I recently reached out to Festival producers who will be mounting their “44P” shows before October to learn more about any side projects, community involvement, or creative undertakings they’ll be tying to their production. I mean – that’s what, at its heart, this Festival is all about: Conversation. Creativity. Action. (All in the name of history and political engagement!)

Gwen Rice, Director of Communications at Forward Theater Co., was ready with an answer. Several in fact. Madison, WI-based Forward Theater Co. already has multiple projects in mind, including pre-show talks before Thursday and Sunday shows to discuss historical background, source materials, and production elements; post-show talkbacks after every show with Artistic Director, Jennifer Uphoff Gray; a presidential portrait gallery created by local artists – to run in tandem in remount with an earlier exhibition of first ladies; educational outreach to get students in to see the show; and a possible addition of a “red night” and a “blue night” wherein audiences and organizations can come out in support of their personal political affiliation.

The amazing part? This sort of additional programming is nothing new. I just had to learn more.

(more…)