Millwork Conversations Presented by Google | The Importance of Arts Education – Performance

Millwork Conversations will provide an opportunity to learn from people across communities right here in Nebraska and across the country about new ideas and what’s possible – how to push past real and imagined boundaries. Each month will provide an inspiring, memorable experience for attendees through compelling conversations.

In August we will discuss the importance of Arts Education, hearing from a few of Omaha’s leading artists as they discuss the instrumental hand that quality programming has to skyrocket Omaha’s young professionals from the building blocks of childhood interest in the arts, through grueling and worthwhile collegiate courses, and into the spotlight of budding success.

Our speakers will include Denise Chapman, Matt Gutschick, and Steven Williams. Our panel will be kick off with a poem performed by Zendeka Poindexter. In addition to the panel discussion, Nebraska Writers Collective and the Great Plains Theatre Commons will be present to share information about their programs and offerings in the Omaha community.

—

Denise Chapman graduated from Creighton University with a BA in theatre in 2001. She went on to receive her MFA from the Theatre Conservatory at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. After graduation she performed with Qwest Educational Programs touring elementary and middle schools in the greater Chicago land area and worked as a Solo performing artist. She returned to Omaha in 2006 and worked with Blue Barn’s Witching hour for three years as Co-Artistic director/ensemble member and at the Omaha Community Playhouse as the director of education and outreach.

She is a strong believer that art changes our lives for the better, it gives a voice to those who feel like they are not being heard, and expresses a vision of hope to all those who are touched by it. She is an alumni of the fellowship program at the Union for Contemporary Art. She was an Artist in Residence at the Carver Bank project, a collaboration between Bemis and Theaster Gates and “Liveness is Critical” at the Bemis Center. Currently she is the Artistic Director of  Theatre, The Union for Contemporary Art and an adjunct professor at Metro Community College and the University of Nebraska Omaha. Past Directing Credits include The Divine Order of Becoming, Bourbon at the Border, Center the Margins, and The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin. More Than Neighbors (The Union) The Crowd You’re in, Neighborhood Tapestries, Voices from the Center– Great Plains Theatre Festival (GPTC), Withlove Felicia, Love is not Abuse – Malcom X Center, House of Blue Leaves, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf (Circle Theatre),The Good Doctor  (Creighton University)  Sand Mountain and Brighton Beach Memoirs  (Midland Lutheran University) Sweet, Tell Martha Not to Moan, Marvelous Country, Turpentine Jake (Readings for GPTC) The Nightshade Tapes, Hello Madness, If, and Hysterical Blindness 3  (Blue Barn’s Witching Hour) Acting credits include: Mildred D Brown – Northside Carnation, Sophie- Flying West, Ester- Intimate Apparel Omaha Community Playhouse, Loretta- Breathe– GPTC, Ensemble- Down and out in Heaven and Hell – Blue Barn’s Witching Hour, Just…-Hot House, Spook- Shoes – Victory Gardens Theatre Chicago, IL.

Matt Gutschick (he/him/his) is Artistic Director of The Omaha Theater Company (The Rose) where he has directed Howie D: Back In The Day (World Premiere), Matilda, Elf The Musical (OEA for Best Direction), Harold And The Purple Crayon (OEA for Best Direction), Prancer (World Premiere). During his tenure, The Rose opened a new 27,000 sq. ft. dedicated education space called The Rose Studios For Youth Artists. Matthew is a graduate of the School at Steppenwolf, member of Lincoln Center Directors Lab, and holds a BA from Wake Forest University and an MFA from the Yale School of Drama. He recently wrapped service on the national board of Theater For Young Audiences, where he was Vice President for the last four years.

Steven L. Williams is the Theatre Coordinator and Full Professor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Steven is a freelance scenic, lighting, and graphic designer who has designed over one hundred fifty productions with such notable theatre companies as the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, the Nebraska Shakespeare Festival, Omaha Community Playhouse, The Rose Theatre, Theatre Aspen, Heritage Repertory Theatre, Indiana University, Brown County Playhouse, and Mcleod Summer Playhouse.

Since 1998, Steven has designed scenery for Thorn Productions, which produces The Thorn, one of the largest touring church productions in the country. Steven recently served as Production Designer and Theatre Consultant for a filmed production of The Thorn, which will be globally distributed. Steven was recognized by the Omaha Theatre Arts Guild for Outstanding Scenic Design for A Streetcar Named Desire, and Outstanding Lighting Design for Dark Play, Or Stories for Boys. His designs for Dark Play were also recognized by the Omaha Arts and Entertainment Awards committee.

His most rewarding design work has been for a police investigation/training facility for Project Harmony in Omaha, NE. Steven is in his twenty-sixth year with UNO.

—

Timeline:

5:30pm | Doors Open

6:00pm | Conversation Kick Off!

6:45pm | Q&A

7:00pm | Stick Around for a Social Hour with us in Kros Strain Draft Works

*Kros Strain’s new Draft Works location is right next to us in The Dock at Millwork Commons!