Creative Practice Showcases
Opera on the Edge - a House Divided: Exploring Political Diversity through Innovative Lyric Theatre Production
Creative Practice Showcase Philip Seward, Tammie Huntington
A House Divided is a modern opera reflecting the 21st-century American political divide. Created to be presented as a web series, exploring the ever-expanding landscape of innovative lyric theatre production in an effort to engage diverse audiences. The opera explores the complicated and often-controversial topics of faith and politics, inviting conversations around contemporary music, society, and modern-day life. Composed by tenor Philip Seward and developed with soprano Tammie Huntington, the premiere production features the two vocalists with collaborative pianist Lori Lyn Mackie Hewelt and electronics. Synopsis: Tom and Amanda arrive home from a medical fundraiser arguing about the American healthcare system. Amanda, a Republican, holds divergent views on the matter from her husband, Tom, a Democrat. The argument expands to other topics and continues through the night in multiple scenes. The next morning, the couple cannot speak much to one another as the day begins. Amanda hopes to reconcile with the idea that the whole thing will blow over, while Tom cannot come to terms with the deeper issues at stake. Seward and Huntington are committed to exploring creative methods and means for advancing the lyric theatre into the 21st century with relevance to current issues, engaging diverse audiences through modern technology. We discuss the creative process of exploring diverse political views through a lyrical set-theory compositional approach, in addition to the recording, filming, and editing that culminated in the final production. Excerpts from the webisodes are presented with time for Q & A.
Poor Boy's Drag
Creative Practice Showcase Anthony Alterio Anthony
Poor Boy's Drag is a deconstructed drag performance that gives audience members a chance to partake in the making of a Drag Queen. Members of the audience are given tasks that they must complete during the piece when signaled by the Drag Queen that help her "come to life". The piece ultimately is the celebration of Queer joy through chaos and mess with the help of the community and their acceptance of one another to build something together.
Data-Driven Innovation: Transforming Arts Organizations through Public Value Measurement
Creative Practice Showcase Angela Meleca
As the arts and cultural sector continues to evolve, arts organizations must adapt by finding new ways to measure and communicate their impact on communities. Traditional metrics such as audience size and revenue no longer capture the full extent of the value these organizations provide. The Collaborative Arts Impact Initiative (CAII) addresses this gap by introducing data-driven tools that measure transformational outcomes such as emotional well-being, social cohesion, and community engagement. These tools offer a more comprehensive framework for demonstrating the public value of arts programs, thereby reinforcing public trust and supporting sustainable funding. This presentation explores how CAII tools, initially developed for the social services sector, have been successfully adapted for arts organizations. It focuses on the practical application of these tools across different contexts, providing real-world examples from arts institutions that have used data to enhance advocacy efforts and improve community relations. Key topics include: The shift from traditional to transformational metrics in arts leadership; Case studies showcasing successful integration of data tools in arts management; The challenges and opportunities of implementing data-driven strategies in cultural institutions. The presentation concludes with insights on how data can bridge the gap between artistic production and societal accountability, offering actionable strategies for integrating these tools into educational curricula and institutional practices.
