Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit - After Snark Playbill

MOSAIC YOUTH THEATRE OF DETROIT PRESENTS

AFTER SNARK

AFT R R

MARCH 24 - 26, 2023

Mosaic Black Box Theatre

GREETINGS,

As we usher in spring, I’m excited for the remaining stories in our milestone 30th season we’ll share on stage, beginning with After Snark, devised by the Mosaic Jr. Ensemble and Teaching Artists Amelia Hefferon and Jack Williams III.

Based on Lewis Carroll’s nonsense poem, The Hunting of the Snark (An Agony in 8 Fits), Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit’s After Snark follows an unlikely crew on an adventurous quest in search of a mythical Snark. The show features original music created by members of the Jr. Ensemble, supported by Teaching Artist Jack Williams III and produced by alum Nik Huey. After Snark is full of twists and turns and promises a nonsensical good time for the young and young at heart. You can see the Director’s Note by Amelia Hefferon on page 3 to learn more about Carrol’s poem and the process the young artists used to create this new work. The beauty of the story is that the characters embrace their creativity and persist against all odds. In many ways, this show and the process celebrate the journey of Mosaic participants past, present, and future.

Thank you for joining us, and I hope you enjoy the show!

DeLashea Strawder Executive & Artistic Director, Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit

Fast Facts for First Timers

A Legacy 30 years in the making

The 2022–2023 Season is a special one for Mosaic. In addition to returning to full ensembles programs, including the return of our Backstage Tech ensemble, we’re celebrating 30 years of creating equity for Detroit-area youth through the arts. Thanks to amazing champions for youth and believers in the power of the arts to transform lives both locally and abroad, our work has been illuminated by moving and memorable experiences for three decades. It’s been an honor to be part of and grow with these exceptional creative changemakers, and we can’t wait to see what’s next. Pearls are the traditional gift for a 30-year celebration, so here are a few treasured pieces of Mosaic from us to you.

Making transformative arts experiences accessible is part of our mission. Mosaic strives to ensure that live music and theater can be enjoyed by all Detroit area youth. By offering a variety of programs including, low to no cost arts and leadership training in multiple locations across southeast Michigan. Providing digital resources for youth and allies to engage further in what they’ve experienced beyond the theater or rehearsal space. We also seek to remove financial barriers through ticket discount programs for schools, youth and others to attend performances — just call Mosaic for details.

We’re committed to supporting youth to excel on stage and in life. Mosaic continues to foster youth agency, co-creating safe and brave spaces for youth to build the skills, tenacity and networks they need to thrive through adulthood. Across three decades, 95% of youth ensemble members have graduated high school on time and gone on to college. Alums are successful lawyers, social workers, entrepreneurs, Tony Awardwinners, engineers, playwrights, leaders and creative changemakers.

We’re focused on the future. Our 30-year milestone certainly has us reflecting on the past, while having our sights firmly set on what’s next. Together with a supportive community of creative minds, we’ve built a strong foundation. We’ll continue to walk alongside youth and lead with our mission, vision and core values while striving to reflect and celebrate the uniqueness of Detroit in the work we do on and off the stage. Whether you’ve joined us for years or this is your first visit, we’re so glad you’re here. Here’s to you, and the next 30 years!

DIRECTOR’S NOTE

The Hunting of the Snark is a nonsense poem written in 1876 by Lewis Carrol. Like his other works (Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass), Snark is filled with made-up words, fantastical creatures, and larger-than-life characters. The story follows a motley crew on a mission to find a mysterious and rare creature, the infamous Snark. Along the way, they encounter giant birds, endure a vivid and stressful nightmare, negotiate conflicts between one another, and witness the unexplainable and truly bizarre.

While After Snark includes some language from Carrol’s original poem, it was important to the entire ensemble that our version of The Hunting of the Snark feel fresh, exciting, and true to the young artists in the room. Thus began a months-long adaptation process of combing through the poem, finding the bits that Inspired us, adding our own flair, and, of course, creating some catchy original songs. Much of the dialogue, staging, lyrics, melodies, and choreography were created and developed by the young artists themselves. The beautiful and vibrant set, props, costumes, puppets, and lighting design were conceived and built entirely by our ensemble of talented young technicians.

