MTVarts is thrilled to announce our 2024 Season. We are offering a rich array of shows, community engagement, and educational programs. After 17 years of tenure as Artistic Director of MTVarts, I realize more than ever our opportunity and responsibility to deliver on our mission … to inspire dreams, teach skills, instill confidence and courage; and, above all, ensure quality affordable live theatre. We must also envision what our next chapter will be.
This season of making theatre we will offer our traditional productions which includes our classic series in April with August Wilson’s “Fences” and this summer’s July musical “Footloose” based on the popular 1984 movie. Both will be performed at the beautifully restored Woodward Opera House.
In 2024 we celebrate the 10th year anniversary of artsIQ youth productions, a valuable tool equipping the next generation of arts enthusiasts. We are offering two musicals featuring our youth actors. “Honk Jr” is a delightful retelling of Hans Christian Anderson’s The Ugly Duckling and in the fall we will revive our first artsIQ musical when we present “Disney’s The Little Mermaid JR”.
We are honored to partner with Kenyon Hillel House and the Office of Community Partnerships to present the powerful work by Michael Slade “And A Child Shall Lead.” Both artsIQ musicals and this new classroom connection will be presented at the Knox County Memorial Theater.
We have high hopes for warehouse14 in 2024 with an eye toward restoration of Blackberry Alley and another year of Pop Up Blackbox. The intimate “An Evening of One-Acts” was well received and will return in January with productions of “Ascension Day” and “The Whole Shebang”.
An awry of classes and workshops will be taught by theater trained instructors and will be offered year round. Hiring our Education Coordinator will strengthen our relationship with the Knox County Education Service Center and continue building rapport with local colleges, arts education providers, and community partners to raise the curtain on arts education in Knox County.
The mission of artsIQ is to encourage the next generation to find their voice in the performing arts. In the words of the famous opera legend, Maria Callas, “When the curtain raises, the only thing that speaks is courage.”
