Since its founding
more than ten years ago, That Uppity Theatre Company has continually explored new directions and reinvented itself based upon needs we identified in the community. Beginning with social and political satire, we have segued into a variety of meaningful projects over the years including The Disability Project, the Nadadada Festival, the Alternate Currents/Direct Currents (AC/DC), and
the Women CenterStage! Series.
Now, once again, after seven highly successful seasons drawing national attention to the AC/DC Series, we
have revamped our focus and have developed a new direction. We are addressing the growing need in the community to create rather than primarily consume culture. Thus,
we are now focusing on the development of a large scale community-based piece about gay male identity as seen through the eyes of St. Louisans.
Under the direction of Joan Lipkin, Artistic Director, we have
developed work through a series of weekly workshops with 15-20 participants per
session. At our sessions, we engaged in conversation, writing, sound, movement,
and theatrical exercises to develop and create a repertoire of pieces about gay
male identity.
The Louie Project empowers individuals, honors their stories,
fosters community, sparks imagination, develops talent and enhances public
awareness about gay male culture and appreciation for differences.
Joining in our efforts to make this project possible were the Gateway Men's
Chorus, Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), Growing
American Youth, St. Louis Effort for AIDS (EFA), Pride St. Louis, Outlook, the
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and Blacks Assisting Blacks Against AIDS
(BABAA).
To facilitate multiple aesthetic and experiential perspectives, we also worked
with other local artists, including Ed Reggi, of St. Louis Improv,
dancer/choreographer J.T. Ricroft, and actor/teacher Karen Werner.
The Project performed for several of our partners in a series of short
performances which began in January of this year. Some of these performances
included the Tap Room for PROMO, the Ethical Society for PFLAG, Queerfest
at Washington University and the Steps Alano Cabaret.
These performances encouraged feedback from the community and increased exposure
for the project, building momentum in the community for our large-scale production
Nov. 23-24, 2002 at Blueberry Hill.
"I've been surprised at how universal some of the themes are that we have
come up with in the workshops. The emotions that have been generated by our work
so far have been felt by all people, not just gay men. I think as a community we
do have distinct characteristics, but I am always drawn to theatre, stories,
music that reminds me of how much we are all alike instead of how different. It
is possible to be different and similar at the same time. It's all about love,
anyway; we all just want to be loved."
~ Louie Participant
