REVIEWINYEARA 2021/22
2 A Letter from Ronee and David........…....3 Who We Are…………………………….............4 A Year in the Theater…….............…….......6 A Year in the Cinema……….............….......8 A Year in Civic Engagement.…………......10 Artists in Residence...........................…..12 21/22 By the Numbers….……………......…13 Our Supporters………………………….........14 From our ArtsEmerson staff, thank you for making our 2021-22 season possible. To view a full list of our team members, please click here. OUR TEAM David C. Howse Executive Director TABLE CONTENTSOF 2
While these past couple of years have tested us in ways we never could have foreseen, our commitment to our mission and our values never wavered. Amidst continued uncertainty in the world and thanks to the efforts of our team, this year we hosted six in-per son shows, three digital theatre pieces, virtual and in person film screenings, Play Reading Book Clubs, public dialogue, and a Welcome to Boston. We returned to our stages and screening room, thrilled to finally get back to sharing these much needed experiences together. We also continued to make strides on our digital programming learnings from the pandemic, showcasing virtual theatre pieces from groundbreaking artists and expanding our audience reach.
All of this is thanks to you. Through continued disruptions and unknowns, your support and engagement kept us going. We are incredibly proud to share the im pact of our work from this past year. We hope you see how this work is critical to illuminating the contemporary moment and is serving the community we hold dear. As we look ahead, our commitment to uplifting artists and stories that reflect the world we want to see continues. In a world and a country that is ever changing–there will certainly be more disruptions ahead, but our commitment to telling these stories remains and our commitment to our city remains. We look forward to telling these stories with you.
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David C. Howse Ronee Penoi Executive Director Director of Artistic Programming
Since its founding, ArtsEmerson has pushed the boundaries of theater in Boston–expanding whose stories get told and showcasing art from all across the globe that inspires and deepens our connection to one another. Through our work, we are committed to fostering civic transformation around racial justice, and igniting much needed conversation around our world’s most pressing issues. This has always been our mis sion and is at the heart of everything we do.
“This moment underscores the power of human connection and belonging. Our commitment to your and to ourselves is to always strive for stories that allow us to connect more deeply to ourselves and to each other.” –David Howse and Ronee Penoi on returning to live theater with …(iphigenia) AREWEWHO 4
Vision A thriving world where art ignites empathy for ourselves and each other. Our History
Mission We engage all communities through stories that reveal and deepen our connection to each other. By cultivating diversity in the art and in the audience, we ignite public conversation around our most vexing societal challenges as a catalyst for overcoming them.
ArtsEmerson is the professional presenting and producing organization of the Office of the Arts at Emerson College. Founded by Robert J. Orchard in 2010, the year the US Census confirmed there was no single cultural majority in Boston, we committed to building a cultural institution that reflects the diversity of our city. We operate from the core belief that the arts are for everyone. By “putting the world on stage” ArtsEmerson quickly established a reputation for presenting outstanding work from around the globe — work that emanates from the language of theater, yet pushes the boundaries between theater, dance, music, and media arts. And by bringing diverse programming to neighborhoods all over the city, we have become an integral part of Boston’s efforts to transform our bitter history of segregation into a resilient legacy of equity and unity in diversity. ArtsEmerson’s first seasons focused on building a world-class cultural institution, raising awareness of our existence, and forging a reputation for artistic excellence. ArtsEmerson was first named “Boston’s Best Theater” by Boston Magazine following its 2012/13 season.
In 2019 WBUR recognized ArtsEmerson as a "A Model For Equity In The Arts", stating, "From its inception, ArtsEmerson has instituted programs at the intersection of civic dialogue and artistic exploration that have expanded its audience and engaged communities that arts organizations have historically ignored."
ArtsEmerson’s first seasons focused on building a world-class cultural institution, raising awareness of our existence, and forging a reputation for artistic excellence. In 2013 we expanded our focus, through a variety of civic engagement activities, setting out to become an effective partner in our city’s efforts to promote social cohesion.
ArtsEmerson is a Black and Indigenous-led organization currently under the co-leadership of Executive Director David C. Howse and Director of Artistic Programming Ronee Penoi (Laguna Pueblo/Cherokee).
ArtsEmerson was first named “Boston’s Best Theater” by Boston Magazine following its 2012/13 season. When naming ArtsEmerson “Boston’s Best Theater” again in 2015, Boston Magazine wrote, “Most impressive, ArtsEmerson realizes its global vision while remaining audience-focused and community-centric.”
