Every year I look forward to our Partner Producer roll-call process! We’ve had the good fortune to work with so many awesome theatre companies and producers, that I almost can’t believe it. This year we have quite a few new partners to cheer on and thank – so we’ll be posting “Spotlight On…” series to give them the applause they deserve!
This week we’re celebrating Bemidji State University & Mask and Rose Women’s Theatre Collective in Bemidji, MN, who will be co-presenting a reading of semi-finalists on Jan 21st (in connection with International Women’s Voices Day!)
Bemidji State University
The city of Bemidji is the first city on the Mississippi River and sits on Lake Bemidji, originally named bemijigamaa, which in Ojibwe means “a lake with crossing waters.” At BSU we strive to create an innovative, interdisciplinary and highly accessible learning environment. We promote service to others, preservation of the earth, and respect and appreciation for the diverse peoples of our region and world.
Although BSU doesn’t have a theatre program, the University produces an annual Madrigal Dinner and an annual Opera, as well as a number of new play development events in partnership with community and professional regional theatre organizations. It is our hope that we will be able to expand these collaborations to become a regional hub for the development of new plays created by a variety of diverse peoples and voices.
The Mask and Rose Women’s Theater Collective
The Mask and Rose Women’s Theater Collective is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to supporting, empowering, and creating opportunities for women in the performing arts. Mask and Rose seeks to ignite broad public recognition of the essential contribution women have made to the worlds of theatre and dramatic literature. The second primary mission is to offer youth in the region opportunities to be a part of quality theatre experiences through creating children’s productions. The Mask and Rose Women’s Theater Collective was founded in 2006 by Cate Belleveau, Artistic Director and Patty Lester, Managing Director.
To learn more about new play development at Bemidji State University, please contact Season Ellison (sellison@bemidjistate.edu). To learn more about the Mask and Rose Women’s Theater Collective, please contact maskrose57@gmail.com or visit www.maskrose.com.
Bemidji State University & Mask and Rose Women’s Theatre Collective will be reading the following plays in the BSU blockbox on Jan 21st at 2pm:
The Bees Are Watching, by C.J. Ehrlich – Chappaqua, NY
Peggy, by Paula Goldberg – Dallas, Texas
Exceeding The Purchasable Calories, by Rhea MacCallum – Downey, CA
One Loud Little Chicken, by Nancy Cooper Frank – San Francisco, CA
Only One Letter Short, by Karen Loseff Lothan – Chicago, Illinois
Recipe for a Play, by Rebecca Zelanin – Grove City, Ohio
Congratulations to these incredible playwrights, and a HUGE thank you to Bemidji State and Mask and Rose Women’s Theatre Collective!
