Haley Carneol will be performing in THE WAR WITHIN/ALL’s FAIR with The Moving Company from May 10th – June 10th.

Charles Fraser continues to perform in The Diary of Anne Frank at Park Square Theatre through May 18.  He will also be teaching improvisation for all ages at the Minnetonka Arts Twist at Minnetonka High School on Saturday, May 12. And, he will participate in the reading of a new play, God Girl, at the History Theatre on May 14.

Norah Long will be performing in Theater Latte Da‘s workshop and reading of a new music-theater work entitled The End of September by talented local composer Aaron Gabriel, anticipated for full production on Latte Da’s 2012-2013 season.  The reading, with post-show audience talkback, is Friday May 4, 10:30 a.m. at Augsburg College.  Then, get ready for another full-length musical reading, June 11th at Illusion Theater! Norah will be taking the lead role of Hanka Ordonówna, Poland’s brightest cabaret star, in this workshop of Chopin’s Heart by Daniel Pinkerton and Gary Rue. Click here to hear music excerpts.

Julie Kurtz is working for Colectivo Katari – a Bolivian Artist Collective in Cochabamba!  Learn more about her experience in her blog.

Sara Richardson will be performing in An Absolute Turkey with Gremlin Theatre from mid-May to mid-June.

Matt Sciple is directing in Workhaus Collective’s The Mill, running through May 5th. He will also be performing in Walking Shadow’s Compleat Female Stage Beauty May 18th – June 2nd.

Charles Fraser is performing in The Diary of Anne Frank at Park Square Theatre, now through May 18.  He is also directing Avalon School‘s production of The Good Doctor, performing April 13 – 15. And, he is the scenic designer for Saint Louis Park High School’s production of the 1936 Pulitzer Prize-winning play Idiot’s Delight, performing April 27 – 29.

Julie Kurtz is working for Colectivo Katari – a Bolivian Artist Collective in Cochabamba!  Learn more about her experience in her blog.

Sara Richardson will be performing in An Absolute Turkey with Gremlin Theatre from mid-May to mid-June.

Charles Fraser is performing in The Diary of Anne Frank at Park Square Theatre, now through May 18, and he will be participating in a reading of Kim Hines’ original play Nellie at History Theatre on March 22.

Julie Kurtz is working for Colectivo Katari –a Bolivian Artist Collective in Cochabamba!  Learn more about her experience in her blog.

Norah Long will be appearing throughout the day on March 11 at Mall of America as Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low, part of the centennial Great Girl Gathering weekend! Anyone who’s ever worn green or brown as part of this great organization is invited to come for the festivities, including fashion shows, camp stories, science experiments, cookie booths, and autographs by Disney’s China McClain!

Sara Richardson will be performing in Buzzer at Pillsbury House Theatre through March 18th.

For more information about all of our Teaching Artists visit the Our Artists page of our website.

Simply put, we use the arts to teach social and communication skills. We work with people of all abilities and of all ages. In each of our classes we go over our Guidelines for Good Graces:

1. Raise your hand (if you’ve got something to say, just raise your hand)
2. Respect (treat everyone, including yourself, with kindness)
3. Risk (try new things, challenge yourself)

It’s this third guideline that has really worked its way into my heart, soul, and body over the past year and a half. I’ve always considered myself a risk taker. For example, I moved across the country just because I liked the arts community here in the Twin Cities and ended up running a small theatre company for five years. While that came with some challenges, it was eerily familiar in that I had made big moves before and working in theatre was what I did.

With each passing class (and each discussion of risk), I began to question myself. What risks can I take that aren’t familiar? How can I challenge myself in a new way? I started off small. Never a runner before in my life, I decided to take a risk and run a 5k. I talked with a friend about helping me get started, signed up for a race, and then trained for four months. On April 30 of last year, I completed the Get in Gear 5k and am proud to report that I ran the entire time!

So, why am I telling you all of this? I couldn’t do this amazingly fulfilling work without my friends at Upstream Arts. I couldn’t have run my first 5k without the support of my friends along the way. I’ve been inspired to take on a new risk, but I need your help.

On Sunday, August 12, 2012, I’m participating in my first triathlon! I will swim 500 yards, bike 15.5 miles, and run 5k, all to raise money for Upstream Arts. My goal is to raise $3750. That’s $1250 per segment of swimming, biking, and running. To put that dollar amount into perspective, this would cover over half the costs for one 12-week residency.

I’m launching this fundraiser on February 12, exactly 6 months to the day of the race at Lake Nokomis. I’ve got 6 months to train, and you’ve got 6 months to help me. Think you can spare $5? Awesome! Or $5 a month from now until August? Awesome! Maybe you want to pony up for $100 for one segment of the race? Or $100 for each segment? Awesome! You can donate easily via this website, send in a check with “tri” in the memo line (to Upstream Arts, 3501 Chicago Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55407), or hand me cash money and I’ll make sure it makes its way into the office. Any amount you choose to give will be much appreciated and will help share our unique programming with more people. I’ll acknowledge you as a supporter unless you tell me you’d rather it be an anonymous gift. You’ve got between now and August 12 to make a financial contribution for Swim. Bike. Run. Try., but you’re welcome to continue your support at any amount at any time after the event as well!

