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