Wayne State Scenic Design Students Transform 'A LOT of Space' into Theatre Space, 9/10-10/22

Wayne State University's Assistant Professor and Head MFA in Theatre Set Design Pegi Marshall-Amundsen, Magenta Giraffe Theatre Company's Executive Artistic Director Frannie Shepherd-Bates, Wayne State University scenic design graduate students, and members of the midtown community will transform A LOT of Space at the Northeast corner of Canfield and Cass Avenue into an innovative space for theatre companies and performers. This is a project of ArtsCorpsDetroit's Lots of Art and will continue through three phases from September 10-October 22, 2012. The project also is supported by Wayne State University's Office of Economic Development. Ongoing information about A LOT of Space may be found on the Facebook event page at https://www.facebook.com/events/460115587345420/.
 
The goal of Lots of Art is to enhance vacant lots through art, with a parallel aim to affect the social and economic fabric of the city – engendering cohesiveness and pride in neighborhoods and empowering individuals to realize that they have the creative capacity to transform their lives and their environment. A Lot of Space will draw attention to the need for space as well as the overwhelming about of unused space in Detroit. The project will provide homeless theatre companies and performers with a performance venue in an empty lot. This project will be a highly visual installation in the Midtown environment, will bring life to an empty space for a brief moment in time, and will engage the community to help support a local homeless theatre while bringing attention to the green initiatives in the Midtown area. 

The project will be a highly visible and visually exciting installation around a central magenta stage that will be an exhibition of three phases: CREATION, LIFE, and RE-CREATION.
 
CREATION: September 10-18. This phase consists primarily of Lot transformation, donation collecting, building and installation of the central stage.
 
LIFE: September 19 – October 18. During this time, performers will have the opportunity to exhibit their work between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.
 
RE-CREATION: October 19-22. This phase will include a culminating weekend Lot Sale, relocation and community dinner.

Those interested in donating, bring us your used outdoor furniture, garden and landscaping tools, upholstered furniture, linens of all kinds, small household items, building materials - lumber, PVC, and, if you have them, shingles! If you bring it we will use it! Drop off times are Thursday, September 6, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.; Friday, September 7, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Those interested in performing, e-mail Frannie Shepherd-Bates at frannie@magentagiraffe.org to obtain an application form. All performance inquiries should go to this email address, not to Wayne State University or ArtsCorpsDetroit. Performers should note that extensive profanity, nudity and real or simulated drug use will not be allowed. 
 
Those interested in volunteering during any phase of the event should contact Pegi Marshall-Amundsen at pmarshall@wayne.edu.
 
This year marks the 50th season at the Hilberry Theatre. The Hilberry Theatre is unique. It is the nation's first and only graduate repertory theatre company, charged with presenting six classic and modern plays in rotating repertory from October to mid-May. The company is composed of 40-45 actors, costume, lighting and scenic designer-technicians, stage managers and theatre managers who work under the direction of a professional faculty and staff.  The members of the company, chosen in nationwide auditions and interviews, receive training that leads to graduate degrees in acting, directing, design, or management.  
 
Outside the Box is a program in which student designers are challenged to participate in and create visual exhibitions outside the confines of the theatre. This is a two-fold experience, where the student's work gains more exposure on campus and throughout the urban community, while the community is publicly exposed to the creative work of a scenic designer outside of the theatres. Example projects are WSU's Annual Art Parade, full-scale installations and small-scale performance installations.  Through these projects, students have created costumes and participated in the Annual Art Parade, performed and presented exhibitions at public libraries, academic buildings, and local establishments around the WSU Campus.
 
Magenta Giraffe Theatre Company is a 501(c)3, nonprofit organization that acts to eliminate apathy, violence, prejudice and barriers to education through theatre productions, projects and programs; and further acts to reestablish and expand Detroit's theatre district.   
 
ArtsCorpsDetroit is a community-based program at Wayne State University that offers service-learning courses and volunteer opportunities for students and others who want to help revitalize the urban community through the arts. ArtsCorpsDetroit is open to all Wayne State University students and also invites participation from the Detroit community.
 
As a leader and partner in the revitalization of Midtown, Wayne State University is committed to being a good neighbor in a good neighborhood.  As Midtown continues to emerge as a neighborhood of choice in Detroit, the Office of Economic Development at Wayne State seeks to leverage the assets of the university to be a catalyst for growth, including creating new opportunities to connect the more than 30,000 students and 8,000 faculty and staff members to the diverse array of restaurants, shops, entertainment, and arts and cultural venues throughout the neighborhood.

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