KEEP SWEET: A Polygamy Musical!
Location: 115 9 Avenue Southeast (Calgary Tower) (View Map)
Dates: August 28, 2012 - August 29, 2012
On August 28 and 29th we will be doing a staged reading of the new tragicomedy KEEP SWEET: A Polygamy Musical! at the Auburn Saloon. The show is created by local theatre artists and performed by emerging musical theatre talent!
KEEP SWEET is inspired by the true stories from the polygamous sects in British Columbia, Utah, New Mexico, Texas and Arizona. The main research focuses for the musical are the stories of the polygamy life-style and the entrapment felt by women and their children. The Canadian sect is connected to the sect in Arizona run by the former Prophet, Warren Jeffs. Warren’s actions over the past twenty years have had an effect on the Canadian sect causing raids, new laws, and the escape of many women and children. It takes a whole village to raise a child, but in the case of the sects, the dictators are in charge of the fate of the children. KEEP SWEET is a fictional account of the role of the community in the well being of their children.
Our story revolves around a young girl of thirteen years, Mary Ann, who lives in a sect with her polygamous family. She has received word that she has been chosen to marry the son of the Prophet. Mary Ann, however, falls in love with an American boy, Leon. As they can never be together, they must struggle to understand the world they have been born into. If the ill-fated lovers try to go against the demands of the Prophet, they risk being ex-communicated from their sect or worse; they lose their place in the Celestial Kingdom.
The staged reading of KEEP SWEET will showcase Calgary's musical theatre artists and provoke a dialogue for the further development of a brave, new, creative full-length musical. Following the reading, there will be a facilitated discussion with the audience, creating an opportunity for the community to express their thoughts and feelings on this controversial topic.
The funds will be used towards:
-Promotional material for the staged reading (posters, handbills, print ads in FFWD)
-Sound engineer to capture the live performances and mix CD of audio recording for further development of musical.
-Rental of keyboard for performances
-Rental of microphones for performances
-Printing scripts and sheet music for staged reading
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Alice Nelson
"A theatre, a literature, an artistic expression that does not speak for its own time has no relevance."
DARIO FO, Nobel Lecture, December 7, 1997
A full-staged reading of KEEP SWEET: A Polygamy Musical occurred on August 28 & 29 at the Auburn Saloon. In attendance were over two hundred (and some) patrons; including peers, artistic directors, musical theatre directors, Calgary theatregoers, ex-communicated Mormons and media personnel.
The full-staged reading provoked a heated, facilitated discussion with the audience, creating an opportunity for the community to express their thoughts and feelings on this controversial topic.
After the staged readings of KEEP SWEET: A Polygamy Musical...
-I received over 50 filled-out feedback forms, critiquing everything from my grammar to the fact that I had no right to take such liberties with my subject matter.
-I listened and hugged an ex-communicated FLDS Mormon as he expressed gratitude from hearing stories he knew all too well.
-I received about twenty notes in the form of texts on my phone and five pages of notes from an audience member.
-I had people tell me they couldn't relate to any of my characters and people who told me I was making light of a subject matter.
-I had people tell me they had been following the FLDS in the papers and reading books on the subject, so they were excited to see how it played onstage in front of them.
-I had people tell me I should make my characters older, so it wouldn't be so "creepy" (because why tell the truth, right?).
That's just some of the feedback...now that people know I'm soliciting feedback, I'm getting it all the time. And you know what? I dig it. I dig that my audience wants to get their ideas, critiques and insights to me. After all, what's a show without an audience interested?
I'm so elated that this show sparked the community to such a massive dialogue. I had one colleague show up on the second night, saying "I thought I'd come down to support you because I figure you'll need an audience". That night we had over a hundred people....for a staged reading! What does this tell me? This tells me the topic of FLDS Polygamous Sects that revokes the opportunity for women to chose their paths in life is something we need to talk about. Something that we shouldn't ignore. And I'm glad KEEP SWEET: A Polygamy Musical has given people awareness of this reality that's happening right next door to us in Bountiful B.C.
People were eager to share their perspectives, experiences and suggestions with my creative partners and myself. This, to me, indicates that I need to move forward onto the next stage of this project; focused rewrites and more professional feedback.
I'm beyond grateful to Alberta Foundation for the Arts and Calgary 2012 GIG (Grassroots Inspired Grants awarded by citizen votes) for funding the development, rehearsal process and staged reading. The project was also supported through donations from local theatres and establishments: Ground Zero Theatre, Hit And Myth Productions, Lunchbox Theatre, Evergreen Theatre and Auburn Saloon. I'm also so grateful for my partners in crime, Stephen Delano (musical composer/director), Kevin McKendrick (Dramaturg/Director) and the amazing ensemble: George Smith, Hannah Kerbes, Taryn Craig, Adam Schlinker, Cassidy Waring, Aaron Zeffer and Holleay Rohm. Their creative contribution and mind blowing talent was paramount in the development of KEEP SWEET: A Polygamy Musical.
Oh yeah, the other questions I got repeatedly both nights....."so now what happens?"....my favorite answer, "I dunno, you know anyone in Calgary who wants to produce a controversial musical?" However, I'm a big believer in "if you build it, they will come"-Kinsella....not sure how yet...but ONWARD!
Posted on September 10, 2012 - 23:40