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6 THEATERTHEINYEARA 6 “Fun, powerful, strange, dark, and exciting—all that you hope to experience in the theater.” –Ar t New England Out of Order The 7 OctoberFingers2021 … (iphigenia) Wayne Shorter & esperanza spalding November 2021 Read the New York Times Profile here! Zoo Motel Thaddeus Phillips/Steven Dufala November 2021 White Rabbit Red Rabbit Nassim DecemberSoleimanpour2021 Read the full review here! Dreaming Zenzile Somi FebruaryKakoma2022 Read the full review here! “A stirring –Thoutstandingaltogetherandmusicalportrait”eBostonGlobe MOTEL;ZOO ESTEBANTRAFAELPHOTO: MALLARINOPHILLIPS ZENZILEDREAMING ...PHOTO: VIRTUALVIRTUALVIRTUAL
7ArtsEmerson.org 7ArtsEmerson.org Everyday Life and Other Odds and Ends Sleeping Weazel March 2022 Burgerz Travis Alabanza/Hackney Showroom April 2022 Watch a conversation with Travis here! Octavia E. Butler’s Parable of the Sower Toshi Reagon & Bernice Johnson Reagon April 2022 Read the full review here! Sea Sick Alanna Mitchell/The Theatre Centre May 2022 “Toshi Reagon finds an opera for the ages…” –WGBH 6 3LIVE productionsTHEATERpresented VIRTUAL productionsTHEATERpresented
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A YEAR IN THE CINEMA
PROJECTING CONNECTIONS
ArtsEmerson continued its third year of the series Projecting Connections: Chinese American Experiences. Using film as a lens to reflect on the vast lived experiences of the Chinese population in the Greater Boston Area, this special series featured regular films and postshow curated discussions designed to build and foster meaningful community conversation. Highlights from this series include Within These Walls, a piece inspired by experiences of those detained, interrogated and processed at the U.S. Immigration Station at Angel Island State Park, produced by Artist in Residence and longtime ArtsEmerson collaborator Lenora Lee.
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Beyond beautiful moving images on screen, Cinema offers us the opportunity to connect with one another through shared experience and conversation. This year we stayed nimble, beginning our season in the Digital Cinema and shifting to in-person viewings in the Bright Family Screening Room. In total 93 films from diverse voices were shown, and scores of post-screening conversations energized our film programming this year.
BOSTON ASIAN AMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL We were honored to be the home of the 14th Annual Boston Asian American Film Festival. Building on the success of last year, BAAFF had its second completely virtual festival, serving up 15 screenings to over a thousand patrons locally and internationally. The festival was anchored by a powerful showing of A Tale of Three Chinatowns followed by a lively post show discussion with the filmmakers which can be viewed here. Read more about BAAFF 2021 here.
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For our February installment of Shared Stories, the Bright Family screening room welcomed back live panel discussions to complement this moving portrait of one of the Civil Rights Movements greatest leaders. A panel of incredible women from diverse perspectives followed, mediated by WGBH’s Callie Crosley, reminding us all why gathering for film can be such a galvanizing force for connection and positive change.
View the full panel conversation here.
SHARED STORIES
FILM SPOTLIGHT
A throughline to our programming is the consistently challenging and ever-enlightening Shared Stories series. Shared Stories is a regular film series that seeks to build community, shared conversation, and experiences through cinema. This series aspires to create a shared space to find commonality across experiences, and encourage the exchange of stories and ideas. It is presented in collaboration with BAAFF, CineFest Latino Boston, and the Roxbury International Film Festival. Beyond the Shared Stories framework, ArtsEmerson is also happy give a home to Boston Baltic Film Festival, Boston Latino International Film Festival, The Bright Lights Film Series, Roxbury International Film Festival, and Wicked Queer Film Festival.
FANNIE LOU HAMER’S AMERICA
PLAY READING BOOK CLUB
The PRBC built on its learning from last year to have an incredible 8th year. Through flexibility, adaptability, and the passion of its teaching artists, ArtsEmerson’s engagement team was able to conduct a full slate of Book Clubs unpacking and exploring the texts of …(iphigenia), Dreaming Zenzile, Burgerz and Sea Sick. Over the course of several weeks, participants explore the play from multiple angles. Trained teaching artists from the Emerson College Masters in Theatre Education program facilitate and work with the group. Participants:
• Obtain tools and resources to help navigate the process of attending the theater.
• Meet new people and increase social connectedness while having meaningful conversations.
• Do a deep dive into a play via group readings, facilitated discussions, and access to resources that interpret the context.
