A2SF 2022 Annual Report

2022 ANNUAL REPORT

HAPPINESS, EVERYWHERE.

Interactive sculptures, created by Mark Tucker, as part of University of Michigan Museum of Art’s (UMMA) Feel Good Friday event in The Annex.

WHO WE ARE

21 DAYS 87,000 PEOPLE 200 EVENTS

At the Ann Arbor Summer Festival, we champion performing arts, outdoor entertainment, and community spirit. In addition to a nearly four-week festival each June that attracts a diverse audience of over 87,000 people and offers over 200 concerts, art exhibitions, family-friendly activities, spectacles, and film screenings, A2SF presents the best in live experience throughout the year.

As an internationally recognized, multi-disciplinary arts festival, we have helped solidify Ann Arbor’s reputation as a major arts destination. We are among the biggest outdoor festivals of our kind in the state and employ almost 400 Michigan artists. We provide more than a safe, fun, barrier-free, affordable, and entertaining way to spend a summer evening. Many families who have attended for generations benefit from our youth programs and educational outreach regard the festival as a family tradition.

A2SF is a major year-round cultural leader in Washtenaw County. We are an economic engine in Southeastern Michigan, providing performance and employment opportunities to Michiganders, including many young adults whose first job or internship is with A2SF.

This year, we reemerged to reunite, connect, and engage with our community.

MISSION

A2SF’s mission is to present arts and entertainment that enrich the cultural, economic, and social vitality of the region.

VISION

We are an enduring local treasure, a hub of creative energy that expresses the best of our communities.

CORE VALUES

Excellence: We create relevant experiences that are meaningful, exciting, and inspiring, reflecting the times in which we live.

Engagement: We interact deeply with the diverse array of local communities.

Inclusion: We present a multitude of artistic expressions so that all feel welcome and heard.

Thank you, fellow community members, for all you did to make this year successful. Our annual summer season is an important connection point for many in Washtenaw County.

Our reunion at Top of the Park was especially pronounced this year as we re-emerged for the first time since 2019. Whether our paths crossed there or we experienced a concert together in a park in Ypsilanti or Ann Arbor, it was rewarding to share this summer with you. Nearly 200 events featured tremendous talent and creativity from the region, bringing hope as we enter a new phase of the coronavirus pandemic.

In 2023, we will celebrate our 40th season and unveil exciting plans for the organization’s future. Please enjoy some of the highlights included in our annual report, and thank you for your continued investment in A2SF. Please stay in touch.

MIKE MICHELON

DR. CHARLES ELLIS

Executive Director, Ann Arbor Summer Festival

Board Chair, Ann Arbor Summer Festival

REEMERGENCE

slapslap performing on the O&W Grove Stage at Top of the Park in 2022.

One of the biggest challenges of the past two years was presenting indoor shows. We were happy to return to the Power Center in 2022 with one of our perennial favorites, Portlandbased Pink Martini featuring China Forbes. Pink Martini has performed its multilingual repertoire on stages worldwide and mesmerized our nearly sold-out audience with elegant arrangements combining Latin, jazz, and cabaret styles into stimulating retro-pop ensembles.

“Some of my favorite summer memories are of special times shared with family and friends at the Ann Arbor Summer Festival. When Pink Martini returned to the Power Center stage this year, our community finally gathered together again for a fabulous evening of live music. Encore after encore, with the audience dancing in the aisles, it was a magical experience.”

Patricia Garcia Former A2SF Board Member

Circus is part of our DNA, and as specialists in outdoor performance and spectacle, we pride ourselves on our unique position to gather mass crowds for awe-inspiring wonders. Young generations become fans when they discover time-honored acts in an accessible environment. We were thrilled to re-emerge from our two-year hiatus with the classic art form strong as ever. This year, we presented two delightful performers at Top of the Park. World Champion circus performer Bobby Cookson’s Simple featured juggling and a Cyr wheel act about the inherent complexity in the concept of simplicity with the softness and power of circus technique. On the other extreme, Rolla Bolla master Jonathan Rinny thrilled our audiences with what is considered one of the most challenging and dangerous acts to master.

