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Park Square Theatre
ISSUE AREA: PEOPLE
City: St. Paul, MN
Contact:
Richard Cook
Artistic Director
Park Square Theatre
408 Saint Peter Street - Suite 110
Saint Paul, MN 55102
(651) 767-8482
Date Published: Summer, 2002
Created in 1974, the Park Square Theatre operates with the
mission "to enrich our community by producing and presenting
exceptional live theatre that touches the heart, engages the
mind and delights the spirit." While striving to entertain,
the non-profit theatre also educates, by performing Nazi-era
drams such as Copenhagen and The Diary of Anne Frank.
Park Square attracts an audience of 54,000 each year. The
theatre operates with an annual budget of $1.3 million. 60%
of the budget is derived from ticket sales while the remainder
comes from foundations, corporations, public agencies, and
individual donors. This budget enables Park Square to remain
a high quality community theatre with a professional full
time staff.
Park Square embraces its role as a community theater in many
ways. The Park Square Theatre Education Program reaches 25,000
middle and high school students each year. Some students are
participants of "An Evening of Theater During the Day"
program. The kids view a matinee and learn about theater.
Students are taught audience etiquette, as they learn to become
active, attentive, and polite members of the audience. In
order to promote a deeper connection between theater artists
and student audiences, study guide materials are distributed
to help the teacher create a literary, historical, and artistic
context for students before they attend the matinees. Post-show
discussions further the educational experience.
Some schools send students to "Immersion Day" –
a day filled with hands-on activities with artists. The artists
who teach the workshop sessions are asked to share their passion
for the art of theater, illustrate theater as a collaborative
art, and highlight the importance of preparation and interpretive
choices. 20-150 students are served each session. "Custom"
Immersion Days can also be tailored around a specific curriculum,
focusing on a work studied in class. Interested schools contact
the theatre and help finance the session. In addition, evening
workshops are offered for teachers, allowing them to learn
methods to integrate theater into literature, science, math,
and social studies lessons. The educational program provides
a true classroom base, as it is led by Mary Finnerty, a professional
teacher turned theatre director.
Besides educational programs, Park Square offers free tickets
to social service agencies for distribution to low-income
individuals. Future Immersion Days are being designed to target
adults and families. The theatre exposes the arts to various
groups, regardless of age or socio-economic status. The impact
is extremely positive, with people coming together for artistic
appreciation. Through its continual involvement in the community,
Park Square remains committed to entertainment and education.
Related Resources:
Park Square Theater
20 West Seventh Place - Downtown Saint Paul
Saint Paul, MN 55102
http://www.parksquaretheatre.org
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