13 Play Reading Book Clubs In-person, Digital, and Hybrid Serving different communities in Boston
• Go see the play together with a whole new level of understanding and appreciation. Click here to hear from some of our most stalwart PRBC Members.
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PUBLIC DIALOGUE ArtsEmerson’s mission is not only to present extraordinary artists and performances from around the world, but to engage diverse multigenerational Boston audiences in thinking and talking about issues that address the concerns and challenges of our contemporary moment.
Audience members are also invited to stick around after the curtain falls to meet neighbors and see all the ways our season’s productions resonate in the city of Boston. After select performances there are opportunities for dialogue with fellow audience members, artists, and members of the ArtsEmerson staff. These events range from informal lobby chats to artist interviews, guest moderated talkbacks, and panel discussions. For many archived conversations, visit our youtube channel. Dialogue Events In the 21/22 Season
THE RETURN OF WELCOME TO BOSTON After a year off, our Welcome to Boston Cast Parties are back! ArtsEmerson welcomed Travis Alabanza of the 21/22 Season’s Burgerz to CROMA at Arlington Street Church with performances from local artists Golden, Micah Rosegrant, and the UnBound Bodies Collective. We are thrilled that after a pandemic-inflicted hiatus, we are welcoming artists in-person to Boston with such tremendous local art and community-building celebrations. Read more about the tradition of Welcome to Boston Cast Parties here.
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RESIDENCEINARTISTS
Linda Parris-Bailey & Parris-Bailey Arts were involved in a developmental workshop for Yankee Bajan, a new play informed by the West Indian experience. The work centered around a story circle and script development work shop that was conducted at Faith Christian Church in Dorchester involving 17 community members of West Indian influence. esperanza spalding collaborated with Dr. Dana Edell to build conversation in Professor Edell’s Theatre and Social Justice course inspired by …(iphigenia). Spaulding met with Dr. Edell and her class to discuss how to interrogate foun dational myths. Spalding joined Dr. Edell, Sheena Collier, found er of Boston While Black, and Dr. Carolyn Abbate, acclaimed musicologist, for a public dialogue to unpack Iphigenia’s resonance in Boston.
6 Artist residencies supported by ArtsEmerson in the 21/22 Season
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Travis Alabanza worked with their mother and director Sam Curtis Lindsay to further develop their new piece One Last Dance for the Single Mothers. This collaboration between Travis and their mother explores respective transitions in their lives. Lenora Lee continued the development of her work in Boston for Convergent Waves through community documentation, rehearsal, and several presentations of work. Convergent Waves is a multi-city collaboration with communities to tell their stories through oral history and movement. Toshi Reagon concluded her multi-year residency Parable Path Boston with multiple community touchpoints throughout the year, culminating in her production of Octavia Butler’s Parable of the Sower. Read more about Parable Path here. Donald Byrd cultivated content for his Localities Project, a Homeric presentation of the legendary choreographer’s lifelong journey. Byrd interviewed his contemporaries from his time in Boston, developing the sense of that time and place in his life through multiple lenses.
One of the founding principles of ArtEmerson was to make sure artists had a home to create work on their own terms. Below you can find a description of some of the collaborations hap pening from each of our 21/22 Artists in Residence. Read more about each artist by clicking their image.
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To make a contribution to the Gaining Ground fund, or any of ArtsEmersons funds, click here. Supported by the Gaining Ground Fund
3Over 1000 TOTAL DONORS ArtsEmerson.org 13 Productions
INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERSHIPS
ArtsEmerson’s 2021/22 Season is made possible thanks to support from the Barr Foundation. | Our season and accessibility initiatives are made possible thanks in part to support from grants from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. | Our season is supported in part by a grant from the Reopen Creative Boston Fund, administered by the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture. | ArtsEmerson’s 2021/22 Artist Residencies are supported by a grant from the Mellon Foundation.| ArtsEmerson’s 2021/22 Season is made possible thanks in part to support from the National Endowment for the Arts. | ArtsEmerson is supported by the New England Foundation for the Arts through the New England Arts Resilience Fund, part of the United States Regional Arts Resilience Fund, an initiative of the U.S. Regional Arts Organizations and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, with major funding from the federal CARES Act from the National Endowment for the Arts. | ArtsEmerson is funded in part by the New England States Touring program of the New England Foundation for the Arts, made possible with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts Regional Touring Program and the six New England state arts agencies. | ArtsEmerson’s 2021/22 Season is made possible thanks in part to support from a Shuttered Venues Operator Grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration. A big thank you to all who support the Gaining Ground Fund which, thanks to your support, now regularly elevates the ambitions of artists developing work for the world stage that reflects the African Diasporic experience in America. The fund continues to allow us to provide resources to ambitious projects led by artists creating on an epic scale, that remove the obstacles for the work and allow the artists to keep control of both their vision and their process.