Bobby Cookson performing Simple on Ingalls Mall.

REUNION & CONNECTION

2022 Annual Report

Shake Steady performing on the Rackham Stage at Top of the Park in 2022.

One of the most exciting moments of reconnection this past year was through A Thousand Ways by Brooklyn-based experimental theater company 600 Highwaymen. A2SF presented part one, A Phone Call, with the University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA) in October 2021, and we returned in March and April 2022 with part two of the three-part series, An Encounter, live and in-person in the museum’s Stenn Gallery. Through both parts, audience members took a journey with a stranger that required cooperation and trust to manifest a profound connection with this other person. It was a perfect opportunity for individuals to discover live art once again after being separated for so long.

Photos taken by Jacob Hamilton from Mlive.

Athletic Mic League performed for the first time in twenty years on the Rackham Stage at Top of the Park in 2022.

“It felt amazing to be back on stage with my AML brothers. And the crowd and reception was beyond what we could’ve asked for. It was only right that we did it at Top of the Park, coinciding with its return. It was great to have that community staple back in action.”

Jamall Bufford Rapper, Athletic Mic League

Thrilling features of any season at Top of the Park are our immersive and interactive spectacle offerings. True to form, our 2022 entry included an art installation only enjoyed through audience interaction.

We partnered with the Ann Arbor District Library (AADL) to offer Canopy by Pneuhaus and Bike Powered Events for five nights at Top of the Park. Participants powered a grove of illuminated treelike sculptures that continuously transformed, glowed, and expanded, giving them first-hand experience of green electricity generation. As Canopy’s players pedaled and saw their efforts transformed into large-scale beauty, they amazed themselves and the people around them.

ENGAGEMENT

Young audience members enjoying a Kids Rock performance at Top of the Park in 2022.

Live Here Now is the cornerstone of our outreach programming, bringing music and the arts to neighborhood parks. We focus on affordable housing communities through partnerships with local government and non-profit organizations in the Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor area. Originally an adaptation of our canceled traditional programming in 2021, Live Here Now is now a regular series that leads up to Top of the Park.

PARTNERS

Amplify Washtenaw

Ann Arbor Housing Commission

Ann Arbor / Ypsilanti Regional Chamber

City of Ann Arbor Office of Sustainability and Innovations

Community Action Network

Friends of Rutherford Pool

Live Zero Waste

Peace Neighborhood Center

Superior Township Parks and Recreation

University of Michigan Office of Campus Sustainability

Ypsilanti Community Schools

Ypsilanti District Library

Ypsilanti Township

FOUNDING PARTNERS

Our return to Top of the Park revived dozens of partnerships with other local organizations to shape up our educational workshops and classes in KidZone, Annex, and Retreat. We also added performances to KidZone, including Drag Queen Storytelling, Room 1078 storytelling with chamber music, and Black Men Read, a partnership with Ann Arbor bookstore Booksweet. In the Annex, we featured music and special talks featuring the Ann Arbor District Library, Neutral Zone, and Vibes with the Tribes, a Detroit-based Native American organization. Both Vibes with the Tribes and the Garba360 event offered cultural cuisine tastings. The latter overlapped with a Retreat class that taught the traditional Gujarati Indian folk dance, which climaxed with an interactive performance on the Rackham Stage.

Drag Queen Storytelling featuring Jadein Black at Kidzone.

Being Gujarati, myself, I was both excited and proud to see Garba360 on the A2SF docket. Considering the state of Gujarat and its culture are not that well known here in the U.S., it was such a pleasant surprise! The entire experience (Garba lesson, Gujarati food tasting, capped off by a live performance on the main stage) was so authentic and immersive. My family and I really enjoyed the entire evening. Thank you, A2SF, for bringing Gujarati culture to Ann Arbor.”

Vinal Desai Burbeck, Ann Arbor resident

NEIGHBORS, FRIENDS, NEW CONNECTIONS

THANK YOU DONORS

LEGACY CIRCLE

A2SF’s Legacy Circle recognizes individuals whose planned gifts help sustain A2SF programs in perpetuity and impact generations to come.

