can be useful for its ability to get you up and off the couch, if nothing else.    

None of these are new ideas.  It just seems good to remember that, with all the drive people have to go out and serve their community and the world at large, creating art can still a worthwhile thing.

And finally, because I feel like I do need to reccomend something you can experience right now, check out: The Decemberists' new album, "The Hazards of Love." 

Decmpic

Seriously, this makes me want to play music all day.  Give it a listen.

Have a great day all!

-Jeffrey Gardner

Marketing Coordinator

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