Penumbra shut down, a designer lost, and opportunities for the future

News
Greetings! -------- You’ve likely already heard the news that Penumbra Theatre is suspending its programming and will produce no plays this year. Here’s a Star Tribune article about the announcement: Penumbra is suspending programming Citing “an immediate cash flow challenge” Penumbra announced on September 5th they would suspend programming and focus on fundraising with the hopes of staging SPUNK in March of 2013. According to the press release “The immediate goal is to raise an additional $340,000 by December 30, 2012.” This suspension of programming comes with the elimination of six full-time staff positions. And of course the artistic teams already slatted to work on this season’s productions now find themselves without those jobs. There’s a clear short-term impact on not just Penumbra Theatre but on the Twin Cities theater community. It’s unclear what are the best ways to avoid long-term impacts should Penumbra continue to have the issues they’ve had for the last several years. But as of right now the push seems to be for financial giving directly to the theater. -------- It seems to provide some context to what Penumbra is going through right now so I’d like to also point out the excellent coverage Minnesota Public Radio has been doing of the financial difficulties facing both the St Paul Chamber Orchestra and the Minnesota Orchestra. Here’s a link to MPR’s State of the Arts blog, which pulls together a bunch of different parts of the issues facing these two organizations: MN Orchestra opens up about contract negotiations -------- Set designer Andrew Wagner went missing back in May. In a sad end to that story his body was found at the beginning of September in his car on a logging road near Orr, Minnesota. Wagner’s cause of death is believed to be suicide. Bedlam’s John Bueche, Frank Theatre’s Wendy Knox, and choreographer Megan Mayer shared memories of Andrew with Marianne Combs for State of the Arts. Definitely worth reading. Friends remember theater technician Andrew Wagner -------- Savage Umbrella is looking for designers and actors for its 2012-2013 season. They’re seeking resumes and letters of interest from any potential collaborators. And contracts through Savage Umbrella include a stipend so go get some work. Call for Savage Umbrella’s 2012-2013 Season -------- Alan Berks and Company is casting for its next production an adaptation of Luigi Pirandello's Six Characters in Search of an Author, Six Characters in Search of an Author. The roles being filled include characters in a reality show that will be interrupted by the characters in the play. Could be fun? -------- TC Daily Planet wants you to pimp your upcoming art projects. So don’t hesitate, send emails to Jay Gabler telling him how great your stuff is and why. If you don’t, who will? Help us promote your upcoming stuff -------- I went to Rock for Democracy block party on Sunday and saw a lovely bit of theater. I’m sure a great many members of the Minnesota theater community are already familiar with David Hanbury’s Mrs Smith character. Mrs Smith is a stage persona who sings, tells stories, makes people feel strange. Mrs Smith was on the Rock for Democracy bill sandwiched between hip-hop dancers and a rock band. It wasn’t quite evening and the crowd was mostly engaged with things other than what was happening on stage until a man in drag appeared on stage with an electric guitar. The crowd surrounding the stage grew. People watched initially because it was a compelling cabaret character that Hanbury has created. And then Mrs Smith did the magic trick of actually shredding on an electric guitar at a block party. Mrs Smith took an audience that had started off watching in mild condescension and turned them into a dancing and singing along rock audience. It was one person alone on stage making theater for an audience that didn’t even know they wanted theater. And it was fantastic. -------- That’s what I’ve got for now. I hope you have a theatrical week -Levi
Headshot of Levi Weinhagen
Levi Weinhagen
Levi Weinhagen is a comedy writer and theater maker. He is co-founder of the all-ages theater company Comedy Suitcase. Levi is producer and host of Pratfalls of Parenting, a podcast featuring conversations with artists about the relationship between being an artist and being a parent.