TO REACH THE UNREACHABLE STAR!

This production is a fundraiser and all donations are tax deductible.
RSVP at 240-683-8934 or OCTRetroRSVP@gmail.com.

Be a Part of the Show...Respond by August 15, 2017!

REMINDER: We want YOU, former artists, designers, and patrons, to participate in this retrospective production by telling us what Open Circle means to you! Please record up to 1 minute of how Open Circle has impacted your life. Contact Rob McQuay at rob@rmproductions.website with a link or call him at 410-241-8882 to find out how best to get it to him. He may even be able to help you get it done, so don’t let technology hold you back.

These testimonials are going to be incorporated creatively into the retrospective. It is vitally important that people new to Open Circle see how this theatre company has affected the community, and besides, we just want to hear from you! So take a moment and be a star – because what is the moon without a star! Submissions will be accepted until August 15, 2017.

2017 American Alliance for Theatre and Education National Conference, New Orleans, LA. August 2-6, 2017. Suzanne “Susie” Richard and Arianna Ross, both with OCT and Story Tapestries, presented on Saturday, August 5 from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m. Topic: “Integrating Theater Increasing Learning for all Equals. Scaffolding Inclusive Lessons Effectively.” Audience: Pre-K to 8th grade teachers.

VSA Intersections: Arts and Special Education Conference: A Jean Kennedy Smith Arts and Disability Program, Austin, TX. August 6-7, 2017. Susie and Arianna, along with West Virginia University student Kathryn Skolka, whom they mentored, will present on Monday, August 7 from 9:15 to 11:45 a.m. Topic: “Discover the Power of Embodied Storytelling to Reach All Learners: Using Storytelling, Movement, and Visual Arts to Teach Creative Writing.” Audience: All Grades of Teachers, Artists. In addition, on the same day at 8:30 – 9 a.m. and 2 – 2:30 p.m. they will take part in two different Round Table Discussions on Professional Learning and Teacher Development. For more details, please see the conference schedule.

A grant from Alternate Roots is covering the cost of travel and lodging for these two conferences. Needless to say, we’re very excited about this!!

Susie Richard and Elver Ariza-Silva were slated to represent OCT with an original dance piece at the Kennedy Center on National Dance Day, Saturday, July 29, 2017. Unfortunately, Susie sustained an injury that prevented them from performing. However, we look forward to being invited again to perform next year…injury-free! Launched in 2010 by The Dizzy Feet Foundation (co-founded by So You Think You Can Dance’s Nigel Lythgoe and Adam Shankman) and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, National Dance Day encourages Americans to embrace dance as a fun and positive way to maintain good health.

As part of Cassie Meador’s performance project with communities of the Great Smokys, Offsite/Insight, Dance Exchange, a long-time collaborator with OCT, has been commissioned to create a new work and lead a live performance celebrating the Solar Eclipse at Clingman’s Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains. DX partners for this event are the National Park Service, NASA, the National Institute of Aerospace and Southwest Community College. Tune in via NASA’s live stream on the day of the event, Monday, August 21, 2017. For more details visit their summer events page.

Making History
New York Times Article by Erik Piepenburg, July 10, 2017
For Disabled Actors, Memorizing the Part Is Only the Beginning

Reliving History
Twenty-seven years ago on July 26, 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act. View the video of this historic event.

HOW ELSE CAN YOU HELP?

If you would like to help OCT build its infrastructure, please feel free to make a donation! You may contribute by check through snail mail or online with a credit card. Remember, OCT is a 501(c)(3) organization, donations to which are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. Donation details are at http://opencircletheatre.org/donate/.

Support OCT by making online purchases via AmazonSmile! The AmazonSmileFoundation will donate 0.5% of your purchase price to Open Circle Theatre. For instructions on how to join in this easy and exciting way to be a part of OCT, see http://opencircletheatre.org/donate/.

Are you a business owner or someone who has other corporate connections? We have a way for you to contribute too! Consider becoming a corporate sponsor with some great benefits for you and your business. Working together, you can be part of making our community more accessible to all.

Open Circle Theatre is run almost entirely by volunteers. As a growing organization, we have a lot of work to do. Please share your time and talents with us. Anyone can volunteer! Help us in this important work. We guarantee a great volunteer experience! For more details, visit http://opencircletheatre.org/get-involved/.