Bluff City Theater, Hannibal, Missouri
Artistic Statement:
Bluff City Theater will be an artist-driven company with an emphasis on literary works that bridge the gap between books and stage. Our aim will be to explore the written word through stage adaptation. The works chosen for adaptation will not be limited exclusively to literature in the strictest sense, and will span a wide array of genres
, including dramas, comedies and musicals. In addition to fully-staged productions, programming could also incorporate readings and concert formats, depending on the scope and needs of the particular work and the best method of presenting it within the limitations of the theater organization. The source material can be from anywhere in the world and may be selected based on a variety of criteria, but always from an artist-centric bias. For example, seasons could be built around broad themes, specific authors, or specific characters as seen through the eyes of different authors. While we will be primarily a producing company, we may from time-to-time present other works consistent with our artistic mandate. Bluff City Theater will seek to enhance the quality of life in the Northeastern Missouri/Western Illinois/Southeastern Iowa region by producing high-quality performances in an intimate setting, employing the best directors, designers, actors, musicians and technicians available. The theater will commit itself to developing new works as well as reviving old favorites, especially those that may be forgotten, under-performed or under-appreciated. The theater will seek, first and foremost, to entertain, but its mandate will extend to educating audiences and fostering a larger discussion around the works and their themes, as well as an appreciation of the role live theater plays in propagating ideas and public discourse. As an ancillary to its primary goals, the theater will partner with the larger arts community when appropriate to foster a broader exploration of themes using other forms such as lecture, film and the visual arts. As part of its mandate, the theater will commit to youth by nurturing among successive generations an awareness of and love for literature and the performing arts. This will be accomplished through a broad spectrum of initiatives and activities aimed at including youth in the fabric of the theater organization. In addition, one play in each season will be dedicated to children's literature, historic or current. For the purposes of this document:
- Literary Works is defined as works by or about books, works that began as books or stories about authors or literary characters.
- Artist-Driven is defined as selecting work based on the best talent available, rather than selecting the work and then casting to it.
- Artist-Centric Bias is defined as emphasizing talent quality over production value and other considerations.
