Producer Blog

Courage of the Classics

Tuesday, 30 April 2013 15:51 Janis Stone

By MATT STARR

MTVarts Classics Series Chair

The Classics Series was designed as a truly community service based faction of MTVarts. With Bruce Jacklin & Companies' comedies and cabarets at the Alcove Dinner Theater, audiences don’t have to think (or want to think) and are able to escape life for a few hours and enjoy an evening out. The Broadway musical that MTVarts brings each summer draws sold-out crowds and is developed for entertainment for the whole family. We started the Classics Series six years ago in order to offer American literary classics to our community members who wanted something “heavier” than the other programs. Also, this was developed to augment the classroom setting for high school and college students who were reading these stories in school. Having a program devoted to more serious dramatic story-telling is a unique feature that our community has. Who knows why the classics are less popular in this community than the other theatrical productions? However, this year, MTVarts presentation of John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men will be performed for nearly 600 high school students from the area who have read the story being performed on stage.

Taking on difficult pieces of literature requires a great deal of courage. On top of that, those who invest in these productions are also courageous because of the sensitive nature of the material. MTVarts would not have been able to perform this year’s production without the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Mortellaro of Mortellaro’s McDonald’s or the Youth Philanthropy Initiative of the Community Foundation of Mount Vernon and Knox County. Performing artists get to do what we do because of visionaries like these two organizations who understand the tremendous responsibility that creating art plays in our lives and that having diverse and challenging material adds significant value to the quality of life in our community.

As the Classics Series Chair, I see each of our productions getting better every year. Again, I am proud of this production team and the MTVarts family. Also, I am humbled by the generosity of our sponsors. I urge you, our audience members, to please thank Mortellaro McDonald’s and the Youth Philanthropy Initiative of the Community Foundation of Mount Vernon and Knox County, for their community-mindedness and courage to bring you this story.

April News

Wednesday, 10 April 2013 17:34 Janis Stone

"April is officially National Humor Month, a month to celebrate the joy and laugher in life. Conveniently, it's also Stress Awareness Month, which makes it an ideal time to laugh away the stress in your life! Kicking things off with April Fools Day and ending with National Honesty Day, April is a fun, nurture-your-psyche month, all month long!"

Here is what is happening in April with our MTVarts world . . .

Diane and Corey hosted the audition help session at St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Scott, Jen and Leah are handling the online audition registrations for THE MUSIC MAN, all the contracts are signed and rent paid for the Memorial. Join the parade April 20 . . . and AUDITION!

Aaron and Steve deconstructed the barn donated by Dana's mother - thanks Linda, never thought I would be writting an in-kind receipt for a barn - and it is now at the warehouse ready to be transformed. Check out the director and actor blogs on The Classic Series OF MICE AND MEN. My calendar is marked and I am eager to see the finished show, join me and invite your friends.

JJ and his production team are hard at work with the ground work of production planning. The kids are selling bracelets, planning an art show and brainstorming for other ways to raise awareness and fund raise. Bruce is wrangling all that creative energy to help the kids pull together a cohesive vision for the show.

We received great news that the folks at Theatrical Rights Worldwide as well as the composers/lyricists/ playwrights Mark Freidman and Janet Vogt will be flying in for HOW I BECAME A PIRATE in September. The author Melinda Long is also trying to clear her calendar to join us. Seeing the support mount is a little overwhelming. Dreams become reality when someone believes! JJ, it is really happening! Come in September and witness first hand what believing can accomplish.

Partners are busy as well. Matt received the letter awarding NEITZSCHE ATE HERE entry into the Montreal World Film Festival. Ian is directing LEADING LADIES at the Alcove and Leah is directing ANYTHING GOES at the Naz.

So let's be honest, if you need to relieve stress, laugh or celebrate joy, you should look to MTVarts.

Fund raising

Thursday, 21 February 2013 00:09 Janis Stone

Carrie Crouch of BlackCatCreative designed an informative and concise fund raising piece with a simple message ... BELIEVE and help our dreams LIVE in 2013!

The piece will be distributed to 2500 folks in Mount Vernon using the USPS Every Door Direct Mailing. They are all bundled, labeled, and delivered to the post office so if you live on the east or south side of town, watch your mail. If you aren't in the target area and would like to see the piece, check it out here.

MTVarts wants to be audience-driven so any donor can choose where they want their money to go. Our financial goals include getting cash donations to cover the general operating budget; $6,000 for The Classic Series; $44,000 for our summer musical The Music Man; and $20,000+ for The JJProject in September.

Questions and comments are always welcome 'cause we really believe we can do so much more together! Sure hope you choose to beLIeVE . . .Janis.

Introduction

Tuesday, 06 November 2012 14:18 Janis Stone

I am nearly 60 and this world of blog is unchartered territory; Scott still can’t quite make me understand how it all works. I believe our format is going to be multiple contributors and not just me. Bruce will weigh in on the artistic direction, Scott may chat about ticketing or tech stuff, show directors may share about productions and I will talk about money.

Everybody seems to want your money these days. Well, add MTVarts to that list! We have chosen not to apply for any grants that come from public monies so to keep our tickets affordable we need folks to give us money. I hate fundraising but the truth is we are where we are today because people believed in what we are doing and gave us money.

My thinking has always been if we remain all-volunteer and transparent about our finances, if we listen to our audience and offer what they want, people will donate. So that will be the main purpose of this new blog, communication. We will tell you what is going on and if you believe, you will help us make it happen.

More later.