Collaboraction

RIP SONOTHEQUE

MY PEOPLE

I have to say that this week's blog will be dedicated solely to a tribute to the fallen SONOTHEQUE, which will be closing its doors tomorrow night.  If you have not heard already I hate to be the bearer of bad news.  Sonotheque, the eclectic, hoppin', always bumpin', and diverse establishment that has brought you great live DJ shows, guest appearances, and awesome themed parties, has been sold. 

There were some Twitter rumors going around about this possibility a little while ago and it has finally been confirmed by TimeOut Chicago. This is so unfortunate to me because when it came to understanding and speaking to the up and coming DJ Culture of Chicago, and inspiring diverse crowds to go out , few places did this better than Sonotheque.  The music was always classy, and i knew it was a place I could be accepted, dance, get a GREAT drink special, meet creative and "tuned in"people, as well as catch some hawt fashion. Not to mention, having thrown several successful blasts there, it was always a great place for a birthday party or celebration.

I understand that in a City like Chicago, clubs, lounges, and bars are presented many obstacles when it comes to staying open and making profit.  Not to mention the current economy has forced many party goers to be modest about their nightlife routines.  But WHY???????? Check out the TimeOut article on the great venue's closing. See article

So let this occurrence be proof that people, our beloved music and entertainment institutions need our support!  Whether it be your favorite theater venue, music venue, club or restaurant if you like them show them!  I know times are hard but quality institutions require this of you in order to stay open.  Otherwise we will be left with nothing but large multi-national chain-meat markets like Crobar.  (Crobar can be great don't get me wrong but a little intimacy never killed anyone).  Anyhoo, here is some media I've uploaded so that you too can share the memory.

ALSO Be sure to check out GIFT at Collaboraction through the weekend, the show is amazing and takes a lot of risks that many Chicago theater companies are not brave enough to withstand.  See our homepage for more info.

awesome dance floor and bar : (

Creative Risk and the Future of Theatre. Who Supports it?

Here is my comment i just posted at Chris Jones' Theatre Loop Blog in reply to the comment from Chicago Joe and the nature of the review (not the review itself).

Hi everyone. I just can't remain silent any longer. I have taken a lot of blog bashing over the years, but come on Chicago JOE, that's a low blow and just bad form. I have put oceans of blood, sweat and tears into cultivating a new theatre audience in the name of keeping theatre alive and relevant in the 21st century. I am sure I could make a lot of money running a dive bar or producing crusty classics or Christmas cash cows or saccharin musicals, but I am driven by my passion as an artist to make RELEVANT work that speaks to a DIVERSE audience in hopes of planting the seeds for the future of theatre. Maybe you haven't seen any of our plot driven contemporary plays like El Grito del Bronx, Jon, Jenny Chow, Guinea Pig Solo, Cosmonaut's Last Message, Tulsa Lovechild, Refuge, Apocalyptic Butterflies, Trueblinka and many more, but I guarantee you they tell a story and have a “plot”, but that is not the point. The point is that Chicago theatre companies MUST take creative risks in regards to form and structure so we can evolve the art form and audience. Those risks SHOULD be supported by the entire community (respected and recognized!!!!) or else we are nothing but a regional theatre farm system and we will continue to slowly watch our audiences wither away.

Now, I admit G.I.F.T is not for everyone. It needs an audience who will accept it for what it is: a strange, ritual journey that explores the many unnoticed exchanges that happen all day long, everyday. It was written by an ensemble in process and not a playwright. It does not force an audience to sit in the dark for 3 hours and it doesn't pretend to be plot driven. It is unlike any other theatre you have seen. It is a poem, a communal collage. It is a celebration of our connection to one another. Check it out here - http://bit.ly/7S1eIs and here - http://bit.ly/5fd5fM and if you support creative risk and experimentation in Chicago theatre, come check it out for yourself and write your own review in this comment log.

I am happy to receive the Jones Award for High Failure Rate on behalf of Collaboraction. I thank the thousands of Chicago Theatre artists who have made Collaboraction a place where they can be fearless, bold, uncompromising and uncensored. Where they don't have to be concerned with whether or not their show will sell tickets, but rather what they are saying and to whom and how their work will touch an audience. I thank the incredible family of Collaboraction patrons, funders, volunteers, staff and audience who understand the creative risks we take and love us for it, whether we get 1 star or 4. I thank all those companies scared of taking risk, who produce the same shows or same kinds of shows over and over again for the same 5,000 audience members, for they make us relevant and alive. I remind us all that if failure results from pushing the comfort zone and taking creative risks in order to preserve the future work, artists and audiences of our field, then our failures are not losses, they are a part of a bigger process of creating a new kind of theatre that has led Collaboraction towards “a young enthusiastic audience more established companies would die for” (Hedy Weiss, Sun Times). And finally, I thank Chris Jones for this wonderful Gift. It is an honor just to be nominated, but with so little competition, I had a feeling we would win.

And finally, when they draw a line in the sand and separate us all into two groups, those that truly support creative risk in Chicago theatre and those who don't, which side will you be on? One side is killing our field, the other is trying to save it.

Seriously and Sincerely Yours,

Anthony Moseley

Executive Artistic Director, Collaboraction

P.S. Chicago Joe, I'll have, complimentary, 2 tickets under your name for every remaining performance and look forward to your review.

