HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-644-E-Arts Commission-The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - PlayMakers Repertory Company-Developing new work and young artistsGRASSROOTS ARTS PROGRAM / ARTIST PROJECT GRANT 2024-25
Grantee Name
Authorizing Official Name
Email
Project Title
Award
Grant Category ☐Grassroots Arts Program ☐Artist Project Grant Program
Funding Source ☐North Carolina Arts Council ☐Orange County
Grant project period July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025
As Authorizing Official, I acknowledge the following terms and understand if they are not met, I jeopardize future
funding opportunities from the Orange County Arts Commission. I understand a Compliance Score is issued for future
grants based on my adherence to the following terms:
OCAC Report Due Monday, July 14, 2025
Multicultural Spending Grantee must spend $ on the hiring of multicultural artists as specified
in the grant application.
Crediting and logo usage All grantees must properly credit the Orange County Arts Commission using the
proper logo on all publicity materials for the funded program. Recipients of
operations-related grants must include the OCAC logo with link to
www.artsorange.org on grantee’s website. If funding source is listed as N.C. Arts
Council above, grantee must also properly credit the N.C. Arts Council using the
proper logos and N.C. Arts Council credit line on all publicity materials for
funded program. Download logos on the OCAC website at
https://artsorange.org/grants/grantee-resources.
Calendar Listing Grantee must enter all events, exhibits, and performances open to the
public and related to this grant award on the Orange County Arts Commission
website at www.artsorange.org/events.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - PlayMakers Repertory Company
Thomas Lee, Authorized Representative
tblee@email.unc.edu
Developing new work and young artists
$4,500.00
4
4
4,500.00
Docusign Envelope ID: 5C256EF3-BBCD-4FD6-922F-A5FC9410DC42
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Revised August 2022
ORANGE COUNTY
ARTS COMMISSION
2024-25 GRANT
AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT, entered into this 6 day of September, 2024, by and between Orange
County ("County"), by and through the Orange County Arts Commission ("Arts
Commission") and ("Grant Recipient").
WHEREAS, the Arts Commission is a countywide arts agency that ensures the growth of
local arts experiences by providing funding and support for diverse high quality programs and
projects.
WHEREAS, the Arts Commission administers the annual Grants Program to provide
economic opportunities to Orange County artists and non-profit organizations coordinating arts
projects benefiting the citizens of Orange County.
WHEREAS, the annual Arts Grants Program is supported by Arts Commission with
funds from the Grassroots Arts Program of the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the
Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, a state agency.
WHEREAS, the Grant Recipient was selected by the Arts Commission to receive
the annual Arts Grant through the procedures duly adopted by the Arts Commission; and
WHEREAS, both parties wish to promote and maintain the integrity and clarity of the
Grant Recipient's ideas and statements and delineate the Grant Recipient’s obligations to the
County;
NOW, THEREFORE, the County and the Grant Recipient, for the consideration
and under the conditions hereinafter set forth, agree as follows:
1.Approved Grant Project. Grant funds are provided under this Agreement for the project
(“Project”) described in the Grant Recipient’s Grant Application, attached hereto and
incorporated herein as Exhibit A.
2.Grant Award. Grant funds in an amount not to exceed ($ )
have been awarded by the Arts Commission to the Grant Recipient for the approved
Project. The Recipient shall be required to match funds at least dollar-for-dollar with cash
from the Grant Recipient’s funds not derived from either Orange County appropriations or
the North Carolina Arts Council, as outlined in the attached Exhibit A.
3.Contingency. This grant is contingent on North Carolina Arts Council Grassroots
Program funding to the Arts Commission. Final decisions on Grassroots Program funds
to the North Carolina Arts Council are subject to approval by the North Carolina General
Assembly.
4.Responsibilities of the Grant Recipient
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - PlayMakers Repertory Company
four thousand five hundred dollars 4,500.00
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A.Implementation. The Project implementation shall take place between July 1,
2024 and June 30, 2025. The Project shall be implemented in the manner
described in Exhibit A. Time is of the essence in the implementation of the
Project.
B.Modifications to project. Grant Recipient shall present major changes to the
original proposal, including but not limited to changes in design, implementation
schedule and increase in Project budget by more than 10%, in writing to the Arts
Commission for approval. Arts Commission shall approve or disapprove Grant
Recipient’s request for modifications within seven (7) days of receipt thereof.