Bette and Alan Cotzin

Darla and Michael Dubin

Julie G. and Dr. Charles N. Ellis

Zita and Wayne Gillis

Jane Hassinger and Marvin G. Parnes

Constance and Thomas C. Kinnear

Wendy and Ted Lawrence

Betsy Y. Mark

Rachelle and Mike Michelon

Dana Muir and Tracy Grogan

Ines and Eric Storhok

Colleen A. Vance and William T. Price

March Walker

Amy and Robb Woulfe

We extend our sincere gratitude to the individuals, families, and foundations who have helped to sustain the mission of A2SF. This list reflects donors whose gifts received between 2/1/2021 and 2/1/2022. Donor recognition is provided for gifts of $50 or more during the A2SF season following the calendar year in which your gift was made. If your name was omitted or is appearing in error, we sincerely apologize. If you’d like to report changes or make corrections to our listing, please contact our development office at (734) 707-4961.

LUMINARY $10,000+

Anonymous

City of Ann Arbor

Michigan Arts & Culture Council

Molloy Foundation

University of Michigan

VISIONARY $5,000 – $9,999

Anonymous

Cheryl Barget

Louise and Andrew Chang

Anne Cooper

Wendy and Ted Lawrence

Sri & Meera

Erin McKean and Steve Sullivan

Ann Meredith

The Serras Family

ADVOCATE $2,500 – $4,999

Ann and Hal Davis

Charles and Julie Ellis

Jackie and John Farah

Connie and Tom Kinnear

Martin Family Foundation

Dana Muir and Tracy Grogan

Katie and Jeff Reece

Rosalie Edwards Vibrant Ann

Arbor Fund

Laurie and Tim Wadhams

LEADER $1,000 – $2,499

Anonymous

Sue and Larry Adler

Ann and Steve Arbaugh

Marty A. Betts and Guillermo Flores

Nancy Brennan and Bradley Cross

Jennifer and Larry Coates

Martha Darling and Gilbert Omenn

Karen and David Dickenson

Cynthia and Andrzej Dlugosz

Jillian Downey and Elph Morgan

Sandy and David Eyl

Shari and Dan Fisher

Lynette Findley*

Maureen Foley and John Blankley

Zita and Wayne Gillis

Bonnie and Larry Hagerty

Holly Hein and Steven Fisher

Marlene and Chen Hsing Hsu

Illuminatus Lasers

Elizabeth and Rick Jarzembowski*

Lettie Kempf

Ed Kimball

Deborah Ladenheim and David Barnes

Francine Lafontaine and Robert Picard

Jean Lawton and James Ellis

Kathy Legatski

Betsy Yvonne Mark

Candice and Andrew Mitchell

Cindy A. and John Nixon

Gloria and Rick O’Neill

Deborah Paul-McDonald and Kevin McDonald

Perry Pernicano

Bonnie Reece

Veronica and Sanjay Saint

Peter and Annette Schork

Frances and Scott Simonds

Nancy and James Stanley

Ines and Eric Storhok

The Jensen Foundation

Karen Yamada and Gary Dolce

ENTHUSIAST

Anonymous

Anonymous

$500 – $999

In memory of Joan Boyle

Debra Aidun

Ellen and Gaard Arneson

Lois and David Baru

Drs. Alma and Karson Carpenter

Bette and Alan Cotzin

Judy and Steve Dobson

Karen Gallup

