For many, the word sustainability evokes thoughts of environmental policies, natural resource consumption, and global warming. But sustainable communities require more than environmental regulations, they must also be financially, culturally, and spiritually sustainable. Far from being a luxury, theatre is vital to creating a sustainable community. Theatre is unique in its ability to bring together diverse communities, engage them in dialogue on current issues, and inspire change.
The University of Wisconsin - Green Bay Theatre students learn more than performance, design, technology, and career skills. They learn to be sociologist, studying what makes a society and why a society works or doesn’t. They learn human behavior, what it is like to walk in another’s shoes, and understand beliefs contrary to their own. They learn to be historians; studying the past from multiple perspectives and understanding how the past continues to shape our lives today. They learn to be scientists; using principles of space, light, sound, and color in experiments that engage the human senses and imagination. They learn to create and to collaborate, to be engaged members of the community, activists, and agents for change.
Theatre is so much more than artists creating art. Theatre fills our need to tell and hear stories, our own, those of our ancestors, and those of our imagination and creation. Theatre opens doors to worlds we never knew existed, the lives and experiences of others It gives voice to those whose voices have not been amplified. Live theatre touches the senses and engages the imagination. It creates community through shared experiences. And in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, theatre artists have continued to create, connecting across great distances on virtual platforms.
UW-Green Bay Theatre’s current production, Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 by Anna Deavere Smith, examines some of the deepest questions of identity, what we believe, how we behave, and how this affects our communities. Set in the aftermath of the 1991 beating of Rodney King by police officers and the 1992 riots following their acquittal, this documentary-style production presents the words of real people who endured the days of pain and chaos. Based on interviews conducted by the author, the production features a diverse cast speaking the verbatim words of prominent figures and everyday people. The outrage at the murder of George Floyd last year has led to renewed passion for this powerful and timely work with virtual streams and radio adaptations being produced across the country. UW-Green Bay Theatre seeks to create a forum for community dialogue and inspire hope and change. In an effort to engage a more diverse, understanding, and sustainable community, and to increase accessibility, UW-Green Bay is making this production of Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992, free to stream on-demand.
Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 will only be available to stream on-demand from March 25-28, 2021. In order to receive access to the stream, you must register for a free ticket. Ticket and show information can be found at www.uwgb.edu/theatre. Please be advised that the production contains adult content and strong language, including profanity and hate speech. It is recommended for mature audiences.
Laura Riddle
Theatre and Dance Chair
Acting, Production Director, Managing Director of Theatre.
Tricia Adams
Performing Arts Coordinator