Consent to project modifications shall not be unreasonably withheld. Arts
Commission’s decisions shall be in writing. In the event the Arts Commission
fails to approve or disapprove the requested modifications within the time stated
herein, the modifications shall be deemed approved.
C.Non–assignment. The grant cannot be assigned or transferred to a different project
or artist without prior written approval of the Arts Commission.
D.Records. Grant Recipient must maintain records and other evidence pertaining to
costs incurred and revenues acquired during the Project implementation. Grant
Recipient shall maintain financial records pertaining to the Project for three (3)
years from the date of this Agreement, in case of audit.
E.Use of Funds. Grant Recipient shall not use the grant funds to repay outstanding
taxes or other debts of any nature. The grants shall be utilized solely for the
purpose described in the attached Exhibit A.
F.Final Report. Grant Recipient shall submit to the Arts Commission a Final Report
on July 14, 2025. The Final Report shall be in the format required by the North
Carolina Arts Council. Failure to submit the Final Report or late submission of
the Final Report, for any reason, shall be grounds for denial and/or cancellation of
grant funds for the Project and future grant proposals.
5.Responsibilities of the Arts Commission
A.Payment. The Arts Commission shall release the grant funds in the amount of
$ to the Grant Recipient.
6.Publicity
A.Acknowledgement. Credit must be given to the Orange County Arts
Commission and/or the North Carolina Arts Council using the proper logo(s)
and credit line in brochures, news releases, programs, and all other printed and
online publications. Copies of such printed materials must accompany the
evaluation report. Official Orange County Arts Commission and North Carolina
Arts Council logos may be downloaded at www.artsorange.org/grantee-resources
and may not be altered in any way. When no printed information is used, verbal
4,500.00
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credit shall be given. In addition, all print and promotional material must include
the following credit line and logo(s) (check all that apply):
i.County Funds Only. Orange County Arts Commission logo required.
Credit line required for audio projects: “This program is supported by the
Orange County Arts Commission.”
ii.North Carolina Arts Council Funding. The Orange County Arts
Commission and the North Carolina Arts Council logos are required. Credit
line: “This program is supported by the N.C. Arts Council, a division of the
Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.”
B.The Grant Recipient must enter all events, exhibits, and performances open to the
public and related to this grant award on the Orange County Arts Commission
website at www.artsorange.org/events. In addition, the Grant Recipient must
add a link to www.artsorange.org (Orange County Arts Commission logo
preferred) to their main webpage.
7.Indemnity. The Grant Recipient agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the County, the
Arts Commission and the North Carolina Arts Council and their officers and employees
from any and all claims or actual injury, damage or loss to a person, or real or personal
property that results from or is in any way connected to the use of the grant funds.
8.Independent Contractor. The Grant Recipient is an independent contractor and not an
employee, agent or other representative of the County and/or the Arts Commission.
Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to create the relationship of
principal and agent, or employer and employee, between Grant Recipient and Arts
Commission or Orange County Government. Grant Recipient understands and agrees
that he/she is not authorized to incur any expenses or any liability whatsoever on behalf
of the County or the Arts Commission and has no authority, expressed or implied, to
obligate or make representations on behalf of the County or the Arts Commission. In
addition, Grant Recipient agrees to maintain his or her own worker's compensation
insurance for himself/herself and his or her employees for the duration of the art work's
installation.
9.Termination
A.In the event of any of the circumstances set forth below (hereinafter referred to as
“default”), the Arts Commission may immediately terminate this Agreement:
(i)Any fraudulent representation in any verification required to obtain
payment under this Agreement or other dishonesty on a material matter
relating to the performance of services under this Agreement.
(ii)Nonperformance, incomplete service or performance, or failure to
satisfactorily perform any part of the Project or to comply with any
provision of this Agreement, as determined by the Arts Commission in its
sole discretion.
4
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(iii)Failure to adhere to the terms of applicable county, state or federal laws,
regulations, or stated public policy.
B.In the event of default by the Grant Recipient, the Arts Commission has the
discretion to elect to terminate this Agreement, in whole or in part and/or require
the Grant Recipient to repay the grant funds within seven (7) from written notice
of default or allow the grant recipient the opportunity to cure the default. This
clause shall not be interpreted to limit the County’s or the Arts Commission’s
remedies in law or in equity.