Maureen and David Ginsburg

Barb and Mitch Goodkin

Jane Hassinger and Marvin G. Parnes

Barbara and Robert Hooberman

Colleen and Jim Hume

Shari and Paullin Kennett

Kathleen DeSantis Klinich and and George Klinich

Sue and Blake Lancaster

In memory of Laura E. Lancaster

Judie and Jerry Lax

Anne and Harvey Leo

Jean and Jim Libs

Pamela and Michael Marcovitz

Martha McClatchey

Rachelle and Mike Michelon

Myra and Rich Klarman

Drs. Kristin and Paul Nickodemus

Betsy and Ken Nisbet

O&W, Inc

Lisa Patrell and Joseph Fazio

Lisa and John Paul

Pelz Charitable Lead Trust

Katie Richards-Schuster and Tim Schuster

Ingrid and Cliff Sheldon

George and Nancy Sloan

Jane and Paul Thielking

Ilene and Norman Tyler

Marianne Udow-Phillips

Carolyn and Jack Wallace

Jack Weidenbach

PATRON $250 – $499

Anonymous

The Carcassi Family

Carol Amster

Margaret and Rick Anderson

Tim Athan

Christie and John U. Bacon

Bivouac

Betsy and Steve Bloom

Nicole Brittis and Randall Sung

Cecile Burbridge and Richard Bowerman

Connie and Dennis Burke

Mary Cambruzzi

Ilene Carter

Judy and Joe Cox

Amal and Gregory Dalack

Justin Danner

Jane Deng

Jill and David Esau

Martina Harmon Ezekiel and Daniel Ezekiel

Lynette Findley

Nancy Firestone and Martin Forchheimer

Stephanie and Tim Freeth

Linda and Larry French

Joyce and Steve Gerber

Sandra Gregerman

Ann and Steve Guttman

Lauren Benson Hamerink

Jane and Daniel Hayes

Carolynn and Jim Hayman

Deb and Eric Helber

Kerin A. Jones

Barb and Lenny Kafka

Leah and Paul Kileny

Laura and Jim Kosteva

Laura Kufman and Andrew Czapp

Michele Leshan and Steve Rubenstein

Betty and Dr. Len Lofstrom

Susan McClanahan and Bill Zimmerman

Arthur S. Nusbaum

Susan and Mark Orringer

Diana Raimi and John Dryden

Linda and Roger Rayle

Mary Lou and Steve Rudner

Emily and John Salvette

Kimm Sarosi

Rosalyn Sarver and Stephen Rosenblum

Diane Scarpace

Carissa and Taylor Smith

Cheryl Speers and John Kurtz

Jeff Spindler

Suzanne Tainter and Kenneth Boyer

UBS

Vickie and Richard Van House

Colleen Vance and William Price

Kit Wanty Lambert and Adam Lambert

Deborah and Mike Weber

Gail and Scott Weber

Susan and Neal Weinberg

Sandi and Jeffrey Weintraub

Karen Westphal

Julie Wheaton

Daniela Wittman and Jonathan Cohn

Stella and Pete Wixom

Martha and Eric Young

In memory of Dr. Rick Schwartz

Dave Zarembka and Brad Burke

SUPPORTER $100 – $249

Anonymous

Ruth Addis and Marj Schloff

Julie Allison-Conlin and Robert Conlin

Becky Altschuler

Lori and David Antonetti

Monica and Dan Atkins

Carolyn Autrey-Hunley

Pat Bantle

Gerri Barr and Tom Egel

Lisa and Scott Belanger

Christine and Herbert Black

In memory of Burt Black

Tori Booker

Kim Borregard

Victoria Botek and William Edwards

Michele Bracy

