Dear Friends,

What do an eccentric neighbor, a banana and a package of wrapped chicken left on our doorstep have to do with the state of the economy and Dell'Arte's future? I'll explain at the end of this letter.

Some days I feel the news can be dangerous to your health. Here we are in the midst of tough times, yet with this promise of hope and change on the horizon. It is a roller coaster ride and my stomach never did well with them. And I find that when there is a need to face times like this, my first instinct is to look inward for answers.

In our work here at Dell'Arte, we know we have to do the opposite. We must look outward first. We must look outward to you and to the core of why we do this, because our mission is to serve our community.

We do that by creating theatre that engages this place, which takes the barometer of our ideas, dreams, conflicts and inspirations. We do that by making theatre that moves us to laughter and beyond. We do that by engaging our children in ways that fire their creativity and imagination. We do that by creating the only professional theatre training of its kind in the world to engender the next generation of actor/creators. We do that by making a festival each summer that brings us together around amazing work from around the world and down the block.

At this writing, our holiday show is about to play to more than 7,000 children and families for free during this holiday season, as well as collect food at each performance for the local food banks. Our masters students are about to begin their community-based projects with groups like the Raven Project and HCAR. And the company is touring TARTUFFE around the world first Boston, next Texas and then Italy.

Thornton Wilder wrote, "I regard the theatre as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being." In these times, we believe that coming together to share what it is to be a human being is essential.

We feel emboldened by the challenge of this time and know that there is great possibility in this moment. Our work over the past 38 years seems poised to take yet another evolution and leap forward. To accomplish this, we need you. It is because of your support and generosity that we are able to do what we do. And in that exchange hopefully we give back to you.

Now about that chicken ... last week a wind-blown woman whipped open the door to Dell'Arte and bellowed in a smoky rasp, "Here's your banana and your chicken." She then fled down the street like a double espresso fueled Santa. What can you do but say "thank you." Gifts come in all shapes and sizes. And on behalf of all of us at Dell'Arte, including staff, actors, students and board, we thank you for your gift.  And we wish you all best for the holidays.

Michael Fields
Producing Artistic Director

 
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