14 Leadership Circle ($50,000+) Pamela and Bob Adams Barr FredFreshFoundationSoundFoundationLowery Peggy Koenig Massachusetts Cultural Council Mellon Foundation U.S.TJX Small Business Administration Ted and Mary Wendell Marillyn Zacharis Legacy Circle ($25,000-$49,999) The Charlotte Foundation Marian A. Godfrey and Thomas J. Gardner Lake Winnipesaukee Golf Club* Lars Charitable Fund Liberty Mutual Foundation Liberty Mutual Invitational* Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture National Endowment for the Arts New England Foundation for the Arts Janet and David Offensend Sand County Charitable Trust The Shubert Foundation Valentine Talland and Nagesh Mahanthappa Majestic Society ($10,000-$24,999) DeborahVivianStewartAnonymousBarnsBeardMunroe Noonan Memorial Fund Alyce and Patrick Lee David and Christine Letts Rockland Trust Charitable Foundation Paramount Society ($5,000-$9,999) Kevin PamelaBrightCoravos and Garrett Stuck In Honor of Alyce and Patrick Lee Teri Groome and Paul Belanger Fellowes Athenaeum Trust Fund Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce Moxy CoralieHotels*andStephen Schwartz Drs. Robert and Shari Thurer Jane and Michael Wojcik Marquee Society ($1,000-$4,999) Edward Boesel Boston Arts Summer Institute Ellen Glanz and Richard Berger David TerenceGenserJanericco Hubert and Kathy Jones Johanna Chao Kreilick and Eric Paul Kreilick Barbara Lemperly Grant and Frederic D. Grant, Jr. Jacqui Lindsay Drs. Lynne and Sidney Levitsky Patrick and Julie McVeigh Christopher and Nancy Oddleifson Rob and Pam Orchard Colin BernardPrattand Sue Pucker in Honor of Alyce and Patrick Lee Nancy Rappaport & Colin Flavin Yoonhee and David Rhee Tami and David Rich Michael and Judy Rogers Howard Rogut in Honor of Jackie Liebergott Michael Roitman and Emily Karstetter Rosen Family Fund Barry Schaudt Jean Walsh and Graham Davies Wynn Employee Foundation Community Grant Fund Friends of ArtsEmerson ($50-$999) Anonymous (9) Beth Abelow Ian Dr.CynthiaLeviAdamsAdamsAdeLillianSober Ain Denise and Chad Alfeld Amy EricJeannineSusanAnisimovArnottAyotteBaatz Bonnie Baggesen and Ann-Marie Raymond Prof. & Mrs. Ronald and Sandi Bagley Ezra Ball Alan RobertMarthaGregStephanieBasmajianBecerraBell&BobBerardinoBerens Our Supporters We are grateful to our committed individual and institutional donors for their support of contemporary theater and film, community programming, and signature events that advance a more connected, empathetic, and inclusive Boston.
15ArtsEmerson.org S. Beukema Katharine Black Anne LoriDavidAlanAndreaBornBostonBowersG.BreenSmithBritton and Milton L. Britton Jr. Ms. Heidi Brooks Jeff EllenBurtand Richard Calmas Edward Cardoza Amy Carleton Ms. Ellen Carr Ronald G. Casty Linda and Joe Chafets Michelle Chambers Jessica Chance Matt MeiNickCaroleChapuranCharnowChauChet Koren Christensen and Nancy King Mr. Howard Chun Howard Cohen Mary AshleyTimHannahJamieComptonWadeComstockCornwellHallandMarcyCraryCrittenden Lisa Kelly Croswell Mark SusanBarbaraCrowleyCusackDalelio Belden and Pamela Daniels Jennifer and Kevin DaSilva Joanne Dickinson John VictoriaAliciaDoodyDowneyandJohn Dozier Christine M. Dunn Meredith Dyson Walter Dzik Zeren Earls Cathy Edwards and Mike TsoSumruMarkWishnieElenkoErkutYeeFan Mary Jean Farrington Ross