In The Heart Of The Beast Puppet And Mask Theatre

BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER FOR THE COMMON GOOD THROUGH THE POWER OF PUPPET AND MASK PERFORMANCE.

MAYDAY: A 12-MEMBER MAYDAY COUNCIL DEVELOPED COMMUNITY FOCUSED PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND GROUPS ANIMATED BY THE VALUES AND AFFIRMATIONS AT THE CORE OF THE MAYDAY COUNCIL'S WORK. IN 2022, THE THREE PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS WERE MIGIZI, MINNEAPOLIS ROOSEVELT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, STAFF AND FAMILIES AND KALPULLI KETZAL COATILICUE, TRADITIONAL AZTEC DANCERS. MIGIZI IS A NATIVE AMERICAN NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION BASED IN MINNEAPOLIS THAT SERVES PRIMARILY NATIVE YOUTH. ARTIST RESIDENCIES AT EACH ORGANIZATION SUPPORTED PARTNERS IN DEVELOPING WORKSHOPS AND ACTIVITIES FOCUSED ON MAYDAY VALUES. AT THE CULMINATING COMMUNITY CELEBRATION EACH ORGANIZATION EXHIBITED AND PERFORMED THEIR WORK AS WELL AS ENJOINING COMMUNITY INPUT AND ENGAGEMENT. SERVICE PROVIDERS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS AND OTHER ARTISTS AND ORGANIZATIONS PARTICIPATED IN THE OUTDOOR EVENT THAT HAD AN ATTENDANCE OF SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE.

THEATER MAIN STAGE: HOBT CREATES, PRODUCES AND PERFORMS ORIGINAL WORKS BY STAFF, CONTRACTED ARTISTS, AND GUEST ARTISTS. ACCOMMODATIONS AND PRECAUTIONS FOR COVID-19 SEVERELY LIMITED IN PERSON WORK AND ENGAGING LIVE AUDIENCES. DUE TO THE PANDEMIC SHUT DOWN, AN ORIGINAL PREMIER PRODUCTION BY TWO ACCLAIMED, LOCAL ARTISTS HAD TO BE SCALED INTO A WORKSHOP IN 2021, FOLLOWED BY THE FULLY STAGED PRODUCTION OF IMPACT THEORY OF MASS EXTINCTION BY JUNAUDA PETRUS-NASAH AND STEVE ACKERMAN IN 2022. BECAUSE OF IMPACTS OF THE PANDEMIC AND DESIRE TO PROVIDE ACCESS, SHOW TICKETS WERE OFFERED FOR FREE OR 'PAY WHAT YOU CAN' FOR THE ENTIRE TWO, EXTENDED WEEKEND PERFORMANCE RUNS. ALL PERFORMANCES WERE GENERALLY WELL ATTENDED. ARTIST NEGOTIATIONS AND OTHER WORK CONTINUED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPET LIBRARY, FOCUSED ON AN EARLY 2023 OPENING, IN CONSIDERATION OF RENOVATION WORK THROUGHOUT THE AVALON THEATER-HOME OF HEART OF THE BEAST.

OUTREACH AND EDUCATION: HOBT SHARES THE POWER OF PUPPETRY AND MASK PERFORMANCE WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS THROUGH RESIDENCIES, COMMISSIONED WORKS, COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND PERFORMANCES. DUE TO COVID-19, EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS WERE SEVERELY LIMITED. HOBT TRANSITIONED TO OFFERING VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING. HEART OF THE BEAST LAUNCHED CARE WORK WORKSHOPS BASED ON LEAH LAKSHMI PIEPZNA-SAMARASINHA'S CARE WORK: DREAMING DISABILITY JUSTICE AND CENTERED AROUND REALIZING DISABILITY JUSTICE, JOYFUL ACCESSIBILITY, AND COMMUNITY. OFFERED ON ZOOM, EACH WORKSHOP INCLUDED DISCUSSIONS OF THE BOOK ALONG WITH A PARTICIPATORY ART ACTIVITY LED BY TEACHING ARTISTS. THE FINAL WORKSHOP IN THE SERIES FEATURED A PANEL OF GUEST SPEAKERS. ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING THROUGH STAFF AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT POSITIONED HOBT FOR EXPANDING EDUCATION PROGRAM REQUESTS FROM SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES AND OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS AS THE PANDEMIC WANED.