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Cornerstone Theater Company's fifth Institute Summer Residency took place in Los Angeles' downtown Arts District, July 10 through August 10, 2008.
The 2008 Institute class was made up of 19 students: 17 women, one transgender person and one man, ranging in age from 19 to 64. They came from 12 states (Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia), the UK and Sweden. Seven them are current or recently degreed undergraduate students, four are seeking or recently completed graduate degrees. Others are professional actors, directors, educators, and other artists. One is a CPA who also serves on the board of an arts organization in her community. Three of the students had previously attended an Institute 2Day Intensive.
The Institute produced a new play called attraction written by Cornerstone Ensemble member Page Leong and created in collaboration with Cornerstone's own neighbors in downtown Los Angeles. Particular assistance was provided by Community Partner organizations: Art Share Los Angeles, St. Francis Xavier Chapel and Japanese Catholic Center, Groundwork Coffee Company, and the Los Angeles Downtown Arts District (www.ladad.com). Artistic Director Michael John Garcés directed the play that included original songs composed by student Becky Dale in collaboration with community musicians. The cast of 70 included 54 community members, 10 Institute students, one Cornerstone actor, 5 additional family/friends, plus four community dogs. At least 23 community artists made additional original contributions to the production. Additionally, one community member volunteered assistance at the box office each night.
attraction performed on the street on Cornerstone's city block of Traction Avenue. The buildings and sidewalk along the south side of the street served as the stage while the audience was seated in bleachers in the roadway. Approximately 655 people attended the three performances.
In addition to working on the production, Institute students participated in classroom curriculum primarily led by Associate Artistic Director Laurie Woolery. Additional faculty in teaching Cornerstone's methodology included company members Paula Donnelly, Michael John Garcés, Peter Howard, Lynn Jeffries, Shishir Kurup, Nico Lang, Tali Pressman and Leslie Tamaribuchi. An added component of the curriculum was attending a performance by SF-Bay Area ensemble Dandelion Dancetheater. Dandelion company members later led a 3-hour movement workshop for Cornerstone's students.
One of the highlights of this Institute was an overwhelming success in involving community artists in all aspects of the production. Elizabeth Cox and Sarah Ryung Clement's costume and scenic designs included original art from neighborhood artists and businesses. We solicited artist involvement and contribution to the design elements of the play and the students followed through with personal invitations. The costume design included donations and purchases from local silkscreen and fiber artists, clothing and jewelry designers and neighborhood boutiques. Visual artists highlighted components of the city-block setting by creating original works on Cornerstone's façade and doors. Practical trash receptacles served as canvases as did the city-supplied barricades used to block off traffic from the street that served as our performance venue. Even the trees were christened as installation art. A few students contributed original visual art for the production as well.
Institute Students' contributions were invaluable since they provided "outsider" perspective and curiosity in a way that Cornerstone could not as longtime members of the collaborating community.
During the first week of the residency we had the great advantage of a street party on the first day of auditions for our play. The party was a celebration of the arts district in memorial to Joel Bloom, longtime neighborhood artist, activist and business owner who passed away the previous summer. This event provided a great reciprocal introduction between the Institute students and the neighborhood.
Our goal of opening doors and providing a means for people who live and work in the neighborhood to learn more about each other was a success. Our cast included many American Hotel residents, Olivia Sanchez-Brown from 800 Traction, Danyol Jay from the staff at ArtShare, congregants from St Francis Xavier and New City Church, Jonathan Jerald who is publishing a new magazine out of the former Al's Bar space, Ed Fuentes an online journalist and many area artists and others attracted to Traction Ave. A note from Olivia says, "Thank you for an incredible and enriching experience... The artistic cross over had a phenomenal effect on my creativity. I felt I was part of something bigger,.. I am still in a state of bliss, carefully thinking of the artistic process I just experienced, and I've gotten to know my neighbors."
Staff and students created interesting online documentation of the 2008 Institute Summer Residency experience, including extensive short videos.
See a collection of photos from “I-5” here.
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