Christy Briggs and James Carter

Alan Brown

Meg Burke

Ilene Calfin and Michael Jorissen

Alex Cao

Jenny and James Carpenter

Susanne and Paul Cartman

A. Craig Cattell

Lana and Alfred Chang

Anne Chase

Billie Ochberg and Sandro Cinti

Joyce and William Connett

Richard Cooper

John Copley

Anne Curzan

Judi and Ed Davidson

The Dechert Family

Audrey and Paul DiMarzo

Sharon and Dallas Dort

Joyce and James Driscoll

Robbi Duda and Larry Junck

Jen Eastridge and Duke Potts

Barbara Eichmuller

Sara and Michael Frank

Robert French

Robyn Frey and Lawrence King

In honor of Mary Frey

Marcia and Leon Friedman

Osnat and Greg Gafni-Pappas

Tom Gibney

Mona and Edward Goldman

Lee Gorman and Mark Ritz

Natalie and Lonnie Grantham

Martha and Larry Gray

Victoria Green and Matthew Toschlog

Linda and Mel Grieshaber

June and David Griffenhagen

David Haffey

Babette and Randy Haken

Heidi Hart*

Jan and Dave Hartmann

In honor of Connie Kinnear

Paula and Will Hathaway

Holly Heaviland and Craig Hausman

Gloria Helfand and Harvey Michaels

John Hilton

Jeri S. Hollister and Tom Bray

Kay Holsinger and Douglas C. Wood

Carol and Ken Hovey

Connie Huber and Gordon White

Kristen and Bradley Johnson

Sharon and Jack Kalbfleisch

Sally Kennedy

Aaron King

Mabelle and Jim Kirk

Shira and Steven Klein

Eileen and David Knesper

Marie Knoerl

Rosalie and Ron Koenig

Elaine and Mark Kopka

Lois and Ken Kramer

Judith and Robert Kullberg

In memory of Dr. Samuel J. Eldersveld

Lawrence La Fountain-Stokes

Theresa and Scott Lempka

Carolyn and Paul Lichter

Katherine and Terence Loh

Anne Lyke and Mark Fitzgerald

Marcia Major and Bill Burnham

Anne Marsan and Matt Castanier

W. Harry Marsden

Terri and Greg Maxwell

Therese Maxwell

Timothy E. Richards* and Constance S. McGuire

Michael McIntyre

Maureen and Jeff McMahon

William and Gitanjli McRoy

Miriam Meisler

Gayle and Michael Michelon

In honor of Louis H. Michelon

Brian Mielewski

Robert Mowry

Matt Naud and Mary Harrington

Marie and Daniel Neaton

Sharon and Chuck Newman

Nancy Niemela and Orest Mykolenko

Renee Nilan

Glenina and Michael Nolte

Beverly Ostrowiecki and Raymond Siciak

Cecilia and Al Paas

Beth and Todd Pascoe

Deborah Peery and Douglas Harris

Martine Perreault and Tim Chupp and Family

Stephen R. Perrin

Dr. Lori Pierce and T. Anthony Denton

Mary Ann and Robert Pierce

Deb and Joe Purcell

Beth and Lou Quillen

Cathy and Scott Reisfield

Mark Ricoy

Natalie Robbins

Ricardo Rodriguiz

Helen and David Rosenfeld

Suzy and Jim Royce

Marge and Glen Rutila

Carole and Mitchell Rycus

Lucille and Jose Santiago

Norma and Dick Sarns

Maya Savarino

In memory of Stephanie Lord

Helga and Jochen Schacht

Suzanne Schluederberg and John Lesko, Jr.

