[NEohioPAL]CPT issues call for Artists to submit proposals for upcoming Big [BOX] series

Mon Apr 7 14:27:40 PDT 2003

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Cleveland Public Theatre

Big [BOX]

“America is a big box full of surprises.”  Simone De Beauvoir

CPT is requesting submissions from artists wishing to participate in the
2003-04 Big [BOX] Series by May 31, 2003.  Interested? Read on...

Big [BOX] is a response to the times and where we are as artists, audiences
and an arts organization.  The world seems to change in unsettling ways by
the hour – from the Middle East to 55(!) suicidal whales washing up on the
beach at Cape Cod. Things aren’t good. Truly, nothing is certain. Of course
the arts are always the first to respond to seismic global and cultural
shifts.  Unfortunately we’re also the first to take the hit when the economy
goes south.  We don’t have enough resources in the best of times, and make
do with very little.  Now once again we find ourselves soldiering on through
yet another hard time, sweating every financial decision.  But a bad economy
doesn’t stop art from being created. It just makes it more difficult to find
the support necessary to fully realize it.  Since we have weathered all of
this before we’re all pretty savvy about employing the little resources we
do have.  And although things are tough again, we are prepared to do our
part in making sure that artists have a stage.

CPT is once more of a hotbed of activity with all sorts of things happening
all the time.  This is the dynamic that makes the place so different and
important.  The past several seasons have been ones of change as we worked
to reestablish CPT in the eyes of both the artists and the public.  Artists
need more than a rough and tumble experience trying to do their work here
and audiences have grown much more sophisticated and demanding.  So we
raised the bar for both artistic support and quality of work.  It has proven
successful.  But, in moving the theatre toward a higher-grade artistic
product we risked losing the sense of immediacy and reckless danger that new
work in process can bring. We also risked the impression that we are a
closed shop and there is no room for the artist that wants to experiment.
We want to dispel that.  So, we’ve opened the doors in order to mix it up a
little.  We don’t have much money, but we know how to use the resources we
have.

To that end we have created a series called Big [BOX].  Six weeks of the
2003-04 season are set aside for new artist initiated works. Big [BOX] is
about whatever the artist wants to focus on.  The curating involved is in
the selection of the artist not necessarily the art. Each artist will have a
slot to do his or her work in a low-key public performance.  We open the
doors, give them a key, show them how to turn on the lights, and let them
experiment. Aside from getting a sense of the artist’s point of view and
intent, we pretty much get out of the way.  We want the artist to feel free
to create without the pressure of oversight and the imposition of the
particulars of our artistic vision and sensibilities.  We’re available if
they need us, and invisible if they don’t. We don’t attend auditions or
rehearsals or design meetings. We let the artist chart their own course,
make their own decisions, take their own risks.

How Big [BOX] Works

Each artist gets the second floor space for one week, Monday through Sunday.
Performances will be Fridays, Saturdays at 8:00 and Sundays at 3:00. We may
try to do a late night of a different show on Saturdays involving other
artists.

The space will be set up with a rep lighting plot suitable for theatre and
dance.  Each artist will have a few specials that can be moved around for
their particular needs, but the lighting plot must remain intact.  Color may
be changed.

This is not about huge production values. It is more about the performance.
The artist shouldn’t get too caught up in elaborate plans because they don’t
have much time in the space. But don’t confuse minimalism and
resourcefulness with lack of style and quality.  We ask that all set pieces
be portable in case the show needs to be struck to make the stage available
for a late night performance.

When possible, we will try to find rehearsal space at CPT. This is very
tricky because of our performance schedule, so there are no guarantees.

When thinking about a project an artist may want to place it in an
environment somewhere around the complex other than the theatre.  This is
fine, but we should discuss the possibilities.  There are a lot of factors
that weigh in – like public safety.

Each artist will be provided a budget of $300 toward his or her expenses.
The net box office receipts will be split 50/50 after that $300 has been
recovered.

Although we will produce a direct mail piece advertising all of the artists,
it is up to the individual artist to promote his or her own show.  We will
send out a press release for listings only.  Since the work being done is in
development, there will be no critics invited.  Should an individual artist
feel their work is ready for the scrutiny of a reviewer we will be happy to
try and accommodate them.

There will be a Big [BOX] coordinator, board operator, box office and house
staff, but it is up to each artist to provide their own artistic
collaborators.

What Happens Next?  If we like the work there is a chance, not a promise,
that we will offer a production opportunity in the following season.  This
is a chance for us to get to know an artist’s work or new work by artists we
know.

