CLASSICS RECLAIMED: A Monthly Rehearsed-Reading Series
On the third Thursday of every month, The Tiger’s Hearts Collective hosts CLASSICS RECLAIMED; an online performance event featuring rehearsed-readings of classical material paired with a group discussion. Our aim is to allow female-identifying artists to continue challenging themselves and connecting with each other throughout the pandemic. Together, we are reclaiming existing classical works and redefining the genre to include all artists and all classical traditions/narratives.
CLASSICS RECLAIMED- JULY: BIPOC Artist Hand-Over
For the month of July, we’re handing the space over to fabulous female-identifying BIPOC artists exclusively; celebrating their talents and amplifying their voices.
Female-identifying BIPOC artists are vital contributors to our theatrical landscape. However, their voices are often discounted or excluded completely when it comes to “the classics”. These talented artists must be given the space and support to Reclaim classics that speak to them and Redefine what constitutes “Classical Performance”.
CALLING ALL FEMALE-IDENTIFYING BIPOC ARTISTS:
We want to actively shift the conversation around what “counts” as classical performance. We want to hold a space where your voices are at the heart of that conversation, where your work is celebrated and your resilience is acknowledged.
WHEN: Thursday July 16th at 7pm MST (approx. 2 hours running time including discussion)
WHERE: Ticketed Online Performance, Live-Streamed on a closed platform for ticket holders only
REHEARSAL COMMITMENT: There will be a single group dress rehearsal on Monday July 13th from 7pm-10pm MST to share your work with the cast, establish running order, and work through technical elements. Artists are welcome but not required to stay for the duration of the dress rehearsal. All artists will be given the option to work with a director and/or technical support prior to the dress rehearsal. Other rehearsals will be self-led unless requested.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Midnight, Friday July 10th
PERFORMANCE MATERIAL: This space is yours! Partner with colleague(s) on a challenging scene. Tackle a monologue that someone dared to say wasn’t “your casting”. Share your design artwork or directing vision for an inclusive classical production. Break out of “the canon” entirely and share with us YOUR classical performance traditions; dance, poetry, song, and/or dramatic material. Just get in touch with us at tigersheartscollective@gmail.com to express your interest and share your ideas!
POST-SHOW DISCUSSION: This explorative platform will hold space for all kinds of performances and creative sharing, but the discussion element of Classics Reclaimed is just as vital. Be a part of the conversation surrounding female-identifying BIPOC voices in the classical tradition; why these voices are vital to the tradition, how the theatre community can be better at including these voices, or maybe why BIPOC artists might not want to participate in western classicism at all.
REMUNERATION & FORMAT: We value your work and are working hard to secure funding for the future of this series. In the meantime, the Classics Reclaimed series is operating as a profit-share project. While we love the accessibility of broadcasting our performances live on Facebook, this month’s Classics Reclaimed will be hosted as a ticketed event in a closed online performance platform. This is to provide a safe space for BIPOC artists to share their work, take risks, speak openly, but also to encourage reliable box office returns. All funds from ticket sales will be going directly to the artists. The Tiger’s Hearts Collective, while producing/marketing the event, will be foregoing its company share to demonstrate our unconditional support for BIPOC artists.
Send us an email at tigersheartscollective@gmail.com before midnight on FRIDAY JULY 10th with your headshot, resume and a short description of the work you might like to share/explore. Groups should apply together with all artists information and content details included.
PLEASE NOTE: This event is focussed on celebrating the work of female-identifying BIPOC artists, therefore only those artists identifying as such will be considered. We do not intend to police how any artists chooses to identify and will not require any artist to explain why they identify as a BIPOC/female, however we do ask that white artists in our community respect the spirit of this event and refrain from submitting. Why not buy a ticket to the performance instead and show your support for your fellow artists!
AUDIENCES-ALLIES-ACCOMPLICES:
HOW TO WATCH: This ticketed event will be live-streamed on a closed performance platform on Thursday July 16th at 7pm MST with an approximate running time of 2 hours, including performance and discussion. The event will feature a variety of performances from female-identifying BIPOC artists as well as discussions between those artists, moderated by our host.
HOW TO BUY TICKETS: A limited number of tickets will be released with three pricing brackets (Eventbrite fees apply):
REGULAR Tickets at $20
SPONSOR Tickets at $30
SUPPORT Tickets at $10
HOW IT WORKS: Most of the available tickets will be REGULAR $20. We will also have a limited number of cheaper SUPPORT tickets for those who want to support BIPOC artists but might not be able to do so financially. On the other hand, if you ARE able to contribute more financially, you can purchase a $30 SPONSOR ticket! That extra $10 supplements one SUPPORT ticket, allowing you to sponsor another audience member and encourage active community support for BIPOC artists.
NOTE ON THE DISCUSSION: We want to end harmful gatekeeping in the classical theatre community and practice responsible ally-ship/accomplicing. We’re holding this space exclusively for female-identifying BIPOC artists to showcase their work, share their experiences, and have their voices heard. Performance and discussion will therefore be devoted exclusively to the BIPOC voices we want to amplify. There will be no audience Q&A segment.
For more information on this event or to purchase tickets, please visit www.tigershearts.com or email us at tigersheartscollective@gmail.com.
