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About ARCo at Saint Kate (a little history lesson)

After the first World War, many ideas came forth about how to stucture society so as to avoid another catastrophe. One of the most elegant of these ideas related to society as a 3-fold structure. Key to this 3-foldness were the ideas of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity; the historians among you will recognize these three elements as the basis of the French Revolution. In 3-fold structure, these impulses act as governing principles for the three realms of society. The idea of Liberty governs the world of arts & culture; Fraternity or Brotherhood rightly governs the world of economics; while Equality organizes social life - whereby we are all equal in the eyes of morality and the law. This 3-fold structure is at its best when the three realms and their governing principles interweave to support and fortify one another.

As a picture of how it could all work in ideal fashion, imagine that each equal but different individual, equipped with gifts and talents (Equality), answers their calling to work in the economic sector or in arts & culture to best fulfill their destiny. Those working in economics generate wealth while those in the world of arts & culture generate beauty. Inspired by that beauty, if the economic sphere provides support (Fraternity/Brotherhood) to the world of arts & culture, allowing artists the space and time to work in freedom to explore their inspirations (Liberty), we would begin to see a society that exists in harmonious interdependence.

This ideal 3-fold structure is the picture of ARCo at Saint Kate. A true gesture of Fraternity/Brotherhood from the Marcus Corporation has made possible the opportunity for not only this theatre company, but also for many other performing and visual artists to follow their inspiration in freedom as they create beauty to enrich and sustain the culture. As an artist for so many years, it has long been my personal dream for the economic sphere to recognize the value of the arts and to offer support in freedom without dictating or constraining content. I am deeply grateful to have been entrusted with the task of shepherding ARCo's work in such a context.

About America Hurrah

This show is comprised of three distinct one-act plays of varying lengths that together paint a picture of American Society as seen through the eyes of van Itallie and his experimental troupe of actors in the 1960's. Though the play's origins include opposition to the the military draft and the Vietnam War, we believe that the themes of these three pieces remain potent and accessible to modern audiences. In The Interview - a Fugue for 8 Actors, we note, through a sometimes comic and sometimes poignant lens, the experience of alienation and loneliness along with the human being's deep need to connect with the other. TV, shows us the precursor to today's reality TV; but what is reality and what is TV? How much power does the media truly have over the people? Motel-a Masque for 3 Dolls, explores the extreme violence involved (perhaps neither good nor bad) as old ideas give way to new impulses. You will also recognize a host of other metaphorical gestures in this short but powerful 15-minute monologue. 

We hope that you will enjoy the shows, but also that they will awaken something in you, possibly shifting your perspective. Maybe they will push you outside of your comfort zone; perhaps leading to further exploration or more questions. Welcome to ARCo and to Saint Kate - The Arts Hotel!