I am sure we will be as surprised as the artist when we see the finished
product.  Will it change the theatre as we know it and we’ll all never be
the same?  It’s possible.  It’s also possible that it might not work at all.
Success or failure is beside the point. We find the greatest satisfaction in
the process of experimentation and in providing support without restraint.
We hope that in the scope of the artist’s entire career, this proves to be
valuable moment.  We know it is for us.

If you would like to be considered for the 2003-04 Big [BOX] Series you can
request an application at Artistic at cptonline.org.

Randy Rollison, Artistic Director

Jeff Syroney
Director of Marketing and Public Relations
Cleveland Public Theatre
216.631.2727 ext. 203
jsyroney at cptonline.org
www.cptonline.org

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<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 24pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Cleveland=20
Public Theatre<?xml:namespace prefix =3D o ns =3D=20
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" =
/><o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 24pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Big=20
[BOX]<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">=93America is=20
a big box full of surprises.=94 =20
Simone De Beauvoir<o:p></o:p>
 
 
CPT is=20
requesting submissions from artists wishing to participate in the =
2003-04 Big=20
[BOX] Series by May 31, 2003.  Interested? Read on...
<FONT=20
face=3DArial> 
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Berlin Sans FB Demi'">Big =
[BOX] is a=20
response to the times and where we are as artists, audiences and an arts =

organization.  The world =
seems to=20
change in unsettling ways by the hour =96 from the Middle East to 55(!) =
suicidal=20
whales washing up on the beach at Cape Cod. Things aren=92t good. Truly, =
nothing=20
is certain. Of course the arts are always the first to respond to =
seismic global=20
and cultural shifts.  =
Unfortunately=20
we=92re also the first to take the hit when the economy goes south.<SPAN =

style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  We don=92t have enough =
resources in the=20
best of times, and make do with very little.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  Now once again we find =
ourselves=20
soldiering on through yet another hard time, sweating every financial=20
decision.  But a bad =
economy doesn=92t=20
stop art from being created. It just makes it more difficult to find the =
support=20
necessary to fully realize it. =20
Since we have weathered all of this before we=92re all pretty =
savvy about=20
employing the little resources we do have. =20
And although things are tough again, we are prepared to do our =
part in=20
making sure that artists have a stage. <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Berlin Sans FB Demi'"><FONT=20
face=3DArial> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Berlin Sans FB Demi'">CPT is =
once more of=20
a hotbed of activity with all sorts of things happening all the =
time.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  This is the dynamic that makes =
the place=20
so different and important.  =
The=20
past several seasons have been ones of change as we worked to =
reestablish CPT in=20
the eyes of both the artists and the public.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  Artists need more than a rough =
and=20
tumble experience trying to do their work here and audiences have grown =
much=20
more sophisticated and demanding. =20
So we raised the bar for both artistic support and quality of =
work.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  It has proven successful.<SPAN =