Mary and Art Schuman

Melisa Schuster

Pamela Schwartz

Amy Seetoo and Stuart Baggaley

Janet Shatusky

Jean and Thomas Shope

Cheryl Sibilsky

Carolyn Siebers and Marie Vitale

Elizabeth Silver and William Crawforth

Donna and Stuart Snyder

Becki Spangler and Peyton Bland

Stanley Black & Decker

Janet Starr

Heather Steenrod

Anna Stefanopoulou and James Freudenberg

Karen and Ralph Stern

Bobbie Stoermer

Cynthia Straub

Natalie and Edward Surovell

Ann and Phil Surratt

Denise Thal and David Scobey

Madeline and Steve Thiry

Linda Tubbs

Barbara and John Tucker

Dietmar Wagner

In memory of Mimi Chapman

Susan and Doug Weber

Lisa and James Weidenbach

Jacki and David Weisman

Lois Weisman

Mark Wine

Noel and Chris Winkler

I.W. Winsten

Pam and Bill Wood

Linda Yohn and William Labedzki

Kathy York and Scott Masten

Brad Zebrack and Joanne Kelleher

FAN $50 – $99

Anonymous

Mary Banks and Galen Wood

Katherine Bates

Rajeev Batra

Terese and Corey Bertcher

Jennifer Boes

Anne and Deron Brod

Lorin Burgess

Stephanie Buttrey and Andy Overmire

Teresa Casey and Jeff Holden

Alice and Albert Chambers

Karen Crawford and Bill Welch

Mike Creech

Judith Daltuva

Sharon and Michael Darga

Heidi and John Dodson

Annemarie and Paul Dolan

Barbara Duncan

Tammi C Ebenhoeh

Ann S. Epstein

Diane and David Ferguson

Pamela Fons and William Marlatt

Marilyn Frye

Sharon Gold-Steinberg and Michael Steinberg

Mary Sue Grant

Linda Greene

Linda Grekin

Susan Guszynski and Gregory Mazure

Ann and Steve Guttman

Myrna Hadwick

Paula Hencken and George Collins

John Hile

Barbara Israel and Richard Pipan

Ann Marie and Erich Jensen

Jason Kahn

Colleen Kapp

Michelle and Michael Kaucheck

Edie Kieffer

Arlene Kindel

Robert LaJeunesse

Barbara Lamar and Terry Adams

Shoshannah Lenski

Kris and Scott Maly

Gabriela McCubbrey

Daniel McShan

Lisa and Mike Monahan

Benjamin Taub and Jane Monto

Jon Okey

Mark Quint

Michael Reade

Sandra Regiani

Adam Richter

Daniel Romanchik

Marianne Rzepka

Karyn and David Sager

Deborah Salerno

Rena Seltzer and Pam Shore

Carol and Patrick Sherry

Megann and Will Smith

Ted St. Antoine

Julie Steiner

Catherine Stidwill

Jennifer Stoyenoff

Melissa Thun

Janet and Randall Torno

Barbara Underwood and David Patria

Teresa and George Voegeli

Cam Vozar

Kim Waldo

Marty Walker and Mark Hauptschein

Sarah and Dr. Edward Walton

Sheryl Weinan-Yee

Suzy Wienckowski and David Gordon

Taryn and Travis Willis

Bob and Barbara Wittersheim

Charlotte Wolfe

Angie Wolney

* Donors with an asterisk have chosen to give to A2SF on a recurring, monthly basis. This simple, yet impactful, method can be arranged with automatic withdrawals.

2022 SPONSORS

TITLE SPONSORS

SUPPORTING SPONSORS

Allergy & Immunology

Associates of Ann Arbor

AP Finance Services

Cardamom

ECO PHYSICS

Hamerink Dental

Hylant

Leon Speakers

Kapnick Insurance

LEAD SPONSORS

May Mobility

Oxford Bank

Oxford Properties

Sweetwater Brewing Co.

University of Michigan Credit Union

White Claw

Wacker Chemical Corporation

Wessinger Properties

Ypsilanti Community Schools

PREMIERE SPONSORS

ZenWTR

FOUNDING PARTNERS

MEDIA PARTNERS

BOARD, STAFF, & VOLUNTEERS

STAFF

Mike Michelon, Executive Director

James Carter, Associate Director

Heather Steenrod, Development Director

BOARD

Dr. Charles Ellis, Chair

Christie Bacon, Vice Chair

Dr. Lynette Findley, Vice Chair

Rick Jarzembowski, Secretary

Elph Morgan, Treasurer

Marvin G. Parnes, Imm. Past Chair

Joseph M. Fazio

Natalie Robbins, Marketing & Communications Manager

Honoré Washington, Administrative Assistant

Lauren Hamerink

Eric Helber

Rishi Narayan

Kit Wanty-Lambert

Taryn Willis

Stella Wixom

Over 500 enthusiastic volunteers work thousands of hours each season, serving as ushers, greeters, interns, and ambassadors. Volunteers help welcome people to our events, staff events, and help raise money.

A2SF and our entire community are grateful for these dedicated individuals and organizations who work so hard each and every year.

COMMITTEE VOLUNTEERS

Sandra Greggerman

Jenny Jones

Lawrence La FountainStokes

Wendy Lawrence

VOLUNTEER TEAMS

Comerica Bank

First Baptist Church of Ann Arbor

J.P. Morgan Chase Bank

Kapnick Insurance Group

Theresa Lempka

Ken Nisbet

Jamie Vander Broek

Rod Wallace

Reinhart Realtors North

Reinhart Realtors East

U-M Office of Campus

Sustainability

Underground Printing

Volunteer team from Underground Printing volunteering during the 2022 season.

Total cash operating budget for FY22 was $1,170,000.

INCOME EXPENSES

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CHECK OUT MORE OF WHAT WE DID THIS SEASON

Unless otherwise noted, all photography by Doug Coombe