Organization: THE GARRY MARSHALL THEATRE
Mission: TO PROVIDE PERFORMING ARTS, THEATRE AND ARTS EDUCATION ACTIVITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY.
Activities: IN SEPTEMBER 2019, WE STARTED OUR FISCAL YEAR STRIVING TO BE MORE FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE. WE MADE THE DECISION TO SHARE PRODUCING COSTS BY PARTNERING WITH LOCAL PRODUCTION COMPANIES AND INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS. IN DOING SO, OUR PLAN WAS TO HELP ARTISTS, SMALL THEATRE COMPANIES, AND PRODUCTION COMPANIES REALIZE THEIR PRODUCTION GOALS WITH OUR SUPPORT AND TRACK RECORD AS A HIGH-LEVEL PRODUCING VENUE. OUR FIRST PARTNERSHIP WAS IN THE FALL OF 2019 WITH PLAYWRIGHT JAN MILLER CORRAN. WE WORKED WITH HER PRODUCTION COMPANY TO BRING HER PLAY "THE LAST WORD" TO THE GARRY MARSHALL THEATRE FOR THREE WEEKS OF REHEARSAL AND THREE WEEKS OF PERFORMANCES. IT WAS AN EXCITING WORLD PREMIERE FOR THIS CALIFORNIA-BASED PLAYWRIGHT. PARTNERING AND CO-PRODUCING ALLOWED US TO MANAGE OUR BUDGET, AND AIDED IN SUPPORTING THE VENUE, THE COMMUNITY, ALL WHILE KEEPING A BALANCED BUDGET.FOLLOWING THE SUCCESS OF THE WORLD-PREMIERE PLAY PARTNERSHIP, WE WELCOMED OUR NEIGHBORING COMMUNITY IN FOR A SERIES OF EVENTS WE HOSTED FOR LOCAL NONPROFITS THAT NEEDED OUR HELP AND SUPPORT. THIS INCLUDED FUNDRAISING EVENTS FOR THE YOUTH NONPROFIT ENRICHMENT WORKS WHO HONORED ACTOR HECTOR ELIZONDO, FOLLOWED BY SOLD OUT PERFORMANCES OF NBC WEATHERMAN FRITZ COLEMAN'S ONE MAN SHOW, WITH PROCEEDS SUPPORTING THE TOLUCA LAKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.THE SECOND PROGRAM WE FOCUSED ON WAS OUR STORYBOOK PAGES SERIES THAT IS PART OF OUR MARSHALLARTS FAMILY PROGRAMING. THIS SERIES BRINGS OUR YOUNGER AUDIENCE AND THEIR PARENTS TOGETHER FOR EDUCATION AND STORY TELLING. WE PARTNERED WITH THE AUTHORS BRADY SMITH AND TIFFANI THIESSEN AND PRESENTED THEIR BOOK "YOU'RE MISSING IT." WE HAD A FUN-FILLED EVENT INCLUDING A SPECIAL READING, Q&A WITH THE KIDS, ART ACTIVITIES, AND A PERFORMANCE BY SPECIAL GUEST SINGER, DISNEY CHANNEL'S ANNELIESE VAN DER POL. THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, ONLINE PROMOTION AND OUR ON-SITE EVENT, HUNDREDS OF PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN WERE EXPOSED TO THE BOOK'S MESSAGE THAT SCREEN-TIME SHOULD BE LIMITED BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH TO SEE AND EXPERIENCE IN THE REAL WORLD.2020 BEGAN WITH GREATER FINANCIAL STABILITY ON THE HORIZON, WITH FUNDS IN THE BANK, MANY RENTAL COMMITMENTS, AND PLANS FOR NEW PROGRAMING JUST BEGINNING. WHEN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC FORCED US TO CLOSE OUR DOORS, WE STAYED FOCUSED AND MADE ADJUSTMENTS TO PIVOT OUR NEW WORKS FESTIVAL TO A VIRTUAL EVENT. BY SPRING OF 2020, THE THEATRE WAS COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN BY COVID-19, AND ALL BUT THREE OF OUR STAFF WERE TEMPORARILY FURLOUGHED. STILL, THE THEATRE RECEIVED OVER 325 NEW PLAY SUBMISSIONS FROM A DIVERSE GROUP OF PLAYWRIGHTS SCATTERED ACROSS THE COUNTRY. A SMALL TEAM OF FESTIVAL PRODUCERS CHOSE FIVE FINALISTS. EACH OF THE FIVE WERE PAIRED WITH NOTED DIRECTORS, ALL WOMEN OF COLOR, AND A FABULOUS CAST TO PRESENT THEIR PLAYS ONLINE TO OUR AT HOME AUDIENCE. IT WAS VERY WELL RECEIVED BY HOME-VIEWERS AND PARTICIPATING ARTISTS AND PLAYWRIGHTS ALIKE.AS THE THEATRE WAS STILL SHUT FOR LIVE PERFORMANCE AS WE CLOSED OUT THE 2020 FISCAL YEAR, WE HAVE GROWN OUR CONNECTION TO OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH OUTDOOR YOGA, AND PARTNERING WITH THE AMERICAN RED CROSS IN PLANNING A SERIES OF COVID-COMPLIANT BLOOD DRIVES TO BE HELD AT THE THEATRE, UTILIZING OUR FACILITY TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR MEDICAL FRONT LINE WORKERS.
NTEE category: Arts, Culture & Humanities
Secondary category: Community Improvement & Capacity Building