I’ve also created a website with more information on this endeavor: http://www.swimbikeruntry.weebly.com

Working with Upstream Arts has changed my life.
Embracing my inner athlete has changed my life.

Please consider supporting me as I take a risk and Swim. Bike. Run. Try. to raise money for Upstream Arts so that more youth and adults with disabilities may try new things in our classes and in their lives.

-Teaching Artist (and Triathalon Trainee) Jess Finney

Visit her fundraising page for more information and to show your support

Jess Finney is starting training for her August triathalon, an event she’s using to fundraise for Upstream Arts (more information to come)!

Charles Fraser will be appearing in Park Square Theatre’s production of The Diary of Anne Frank February 27 – May 18.

Julie Kurtz is in Bolivia working with the Artist’s Collective Colectivo Katari and Casa de Colores.

Charles Fraser is the production designer for Saint Louis Park High School‘s production of “Almost, Maine,” performing January 13, 14, and 15. He is also leading St. Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists‘ improvisation troop, performing at Gremlin Theatre on January 19.

Norah Long will be performing in a public 30th Anniversary concert episode of Pipedreams for American Public Media, on Sunday January 29, to be held at St. Andrews Lutheran Church in Mahtomedi; their IV manual, 108 rank Casavant organ will be featured, along with choral works and Norah as vocal soloist. For those of you who don’t know what a rank or manual is, that’s over 7300 pipes, folks!!  Norah also has another recurring appearance as Juliette Gordon Low for the Girl Scouts organization, as part of their Centennial celebrations.

Sara Richardson is in rehearsals for Flesh and the Desert by Carson Kreitzer and directed by Ben McGovern for the Workhaus Collective.  The show will open in mid-January.

For more information about all of our Teaching Artists, check out the Our Artists page of our website.

After several weeks with our Upstream Arts staff, students become comfortable and free themselves up to participate and make bigger choices as the sessions go on. This is a great asset to the communities we serve as routine and structure creates enough predictability to make anxious participants calm. We also learn where some people struggle and are apprehensive to participate.

About half way through our fall session, I started teaching in classes that I wasn’t regularly in week to week. What I noticed was that a new teaching artist coming into a class whose participants have gotten comfortable, awakens a sense of renewal, of starting fresh. Students become alert as they learn how to work with a new presence in the room. The comments I have consistently been receiving are generally about students who were reluctant to participate, stepping up and taking a risk and surprising all of the regular staff. Now, I’d like to think it’s because of my brilliant teaching that I was able to get them to do what they’ve never done before. But I’ve also seen it in the classes I’ve regularly been teaching each week. A fresh new teaching artist comes into the room and transforms the energy of the group. It is a good reminder that we all need to press that reset button sometimes, see the people with whom you’re working with fresh new eyes, and drop assumptions about their participation. Expect them do what you’ve grown to accept they won’t do. The success we’ve been able to celebrate in class is worth it!

Post by Lindsey Cacich, Upstream Arts Teaching Artist

Charles Fraser will be playing the role of Bob in Actors Theater of Minnesota’s production of Bob’s Holiday Office Party at Camp Bar in downtown Saint Paul, December 9 – 31.  Click here for more information or to purchase tickets.

Julie Kurtz will be performing as part of the Performer Mentor program at Nautilus Music Theater December 5th and 6th.  Click here for more information.

Sara Richardson will be beginning rehearsals for Flesh and the Desert by Carson Kreitzer and directed by Ben McGovern for the Workhaus Collective.  The show will open in mid-January.

For more information about all of our Teaching Artists, check out the Our Artists page of our website.

My voice can be heard
Yes, no I don’t-wait
My fearsome flection facilitates
FREEZE!
The three G’s encourage me.

Open, up, and to the side
Blue polka dot magenta
Surprised-no, scared-hmmmm maybe both
Change
Our interpretation

Move to the current
Upstream makes waves
Now to a count of 8.
Choice collaboration
Words now afloat
Poetry coming to life.

Social suggesting situation adjusting
Multifaceted manner map
Action-now what did you see?
Show us time….the acting explanation
Team trustgetherness.

A poem about Upstream Arts classes by Teaching Artist Ryan Hoag

Official Countdown: Give to the Max in 5 Days – November 16th!

On November 16th, every donation goes further and gives Upstream Arts the chance to earn even more money. Click HERE to learn more about why you should make a donation on Give to the Max Day – November 16th, 2011!

Take a moment to learn more about Upstream Arts by checking out the video above from our 5th birthday event.  It’s a great way to hear our story and see our artists in action.