Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
Chicago IL 60613
(252)-220-0269
Executive Summary
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Every person has the capacity to create art. Every person has the right to
experience and enjoy the art of others. Unfortunately, not every person who has the
right to experience and enjoy art has the means to do so. With ticket prices rising more
and more people are excluded from art that they deserve. Theatre is cathartic, it allows
us to have conversations and brings a group of people together to experience a story.
Why then, is theatre not accessible to everyone? This is what Oracle Productions
combats with its Public Access Theatre initiative and by charging no money for
admission to any show. Its not only high ticket prices that prevent an entire
demographic from attending theatre. One of the barriers that blocks theatre from
reaching everyone who needs and desires it is the lack of arts education in schools.
This is something that can lead to an ignorance of the arts for some students. If
students are not continuously exposed to the arts how will the know that the arts are
there? A second barrier, one that many of us do not even think about is mobility. There
are millions of people in the United States who are confined to hospitals and nursing
homes, unable to go to museums, art galleries, or theatre.
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Currently, Oracles outreach program The Radio Movement, travels to those in
hospitals and retirement homes who cannot physically come to them. Using original
recordings from popular radio shows from the early to mid 20th century The Radio
Movements actors create what the minds of those listening years ago did in their head
by using pantomime, shadow puppetry, movement, and projections. In 2012 more than
600 people got to enjoy 30 minutes of theatre that they may not have experienced
otherwise. Under the leadership of Oracles Director of Community Outreach, Hannah
Friedman, The Radio Movement has been traveling to locations across Chicago for 4
years. Looking toward the future Oracle plans to expand its reach by including
elementary schools on The Radio Movements tours. Through this expansion and
looking further into the future Oracle sees the potential to grow an education branch of
community outreach.
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Oracle Productions is requesting a grant of $3,500 from The Pritzker Traubert
Family Foundation to jump start the growth and expansion of The Radio Movement. The
money from this grant will enable Oracle to update sets and purchase equipment
necessary for the continuation of The Radio Movement, the investments made will
continue to benefit the program for years to come.
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Since incorporating in 2005 and committing to providing cost free performances
through the Public Access Theatre initiative in 2010 Oracle has gained substantial
public support, running a majority of operations on donations from audience members
and monthly sponsors who give from $5 a month to $10,000 a year. Oracle believes you
cant live without art, so we are devoted to making sure everyone everywhere has a
chance to experience the arts. We collaborate with other organizations to engage them
in this mission. We are committed to spreading a love for art worldwide and we want
you to join us in our cause. Oracle is art for all.
Statement of Need
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Since launching the business initiative Public Access Theatre in 2010, Oracle
Productions has brought free performing arts events to the city of Chicago. Thanks to
generous donors who believe in Oracles mission to foster creativity and bolster
peoples aspirations each and every ticket reserved over the past 4 years has been
paid for. But providing free performing arts events is just scratching the surface of what
Public Access Theatre can do. Along with the launch of PAT Oracle also created their
outreach program The Radio Movement. Oracle believes that Everyone needs art to
live a full life. as part of their PAT Oracle caters to those who cannot experience their
work in their space by bringing the work to them. In 2012 more than 600 people got to
experience The Radio Movement in 6 nursing homes and hospitals across the city of
Chicago who's residents otherwise would not have been able to attend the show.
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Its no secret that there is a gap in the ability to access theatre. On one side
those who can afford to pay for expensive tickets and have the means to travel to the
theatre to see a show; on the other side are those who cannot afford to spend money
on the art that they need and do not have the ability to get to the theatre even if they
could afford a ticket. This is not acceptable. Audience members who have been
fortunate to participate in The Radio Movement have enjoyed every piece of the show
from the construction of the set before their eyes to conversing with the actors after the
shows conclusion.
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The residents of Maple Pointe Apartments, a location The Radio Movement has
visited and had many interactions with were even inspired to start their own drama club:
the Maple Pointe Players. Without a program like The Radio Movement to commit to
providing accessible theatre and to commit to lifelong enrichment through the arts this
wonderful club would never have been formed.
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The Radio Movement is not like any other cost free traveling entertainment.
Through the integration of existing material, the power of imagination and compelling
styles of performance Oracle has created a one of a kind program that is unlike any
other.
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In the performing arts and in life, change is inevitable and to Oracle Productions
change means growth. With hopes of expanding the number of locations,
performances, and lives touched by The Radio Movement the generous donations from
Oracles monthly sponsors that currently support the majority of programing is simply
not enough. With the $3,500 received from The Pritzker Traubert Family Foundation
Oracle will be able to enhance the quality of The Radio Movement to bring it to the level
of the mainstage shows aesthetically, increase the pay of the actors, and make it
possible to increase the number of venues where Oracle performs. Help those who
cannot come to the theatre live a full life by experiencing this unique theatrical
experience.