The performers about to step onstage all fall between the ages of nine and fourteen. This phase of childhood is a complicated one. Young people start to take on more responsibilities and begin the process of “growing up.” The world gets bigger, relationships become more complicated, and we start to tuck away the wonder and playfulness so accessible to us when we’re very small. The theatre is one of the best tools we have to keep us connected to our own inner children--our sense of joy, curiosity and play. So, for the next hour or so, we invite you to give your logical, busy, grown-up minds a break and revel in the bizarre, goofy, heartfelt, nonsensical world these impressive young artists have created together.

Thank you for joining us, enjoy!

Amelia Hefferon Director, After Snark

CAST & CREATIVE

MOSAIC JR. ENSEMBLE

Shyla Anthony

Shiloh Anthony

EzaBella Blakey

Darius Brantley Jr. (DJ)

Paris Cameron

Bailey Cochran

Jurnee Cummings

Jace Feagin

Leahsia Glover

Hana Harris

Jordan Johnson

Sydney Kisor

John Knight

Caden Hamilton

Charity McQueen

Isaiah Pettway

Michael Rhodes

Christian Seay

Maddox Smith

London Taylor

Nyla Turay

Makaila Waters

Joy Williams

Gwen Wong

MOSAIC YOUTH TECHNICIANS

Adrian Coleman

Charisma Holly

Livia Houston

Emerald Rashid

Sageius Williams

CREATIVE TEAM

Director: Amelia Hefferon

Music Director: Jack Williams III

Stage Manager: Livia Houston

Music Produced by: Nik Huey

Scenic Design/Puppet Design: Emerald Rashid

Costume Design: Livia Houston

Lighting Design: Charisma Holly

Sound Board Engineer: Adrian Coleman

Props Design: Adrian Coleman

Puppet Construction: Sageius Williams

SPECIAL THANKS

Transformative arts experiences are more than just performances and programs. It takes the intentional collective commitment of the individuals that make up a community to create affirming, relevant and wholistic experiences that engage, transform and inspire.

THANK YOU to all the young and guest artists, creative team, administrators, staff, Board members, alumni and community partners for investing in youth and a thriving Detroit.

MOSAIC YOUTH THEATRE OF DETROIT FORD FUND IS PROUD TO SUPPORT

As the company’s philanthropic arm, Ford Motor Company Fund partners with nonprofit organizations across the Ford network in the U.S. and around the world to provide resources and opportunities that advance equity and empower people to reach their highest potential.

WAYS TO PARTNER

Bring The Mosaic Experience To You School Residency

We look forward to partnering with your school community to engage youth and young adults in arts experiences that supports and equips them to be leaders and lifelong learners.

For more information visit www.mosaicdetroit.org/school-residency-program or call 313-872-6910 ext. 4024

Book a Mosaic performance or workshop

For 30 years, Mosaic has illuminated youth excellence on stage and in life. Want to elevate the impact of your events? Whether corporate, private, or virtual, engaging Mosaic for a performance or workshop provides a transformative experience that your guests will cherish. Mosaic is available to help you bring your vision to life through:

. Customized workshops and partnerships

. Mosaic Mobile micro-camps for private or public events

. Live performances

. Music Videos or Film Theatrical experiences

. Audio recordings for commercial use

* Opportunities are based on availability Visit www.mosaicdetroit.org/bookmosaic/request-form/ to book a performance today!

Call 313-872-6910 ext. 4007 for workshop, micro-camp and custom opportunities.