10.Miscellaneous.
A.Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the attachments contain the final and
entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter of this
Agreement. All modifications and amendments to this Agreement shall be in
writing. This Agreement shall be binding upon the parties, their heirs, successors
and assigns.
B.Governing Law. Governing Law and Priority: Both parties agree that this
Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of North Carolina and
Orange County. Grant Recipient shall at all times remain in compliance with all
applicable local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations including but not
limited to all state and federal anti-discrimination laws, policies, rules, and
regulations and the Orange County Non-Discrimination Policy and Orange
County Living Wage Policy (each policy is incorporated herein by reference and
may be viewed at
http://www.orangecountync.gov/departments/purchasing_division/contracts.php.).
Any violation of this requirement is a breach of this Agreement and Arts
Commission may immediately terminate this Agreement without further
obligation on the part of the Arts Commission. This paragraph is not intended to
limit and does not limit the definition of breach to discrimination. By executing
this Agreement the Grant Recipient certifies that they has not been identified, and
has not utilized the services of any agent or subcontractor identified, on the list
created by the State Treasurer pursuant to G.S. 147-86.58. By executing this
Agreement the Grant Recipient certifies that they has not been identified, and has
not utilized the services of any agent or subcontractor identified, on the list
created by the State Treasurer pursuant to G.S. 147-86.81. By executing this
Agreement Grant Recipient affirms they are and shall remain in compliance with
Article 2 of Chapter 64 of the North Carolina General Statutes. In determining
the basic services to be provided, should any documents be referenced in or
attached to this Agreement, the terms herein shall have priority in any conflict
between the terms of referenced documents and the terms of this Agreement.
C.Dispute Resolution: Neither party may initiate binding arbitration. Any disputes
shall be resolved by nonbinding mediation. If such mediation fails either party
may initiate litigation to resolve the dispute. Should either party initiate litigation
to settle any dispute involving the terms of this Agreement such litigation shall be
Docusign Envelope ID: 5C256EF3-BBCD-4FD6-922F-A5FC9410DC42
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Revised August 2022
initiated in the General Court of Justice of North Carolina seated in Orange
County, North Carolina.
D.Signatures. This Agreement together with any amendments or modifications may
be executed electronically. All electronic signatures affixed hereto evidence the
intent of the Parties to comply with Article 11A and Article 40 of North Carolina
General Statute Chapter 66.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Orange County and the Grant Recipient have signed this Grant
Agreement, effective on the last date this Agreement is signed by both parties as indicated by the
dates set forth under signatures below.
For and on behalf of the Grant Recipient
Date
For and on behalf of Orange County Government
Travis Myren, County Manager Date
Thomas Lee, Authorized Representative
Docusign Envelope ID: 5C256EF3-BBCD-4FD6-922F-A5FC9410DC42
10/23/2024
10/25/2024
Revised 01/24
1
ORANGE COUNTY—INTERNAL USE ONLY
______________________________________________________________________________
Finance Information
Vendor Name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – PlayMakers Repertory Company
Vendor Contact Person: Thomas Lee Phone: (919) 843-7778
Address: Joan H. Gillings Center for Dramatic Art, CB#3235 City Chapel Hill State: NC Zip: 27599-3235
Department: Manager’s Office/Arts Commission Amount: $ 4,500.00
Purpose: 2024-25 Arts Grants Budget Code(s): 37601020-683000 Vendor # 49336
Vendor Status with NCSOS: Vendor is a BOCC consultant: Yes No
Contract Details
Contract Type: New Amendment (Original Contract: ) (Most Recent Amendment )
Effective Date End Date Notice Date (Notice Purpose )
Award
Approved by Board (Agenda Date: ); Made or Administered by
Signature Authority
- BOCC Express Delegation (Agenda Date: )
- Policy 9.4: Under $5,000; Service Under $90,000; Construction Under $250,000
- Budget Policy Section XV (Capital Improvement Project: )
Bidding
Informal Bidding ($30k-$90k); Formal RFP ($90k+); Other (<$30k); Exception(# )
Department Affirmation
This agreement is approved as to technical form and content and I as Department Director affirmatively state work
on this project has not been initiated prior to execution of the agreement.
