I Am We Are, Social Justice Theatre at Gustavus
A remarkable 20 years of original social justice theatre performances at Gustavus Adolphus College will be celebrated November 20-22 as the student social justice theatre troupe, I Am, We Are, hosts a weekend of events to commemorate this amazing achievement. Current and past members of I Am, We Are will join on the Gustavus campus in performances, workshops, panels and conversations featuring original advisors Dr. Vanita Vactor, Denise Iverson Payne and others. Performances of We Were, We Are — including vintage I Am, We Are scenes and new works by current members and alumni — will be presented in Anderson Theatre Nov. 21 & 22. Registration for the celebration and tickets for Saturday night’s performance of We Were, We Are are available online. Tickets for the Sunday matinee are available online at gustavustickets.com or by calling 507-933-7590.
I Am, We Are is recognized as the oldest student-run social justice theatre troupe in the nation. It has produced and performed powerful and engaging social justice theatre that promotes conversation and understanding. The group has responded to specific incidents on campus, and has brought these incidents to the attention of the Gustavus and wider communities. Its alumni have carried the experience of working in social justice theatre at Gustavus to every aspect of their lives as artists, educators, activists and leaders. They are engaged citizens who continue to make a difference in the world.
In recognition of the work of I Am, We Are and in anticipation of the celebration, Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton has declared November 21, 2015 as I AM WE ARE Social Justice Theatre Day in Minnesota.
Anniversary activities are open to the public and include theatre and improvisation workshops led by notable alumni, a lunch-theatre performance of monologues developed by the Social Justice Theatre course, and a career panel, in which more than a dozen accomplished alumni discuss the connection between their experience with I Am, We Are and their work in the world. Panel participants include Matt Swenson ’06, press secretary and senior communications advisor for Governor Mark Dayton; Julia Tindell ‘13, Media/Events Specialist & Volunteer Coordinator for Breaking Free; and Brian Evans ‘07, professional performer in the Twin Cities, and recent recipient of the McKnight Fellowship in Dance, among others.
Evans will also host the Anniversary Show, We Were, We Are, which features vintage scenes from 20 years of I Am, We Are’s original material, along with new works performed by current members and a special piece created by recent alumni working in the Twin Cities. Performances of We Were, We Are will be presented on Saturday, November 21 at 8:00 p.m., with a matinee on Sunday, November 22 at 2:00 p.m. in Anderson Theatre on the Gustavus Adolphus College campus.
For further information, or to register for workshops or Saturday show tickets, please visit the reunion webpage. Tickets for the Sunday, November 22 matinee performance are available at the Campus Activities Office desk or online at gustavustickets.edu.
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Media Contact: Director of Media Relations and Internal Communication Luc Hatlestad
luch@gustavus.edu
507-933-7510