Project Description
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With the money received from The Pritzker Traubert Family Foundation, Oracle
Productions hopes to expand and improve The Radio Movement to not only serve a
larger and more diverse audience, but to also fulfill the mission even further by creating
a visual experience that fits the aesthetic of the mainstage productions. At the moment
Oracle brings classic radio serials such as Gunsmoke, Lucille Balls My Favorite
Husband, and The Adventures of Phillip Marlowe to life in nursing homes and
hospitals throughout Chicago, free of charge to the facilities. Along with the original
broadcast recordings of these radio classics actors use live action, pantomime, and
shadow puppetry to spark the audiences imagination as the programs once did when
they were originally aired. Through these brief, half-hour snapshots of history, audiences
will revel in the charming stories that inspire their imagination. We hope to revitalize,
revive, and revamp this great program in order to do that. To greaten the impact of this
unique program there are several goals and objectives that must be reached.
1. Expand the types of facilities The Radio Movement visits and performs at.
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Historically Oracle Productions has brought our outreach program The Radio
Movement to retirement homes and hospitals. The reason for this is so that we can
follow our belief that art is for everyone by catering to communities who are
underserved in the performing arts. Another community that is underserved are
elementary school students in the public school system; many of whom will go through
their educational careers with little or no arts aspects of their education outside of extra
curricular activities. By expanding the range of communities served by The Radio
Movement the mission is further fulfilled by creating publicly accessible art.
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We will first propose our cost free performance to school officials of the Chicago
Public School system, citing that The Radio Movement is not the typical performance
with its unique use of radio recordings as well as discussing our desire to include
elementary school students in the shared experience that is The Radio Movement.
Radio entertainment is no longer what it used to be. We no longer tune in every week to
listen to comedic stories and epic tales. It is important to know the history of ones
country and the stories of what came before. These kids, like many adults today will
never experience a world where television, movies, computers, and video games are
not the main source of entertainment. Learning about the technology that preceded their
own and the traditions that thousands of families shared as they sat around their radio
will expand their knowledge, open their minds to other forms of entertainment, and build
their imagination.
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Once approved by school officials we will research various CPS elementary
schools, noting their available space for performances, their schedule of events for the
school year, location, and the principals interest in allowing The Radio Movement and
Oracle to be guests at their school. Based on that criteria as well as the availability and
schedule of the schools Oracle will select 3 schools to visit and schedule dates and
times that the performances will take place.
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As the years pass and the The Radio Movement gains recognition within the
CPS community Oracle will visit more schools and enrich the lives of even more
elementary school students.
1a. Begin the creation of an educational stem to accommodate the new audience
of elementary school students
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In order to provide an effective and captivating experience for students The
Radio Movement productions that travel to hospitals and retirement homes will need to
include some attachments in programming to ensure that this theatrical experience is
not only fun and entertaining, but educational too. We believe that students in grades
3-5 will benefit the most from The Radio Movement. They are old enough to pay
attention and sit still through a performance as well as old enough to comprehend and
understand the stories The Radio Movement tells. Depending on the school it is
anticipated that all 3 grades will not be able to fit in the performance space. If this is the
case and the school does not have a preference on which grades attend the
performance Oracle will give preference to the 3rd graders. We believe that the
fostering of imagination and creativity that occurs in the performances will have a
greater impact on 3rd graders as opposed to 5th graders.
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Before each performance a cast member will speak to the students about the
roles that the radio played in public entertainment and explain what The Radio
Movement does with the recordings that their grandparents or great grandparents once
listened to live. After the conclusion of the performance teachers will give their students
a small assignment. The assignment will ask the students what they learned, what their
favorite part of the show was, and will invite them to draw a picture. By being invited to
draw a picture the students are encouraged to strengthen their imagination through
inspiration from the imaginative experience they just had.
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We believe that by starting with only a 3 schools as participants in the first year of
this new expansion will provide a solid foundation to the future growth of an educational
program. With this foundation Oracle will be able to evaluate and edit the educational
element added to The Radio Movement through testimonials, feedback, and if The
Radio Movement is invited back by the administration. With this information we will be
able to edit and enhance the quality of an educational program that can be attached to
The Radio Movement and in time Oracle will have a strong, established, unique, and
sought after educational program.
2. Commit to increasing the number of facilities and organizations The Radio
Movement visits and performs at.
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Since The Radio Movement began in 2010 Oracle has brought new visual life to
old radio shows in a number of locations in the Chicagoland area, ranging from 4 to 6
locations a year; these locations include a number of nursing homes and hospitals.
Oracle Productions wants to be able to provide the cost free experience of the
performing arts to more people at more locations. Since we now plan to include schools
to our list of locations we will be able to expand the number of performances we give.
We want to use this as an opportunity to increase the numbers of facilities and people
served even more. This upcoming season Oracle plans on bringing The Radio
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Timeline
Year and a half prior to first performance:
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1. Select show for The Radio Movement.
Year and 3 months prior to first performance:
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1.Begin reaching out to CPS, inquire about interest in having The Radio
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Movement perform in schools.
Year and 2 months prior to first performance:
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1. Select 3 CPS schools where The Radio Movement will perform.