SETH, JEFF & JON

 

Anthony asked me to post my acceptance speech here from the Jeff awards on October 19th, when I won for "Best New Adaptation" for the script of 'Jon'.  Here it is (keep in mind I had to read it rather quickly to get it in 60 seconds!)  It was a great honor and I hope this will lead to new life for 'Jon' in the coming months and years.

"I want to dedicate this award to risktakers-- first the great Chicago companies that against all odds and possibly good sense, produce artistically adventurous, uncompromising and unapologetically experimental art.  You are why I live and work here.

Second to Anthony Moseley and Collaboraction for taking a chance on this project with vision and generosity.  Also Sam Poretta, Lucas, Kelly and Guy, and the rest of the amazing team. 

To George Saunders for writing an extraordinary story called 'Jon'.  His approval of the final production more than any award or honor is the single most satisfying event in my artistic life so far.  Thank you George.

Finally to those who have taken a risk on me in my five years in Chicago so far: Kristan Schmidt from Walkabout, Jim Lasko from Redmoon, my parents, and Angie Tillges, who continue to unconditionally support my 'career choice'.

And finally Frank Maugeri my dear friend and mentor who has the courage to demand from others what he demands from himself: discipline, honesty, spiritual purpose, and unfettered imagination.

Thank you." 

 

Lewis Hyde and "The Gift"

As every corner of our website will tell you, G.I.F.T. opens tonight, in all its irrational, wonderful, weird glory.  We hope you can make it to the show this weekend or next.  It's nothing like a movie, nothing like a book--it is a truly new experience.

In honor of opening night, and to stimulate the rational side of the brain for those diving into G.I.F.T., here is an interview with Lewis Hyde, author of "The Gift: Creativity and the Artist in the Modern World."  Hyde's work was a strong influence on G.I.F.T., and this interview with KCRW's Michael Silverblatt is essential listening.

ACTION AT COLLABORACTION FRIDAY THE 13th 2009

MY PEOPLE

I am devoting this week COMPLETELY to what will be going on this weekend because it's gonna be a good one.  Happy Friday the 13th, I hope that you have a sexy, spooky, funky, and eclectic one!

Friday

• GIFT PREVIEW: Well I saw the first preview last night and I can say that it is like nothing I have ever seen before.  The Collaboraction team has effectively and beautifully transformed the warehouse space into an experience of wonder, time, and

• Chicago Arts District Second Fridays Gallery Night This should be a great option with free wine, art, hipsters, get drunk and be classy AND cultured about it! Go figure!@!!                                                                                     

    Where:1821 S Halsted, 6pm-10pm call 312.377.4444 for info                                 

SATURDAY

• The Hundred Dresses: Yes, this is a Kid's show BUT IT ROCKS!!!!!!  Come to the Royal George to have a great time, experience some freaky flashbacks to your childhood life, and hear some fun songs.  This show is based off a book written in the 40's and basically teaches us all to  "Never do Nothing Again"  Also, I AM IN IT and will be playing the role through close, so come out and see me be a really cute kid (not that cute)

        What: Awesome musical "The Hundred Dresses"

        Where:  The Royal George Theater

        When:  12:00 and 3:00

        Cost:  $28 children, $30

        CLICK HERE

• GIFT PREVIEW: Here's another one,  I have a feeling that Saturday night is going to be really hawt, so be sure to check it out if you can

        Where: Collaboraction Headquarters 439 Wolcott (Grand and Wolcott)                      

        When: 8:00

• 11.14.2009 BRING THAT BEAT BACK w/ Guilty Simpson, Black Spade, Rita J (album release) Featuring live Hip Hop performances by Stonesthrow (Peanut Butter Wolf, Mayer Hawthorne) recording artist Guilty Simpson, St. Louis native MC & producer Black Spade (Om Records), Rita J (?Artist Workshop? release party. All Natural Inc. 11/3). A Producer showcase will feature local beatmaking talents Scott Free (of the Lazerhawks) and Radius, as well as an exclusive live pa set by Black Spade. Supporting DJ sets by Tone B. Nimble & Sean Doe (All Natural), TREW (Ground Lift Media), and RTC (Ruby Hornet).    

        Where: Darkroom 2210 W. Chicago Ave, 9pm-3am, 10$, 21+

• South Side Shake Down
  a plethora of DJs / first 250 people get in for free / $6 before 12:30am, $8 after / 18 and over / 11:30pm  The METRO 3730 N Clark St 

Sunday

• SUNDAY "FUNDAY" at STANLEYS on LINCOLN-  Nothing can be better on a Sunday evening that having a brew-sky at Stanley's. Sunday morning features a great brunch, while sunday night features crazy live band karaoke, a bumpin' crowd, and Stanley's awesome staff (the ladies are all so FOXY)!  Stanley's is a great kitchen and tap, featuring southern American comfort food and a great whiskey selection.  Be sure to try the mashed potaters'!!!! And don't be afraid to get up on stage and sing a song!!!

    Where: 1970 N Lincoln Ave
    http://www.stanleyskitchenandtap.com/

Monday

• OPENING NIGHT OF COLLABORACTION's GIFT:  Be sure to reserve your seat for Monday, there will be lots of special GIFTS for you tonight, some edible, some delectible, some funky, some inspiring.  So BE THERE. RESERVE YOUR SEATS HERE.

That's it, get after it!

Feeling Kinda Sunday by Anthony Moseley

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....

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.

                                                             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/

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!!!

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

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

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?

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?

                                                                                                                                         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?

Feeling Kinda Sunday with Anthony Moseley

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....