MargaretJamesDavidSusanahWestonMollyAndreaJudyHostetterBarbaraEllenAijaCoraElleInChristopherJeannetteCaraMarkLizbethHaynesAdelaideMs.MarnieThomasLarsonJimAdriaJudithMiloSharonDr.MadeleineSandraEdmundDawnStaceyBettyeFrancesMitchison/FieldRichardDeborahFeldbergFeltonFerranteFamilyA.FrancisFreemanFriendsGabrielGaitherGalejsGershGlobianaGlobianaGoganGoodmanandRonGoodmanGoodsonHaberandSusanHanoldandBolstadChristinaHarringtonandRogerHedstromHentschelHerbitterHerrmannandOwensHonorofThomasHessHodgesHolbrookDreimane-HolohanandChuckHonnetandAmosHousmanHowardHowesHowlandIIIandHowlandHowseHoyteJacobson-Sive Kerry James Sharon Dr.ElizabethJasonJaykusLloydSheldon Johnson Charla JeremiahJonesJordan and Dr. Jennie Weiner Elisabeth Kanner Deborah Katz Mary P KathleenKeatingKeleher Deirdre and Stephen YurikoHeidiJudyB.J.JordanAndrewJulianaChristineMrs.PamElenaTomKesslerKielyKingslandKnightCharlotteKnoxKondoleonKooKoppelKrasnowKrintzman&BobKrummeKummerKuwabaraand Sunny WendyDzikFox and Al Larkin Richard Laura Holly Laurent Joyce Lazarus Brad HowardNancyXuanDavidSeleneHermanLearmonthLeeLehmannLeiferLiLeongLevyandGareth Levy Maggie Li Regge Life Christina Lin Lois Lindauer and Bill Seltz Clare and Ken Livak Rebecca Lowenhaupt D & S Lyons John Malcolm Lilly Marcelin Jean AmyNeilStanJulieBarbaraSheliaMarrapodiMartinTMartinMcConchieMcLarenMcQuarrieMerrill Katherine Messenger Prof. Panagiotis Metaxas Jo Frances Meyer Bunny JasonNicolasMeyerMinutilloMoi Kathleen Moore Paul Morra Jacqueline Mow Ellen Murphy Mrs. Elizabeth Nagarajah Curtis YvonneNelsonNginhonor of Susan LauraTomMr.MaryMoniqueChinsenNoelleNorcrossThomasNorrisNorrisO’Neill Patrick and Lynn O’Shea Sharon & John Parisi Myran Parker-Brass John SuzannePetrowskyandBob Petrucci Jennifer Phillips Mrs. Karen Piatt Mr. Ricardo Pontes Lilian Porten Bruce Price Ms. Vicky Pulos Nathan Pusey Michelle and Charles Putterman Michael Qu Paul Rabin and Arlene SuzanneSnyder Ricco Peter Jason Riley Patrick Rivelli Mary Rivet Mr. James Robbins Peter Roberts Katy Roberts Dorian Roberts Elaine Robins Sue EllenSylviaMaryStephenAnnaJasmineDarrylEvaSusanAnnDmitryAnnetteRebeccaRobinsonRohrRubinRyzhikhSchlesingerScottSeligmanSettlesShevellShoovShuffJeanShultzQuarlesSimmonsSimons Polly Slavet Mark Smith Leah Soffer Morgan Stanley Ms. Maria Steele Norman Stein Andrew Strassman John MarkOscarSandraStrasswimmerStratfordandMalcolmandQuitaSullivan Dr. Patricia Suzman Janie HelenaLeahJimNatalieAlexanderAnnMarthaMTTSymmonsSydorIndustriesTaubB.TeixeiraM.Tetradze&ErikThelenThomasThomasThornley Kim Thornton Joan Thacher and Ed LouiseRandallMaryTiffanyTodescoToyTsoi Pratyusha Tummala-Narra and Vinod Narra Unknown Unknown Deborah Valenze Mr. Joris Van Dam W. Sterling Wall Lydia Walshin Mary Wasmuth Joe Wasserman Mr. Norman Weeks Jerry Wheelock Kara White Jaan ShannonGregoryJenniferMicaelaWhiteheadWilsonWolffWongWorthington and Noah Putterman Alexis Wright and Michael StevenJosephNathansonWrinnA.Yakutis and Guy Pugh Ms. Cynthia Yee David Yee Ellen Ziskind The donor listing reflects all gifts of $50+ received between July 1st, 2021 – June 30th, 2022. Our deepest thanks to all who have generously contributed gifts in support of ArtsEmerson. Every gift matters! For corrections to your listing, contact Ben Walsh at ben_walsh@emerson.edu. *Denotes in-kind donation 15ArtsEmerson.org
16 ArtsEmerson / Emerson College, Office of the Arts 120 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116 / ArtsEmerson.org / 617.824.8400