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2. Begin scheduling dates and times of CPS performances.
Year prior to first performance:
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1. Begin reaching out to hospitals, inquire about interest in having The Radio
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Movement perform.
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2. Begin reaching out to retirement homes, inquire about interest in having The
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Radio Movement perform.
11 months prior to first performance:
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1. Select 5 retirement homes that The Radio Movement will perform at.
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2. Select 4 hospitals that The Radio Movement will perform at.
8-10 months prior to first performance:
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1. Schedule dates and times of retirement home performances.
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2. Schedule dates and times for hospital performances.
4 months prior to first performance:
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1. Hold first design meetings.
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1a.How to enhance and edit what is already owned.
2 months prior to first performance:
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1. Hold auditions for The Radio Movement.
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2. Cast The Radio Movement (6-8 actors).
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3. Begin set build/enhancement.
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4. Begin light design.
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5. Begin sound design.
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6. Begin projection design.
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7. Create educational assignment and materials for CPS performances.
1 month and 2 weeks prior to first performance:
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1. Begin rehearsals for The Radio Movement.
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2. Begin prop selection.
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3. Begin costume selection.
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Project Budget
3,500
Set
Projections
Sound
Lights
Costumes
Props
Truck Rental
Food
Director stipend
Artist stipends
Total expenses
200
150
300
300
350
200
300
350
350
1,000
3,500
Net
29,069
9,977
39,046
1,000
23,030
1,316
960
940
2,150
1,343
2,385
2,395
2,373
342
125
1,070
649
38
7,720
345
1,565
4,249
53,995
-14,949
39,052
24,103
10
5,652
44,105
20,856
23,249
4,798
4,789
24,103
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Staffing
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The responsibility to jump start an educational attachment to The Radio
Movement, as well as the responsibility of enhancement and increased production value
will fall to Hannah Friedman, Oracles Director of Community Outreach. Others who will
be involved with The Radio Movement are Lyndsay Kane, our Casting Director, Joan
Pritchard, our Resident Costume Designer, and Max Truax, our Artistic Director who will
be the director of the upcoming production. With all of these staff members shifting their
focus on revamping this special program this means the focus on their other projects
may potentially decrease.
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We are asking for the exact cost of $3,500 from The Pritzker Traubert Family
Foundation to increase the production value of The Radio Movement. With these
projected costs covered the success of the program will not be based on the amount of
money potentially lost but rather in the experiences of the audience and the amount of
people affected by The Radio Movement.
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During this new and exciting transition all focus will go into securing venues,
creating a better set, scheduling and hosting rehearsals, and laying the groundwork for
a future educational program. This project has the potential to grow into its own
program and branch of Oracles Public Access Theatre initiative.
Sustainability
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After receiving assistance with the financials of The Radio Movement this first
year Oracle will not need further assistance in that way for the following years. Oracle
intends on using the new and improved sets for future Radio Movement shows, only
changing little bits and pieces if necessary, meaning that the costs of sets will decrease
drastically from the first year to the second. If the money allocated for sound and lights
goes to purchasing our own equipment instead of renting those costs will also drop. The
same can be said for costumes and props.
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In 2010 when The Radio Movement first began Oracle was thankful to receive a
a grant from the Million Dollar Round Table Foundation (the amount comparable to that
currently requested from The Pritzker Traubert Family Foundation). MDRT planted the
seed that is The Radio Movement and Oracle was able to water and tend to it. That was
4 years ago and so much has changed. Oracle is now a multi-award wining company
whos revenue from grants, gifts, and donations has nearly doubled. Oracle Productions
is growing, and its outreach programs long to grow with it. The money generously given
from The Pritzker Traubert Family Foundation will provide fertilization to the young
sapling that is The Radio Movement and enable it to grow taller and stronger than ever
before.
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Organizational Information
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Oracles Mission
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Oracle believes you cant live without art, so we are devoted to making sure
everyone everywhere has a chance to experience the arts. By offering our art to the
community for free, we foster creativity and bolster peoples aspirations. We collaborate
with other organizations to engage them in this mission. We are committed to spreading
a love for art worldwide and we want you to join us in our cause. Oracle is art for all.
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Conclusion
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If the future of Oracle Productions and The Radio Movement is bright then the
futures of our audiences are even brighter. In a perfect world for Oracle every person no
matter their socioeconomic background or physical ability or health will be able to
experience the theatre and art that they have the right to participate in. Breaking down
the barriers that prevent individuals from accessing art has been Oracles priority since
2010 and it will continue to be a priority for years to come. The Radio Movement is one
of the tools necessary to bring down those barriers and to let those on the other side
join us in experiencing the power of theatre and art.
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Thanks to The Pritzker Traubert Family Foundations generous grant Oracle can
fight even harder to bring theatre to those who do not have the ability to get to the
theatre themselves. Nothing should stop us from experiencing something beautiful. No
person should not be served by art. This is what we stand for as a company and as
artists and this is what The Radio Movement stands for as a program.
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