style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  But, in moving the theatre =
toward a=20
higher-grade artistic product we risked losing the sense of immediacy =
and=20
reckless danger that new work in process can bring. We also risked the=20
impression that we are a closed shop and there is no room for the artist =
that=20
wants to experiment.  We =
want to=20
dispel that.  So, we=92ve =
opened the=20
doors in order to mix it up a little. =20
We don=92t have much money, but we know how to use the resources =
we=20
have.<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Berlin Sans FB Demi'"><FONT=20
face=3DArial> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Berlin Sans FB Demi'">To that =
end we have=20
created a series called Big [BOX]. =20
Six weeks of the 2003-04 season are set aside for new artist =
initiated=20
works. Big [BOX] is about whatever the artist wants to focus on.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  The curating involved is in =
the=20
selection of the artist not necessarily the art. Each artist will have a =
slot to=20
do his or her work in a low-key public performance.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  We open the doors, give them a =
key, show=20
them how to turn on the lights, and let them experiment. Aside from =
getting a=20
sense of the artist=92s point of view and intent, we pretty much get out =
of the=20
way.  We want the artist =
to feel=20
free to create without the pressure of oversight and the imposition of =
the=20
particulars of our artistic vision and sensibilities.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  We=92re available if they need =
us, and=20
invisible if they don=92t. We don=92t attend auditions or rehearsals or =
design=20
meetings. We let the artist chart their own course, make their own =
decisions,=20
take their own risks. =20
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Berlin Sans FB Demi'"><FONT=20
face=3DArial> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Berlin Sans FB Demi'">How Big =
[BOX]=20
Works<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Berlin Sans FB Demi'"><FONT=20
face=3DArial> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Berlin Sans FB Demi'">Each =
artist gets the=20
second floor space for one week, Monday through Sunday. Performances =
will be=20
Fridays, Saturdays at 8:00 and Sundays at 3:00. We may try to do a late =
night of=20
a different show on Saturdays involving other=20
artists.<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Berlin Sans FB Demi'"><FONT=20
face=3DArial> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Berlin Sans FB Demi'">The =
space will be=20
set up with a rep lighting plot suitable for theatre and dance.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  Each artist will have a few =
specials=20
that can be moved around for their particular needs, but the lighting =
plot must=20
remain intact.  Color may =
be=20
changed.<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Berlin Sans FB Demi'"><FONT=20
face=3DArial> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Berlin Sans FB Demi'">This is =
not about=20
huge production values. It is more about the performance.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  The artist shouldn=92t get too =
caught up=20
in elaborate plans because they don=92t have much time in the space. But =
don=92t=20
confuse minimalism and resourcefulness with lack of style and =
quality.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  We ask that all set pieces be =
portable=20
in case the show needs to be struck to make the stage available for a =
late night=20
performance. <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Berlin Sans FB Demi'"><FONT=20
face=3DArial> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Berlin Sans FB Demi'">When =
possible, we=20
will try to find rehearsal space at CPT. This is very tricky because of =
our=20
performance schedule, so there are no guarantees.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Berlin Sans FB Demi'"><FONT=20
face=3DArial> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Berlin Sans FB Demi'">When =
thinking about=20
a project an artist may want to place it in an environment somewhere =
around the=20
complex other than the theatre. =20
This is fine, but we should discuss the possibilities.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  There are a lot of factors =
that weigh in=20
=96 like public safety.<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Berlin Sans FB Demi'"><FONT=20
face=3DArial> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Berlin Sans FB Demi'">Each =
artist will be=20
provided a budget of $300 toward his or her expenses.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  The net box office receipts =
will be=20
split 50/50 after that $300 has been recovered.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Berlin Sans FB Demi'"><FONT=20
face=3DArial> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Berlin Sans FB Demi'">Although =
we will=20
produce a direct mail piece advertising all of the artists, it is up to =
the=20
individual artist to promote his or her own show.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  We will send out a press =
release for=20
listings only.  Since the =
work being=20
done is in development, there will be no critics invited.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  Should an individual artist =
feel their=20
work is ready for the scrutiny of a reviewer we will be happy to try and =

accommodate them. =20
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Berlin Sans FB Demi'"><FONT=20
face=3DArial> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Berlin Sans FB Demi'">There =
will be a Big=20
[BOX] coordinator, board operator, box office and house staff, but it is =
up to=20
each artist to provide their own artistic=20
collaborators.<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Berlin Sans FB Demi'"><FONT=20
face=3DArial> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Berlin Sans FB Demi'">What =
Happens=20
Next?  If we like the work =
there is=20
a chance, not a promise, that we will offer a production opportunity in =
the=20
following season.  This is =
a chance=20
for us to get to know an artist=92s work or new work by artists we =
know.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Berlin Sans FB Demi'"><FONT=20
face=3DArial> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Berlin Sans FB Demi'">I am =
sure we will be=20
as surprised as the artist when we see the finished product. <SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes"> Will it change the theatre as =
we know it=20
and we=92ll all never be the same? =20
It=92s possible.  =
It=92s also=20
possible that it might not work at all. Success or failure is beside the =
point.=20
We find the greatest satisfaction in the process of experimentation and =
in=20
providing support without restraint. We hope that in the scope of the =
artist=92s=20
entire career, this proves to be valuable moment.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">  We know it is for us.<SPAN=20
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">   =
<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Berlin Sans FB Demi'"><FONT=20
face=3DArial> <o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Berlin Sans FB Demi'">If you =
would like to=20
be considered for the 2003-04 Big [BOX] Series you can request an =
application at=20
<A href=3D"mailto:Artistic at cptonline.org"><FONT=20
face=3DArial>Artistic at cptonline.org</A><FONT=20
face=3DArial>.<o:p></o:p>
<SPAN=20
style=3D"FONT-FAMILY: 'Berlin Sans FB Demi'"><FONT=20
face=3DArial> <o:p></o:p><SPAN =

style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Berlin Sans FB Demi'; =
mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times =
New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; =
mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Randy=20
Rollison, Artistic Director</SPAN><BR></FONT><BR>
<P><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Jeff Syroney<BR>Director of Marketing and =
Public=20
Relations<BR>Cleveland Public Theatre<BR>216.631.2727 ext.=20
203<BR>jsyroney at cptonline.org<BR>www.cptonline.org</FONT> =
</P></BODY></HTML>

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