MEET #TEAMMOSAIC

*DELASHEA STRAWDER l Executive & Artistic Director

ALFREDA LILES l School & Community Partnerships Coordinator

AMELIA HEFFERON l Teaching Artist

*ANDAIYE SPENCER | Programs Manager

ASHLEY PATTERSON | Program Administrator

ARIEL POMPEY l Guest Teaching Artist

CHARLENE MCNARY l Finance & Operations Manager

CIERRA TOLIVER | College & Career Pathways Coordinator

*EDMUND ALYN JONES | Guest Director

*JACK WILLIAMS III l Teaching Artist

JASMINE ROSE l Resident Stage Manager/Program Coordinator

JOE BAILEY l Executive Assistant / HR Generalist

JUDY TIPTON l Director of Development

KEIR WARD l Teaching Artist

NICK YOCUM l Program Specialist, Tech Theater

TODD DAVIS l Fund Development Manager

*YAISANI TURNER | Finance Intern

* Denotes Mosaic alum

MEET MOSAIC’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS

BEVERLY MADDOX | Board Chair

TERRY W. BONNETTE | Vice Chair

WISAM FAKHOURY | Treasurer

DIANE BORGUS GREEN, M.A., N.C.C. | Secretary

SJONNE BADGEROW

CORNELL BATIE

ROXANNE BROWN

MARIETTA CLEVELAND

MELISSA MCCLARY DAVIS

MARK DENIS

ANTWAN PRICE

ROY SEXTON

KELLI VAN BUREN

TERREL WHITE

BRITTANY WILLIAMS

OUR MISSION

Mosaic’s mission is to empower young people to maximize their potential through professional performing arts training and the creation of theatrical and musical art that engages, transforms and inspires.

OUR VALUES

Strive for Excellence

Only the best, nothing less. We are committed to pursuing excellence in our programs, business operations, and partnerships. We are dedicated to investing the time and resources necessary to achieve excellence in all that we do.

Dream Boldly

We hold ourselves accountable to courageously pursuing creativity, resourcefulness, and imagination. We embrace innovative, audacious ideas that work towards accomplishing our mission.

Build Community

The uniqueness of each individual contributes to the strength and beauty of the whole. We are committed to upholding safe spaces that prioritize honesty, trust, respect, and integrity. We honor diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and expertise to enhance the communities we serve and those we are a part of creating.

Embrace Joy

We choose to embrace joy as we pursue our mission and work to spread joy to others as we connect, collaborate, create, and incite positive change in our community.

OUR VISION

We envision Detroit area youth having equity of opportunity in arts and post- secondary education including paid creative sector leadership roles.

We envision a thriving Detroit, enriched by the brilliance and creativity of its youth, culture keepers and community members.

We envision an arts and culture industry that benefits from a strong network of diverse and dynamic next generation creative leaders .

We envision young people transforming the world by activating the power of the arts to motivate, mobilize and make positive change.

THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS

We gratefully acknowledge the generosity of our amazing donors and philanthropic partners whose annual support enables Mosaic to remain consistent in bringing youth only the best, nothing less in arts and leadership programs. To join this group in ensuring Mosaic continues to thrive, contact the Development Team at 313.872.6910 ext. 4004

Allee Willis Estate Foundation

Edsel B. Ford II Fund

The Jeffrey Seller Foundation

Manoogian Foundation

Marshall Mathers Foundation

Oliver Dewey Marcks Foundation

Zipser Foundation

A Note From Beverly Maddox, Board Chair and Terry W. Bonnette, Vice Chair

Inspiring and empowering the next generation through the arts has always been at the center of Mosaic. Throughout our 30-year history, we’ve created many programs to ensure young people have access to life-changing arts experiences. There’s no better way to think about what this access means for youth and communities than within the context of this season’s concert and spring production. From Let the Good Times Roll’s pointed message of self-discovery to the wonder and whimsy of Alice and the New Wonderful, these stories for all audiences offer wonderful opportunities to dream, reflect and come together. On behalf of the board, thank you for your unwavering support of the young artists and this critical work as we strive to inspire young artists of both today and tomorrow.

THANK YOU TO OUR PHILANTHROPIC PARTNERS

Vital support from our corporate, foundation and government partners enable community members of all ages to access affirming arts experiences that inspire them to dream boldly and create positive change. Grants from state and federal agencies and local and national foundations provide crucial operating support as well as key funding for new and ongoing programs. To learn more, contact the Development Team at 313.872.6910 ext. 4004. For information about sponsorship opportunities and corporate benefits, contact us at development@mosaicdetroit.org