Just completing the first quarter of my internship the insight I have gain is priceless. Every thurs-sun I am working the theater passing out flyers ushering collecting tickets, setting up props. The current show that is running is called The Last Saint on Sugar Hill it has been Jeff Recommend http://www.jeffawards.org/jeffplays/detailn.cfm?production_id=5329
Some of the things I have learned as of date is to understand that it takes a lot of dedication to keep a theater company owned. Every friday and saturday we host a solo jam which is experience into the one person performance. This past weekend a poet/actress from Depaul performed and her show was unforgettable. The scenes were written by her and were about her journey into woman hood. I was beyond impressed just based on her skills to portray he mother, former college roommate and her childhood self. I got to help her set up the stage before she performed she didn't have many props which made my job easy that night. In the near future I will be taught sound design and how to chop different songs to get the perfect music clip. The cast of people all have so much experience in theater and they truly are an ensemble outside of the play. Everyone is family and they have greeted me with open arms. Every week I have dinner with the executive director Shepsu Aakhu who is the founding member of MPAACT and professor at DePaul Theater School.
http://www.mpaact.org/about/artists/company-members/aakhu-shepsu/
He discuss with me how many people don't appreciate real theater anymore, issues with contemporary black theaters as well as the changing demographics in Chicago as it relates to theater. I gain so much knowledge from him. He also taught me the problem with colorblind theater and how its hard for Black Theater troupes to make fubu (For Us By Us) theater. Many Black theater companies sell out to appeal to a majority audience which will most likely be white audience then the show no longer is about speaking to the black experience but more about being water down to get them to understand. I have learned the importance of cultural theater to preserve you art form so that it speaks for you. If a group of people fail to express themselves in theater that is artistic oppression.
