Clearly, crafting an end-of-year list is an exercise in betrayal. It’s a ruthless editing process, like choosing which child gets to ride in the lifeboat. Inevitably, there are casualties. things I loved but left gasping for air on the cutting room floor. Still, here we are, on the last day of 2024, and I’m presenting The CultureMental List of 20 people and creators that made my year the most memorable one yet! READ OUR LIST HERE. |
In celebration of Retro Productions' 20th Anniversary, this retrospective explores the company’s journey from its origins as River Heights Productions to becoming a champion of "Retro Theater." Founded with a mission to stage 20th-century plays, the company began as a response to subpar productions and a desire for artistic integrity. Over the years, Retro has expanded its mission to include diverse representation, strong roles for women, and an unspoken goal of cultivating future theatergoers. Despite challenges such as fundraising and adapting to shifts in the industry, Retro remains committed to preserving cultural narratives while making them relevant to modern audiences. Founder Heather Cunningham credits the company’s longevity to passion, adaptability, and a fearless commitment to meaningful storytelling. Read the Article - HERE. |
Marco Antonio Rodríguez was our leader, our anchor in the People’s Theatre Project’s Playwriting Unit. In this piece, I reflect on my return to playwriting after fourteen years, a return made possible by a series of miracles that brought me to People's Theatre Project. |
In a Milwaukee Hotel Room, four taxidermists gathered for an annual competition engage in a fierce battle that combines the lower body of No Exit with the torso of Requiem for a Dream. In Drops In The Vase Triumphant first Production of this play by Clay McLeod Chapman. |
The Ask by Matthew Freeman is a riveting two-hander that dissects the clash of ideologies within the political left through a tense, intimate dialogue. Set in the refined Upper West Side study of Greta, an entrenched liberal and high-level donor, the play explores her uneasy encounter with Tanner, a young, nonbinary representative from the ACLU. |