This agreement is approved as to technical form and content. Services related to this agreement have already
begun or been completed. Description of the nature of the emergency condition that was addressed:
Department Director’s Signature ________________________________________ Date: ________
Information Technologies
This agreement has been reviewed and is approved as to information technology content and specifications:
Office of the Chief Information Officer___________________________________ Date: ________
Inapplicable because no hardware/software purchases or related services
Risk Management
This agreement is approved for sufficiency of insurance standards, specifications, and requirements:
Office of the Risk Management Officer___________________________________ Date: _________
Financial Services
This instrument has been pre-audited in the manner required by the Local Government Budget and Fiscal Control Act:
Office of the Chief Financial Officer ____________________________________ Date: _________
Legal Services
This agreement is approved as to legal form and sufficiency:
Office of the County Attorney __________________________________________Date: ________
Clerk to the Board
All Docusign contracts must be copied to the Clerk upon completion: occlerkdocs@orangecountync.gov
The following signature block is for hard copies only and is not required for Docusign contracts:
Received for record retention:
Office of the Clerk to the Board __________________________________________Date:_________
Docusign Envelope ID: 5C256EF3-BBCD-4FD6-922F-A5FC9410DC42
10/3/2024
10/24/2024
10/24/2024
10/25/2024
Orange County Arts Commission Powered by Submittable
Title Pl ayMakers Repertory Company
by Kyle Kostenko in 2024-25 Grassroots Arts
Program Grant Application
Joan H. Gillings Center for Dramatic Art
CB 3235, 120 Country Club Road
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
27599
United States
9194451282
kostenko@unc.edu
06/28/2024
id. 46877892
Original Submission 06/28/2024
Score n/a
APPLICANT
INFORMATION
Please tell us about your organization.
Applicant
Organization Name
PlayMakers Repertory Company
Is the Applicant
Organization serving
as a fiscal agent for
an unincorporated
group?
No
Mailing Address of
Organization
Joan H. Gillings Center for Dramatic Art
CB #3235
Chapel Hill
NC
27599-3235
US
35.90004
-79.04519
How did you hear
about our grant
program?
W ord of mouth
Did you or a
representative of
your orgnanization
attend one of our
grants training
sessions?
Yes
Docusign Envelope ID: 5C256EF3-BBCD-4FD6-922F-A5FC9410DC42
Nature of
Organization
Arts Organization
Docusign Envelope ID: 5C256EF3-BBCD-4FD6-922F-A5FC9410DC42
Organization
Description
Dubbed one of “America’s Best Regional Theatres” (American Theatre
Magazine), PlayMakers Repertory Company is North Carolina’s premier
professional theatre company and the only LORT theatre in the Carolinas.
Rooted in an esteemed 100-year tradition of playmaking at the University
of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, PlayMakers’ mission is to produce
relevant, courageous work that tells stories from and for a multiplicity of
perspectives. W e believe that theatre can have a transformational impact
on individuals and entire communities and are committed to becoming an
anti-racist organization whose work is accessible to all. PlayMakers also
serves as the professional laboratory for UNC-Chapel Hill’s Department of
Dramatic Art and is devoted to nurturing and training future generations of
artists and audiences.
PlayMakers traditionally produces up to nine professional productions
across two stages at the Joan H. Gillings Center for Dramatic Art in Chapel
Hill, bringing reimagined classic works and dynamic new plays to up to
50,000 audience members annually, 15% of which are UNC-Chapel Hill
students. W e are one of the few remaining repertory companies in the
United States with a resident core of accomplished performers, designers,
artisans, and technicians working alongside renowned guest artists as well
as graduate students in the UNC-Chapel Hill Department of Dramatic Art’s
acting, technical, and costume production programs. For the last several
years, the Hollywood Reporter has listed UNC’s Professional Actor
Training Program (PATP) in the top 20 graduate acting programs in the
world, citing student membership in the PlayMakers’ resident company as a
unique asset.
As a professional theatre in residence at a major research university,
PlayMakers is uniquely positioned to lead the way in integrating the making
of new art with the creation of new knowledge. In a 2022 outside study of
PlayMakers and its home in the Department of Dramatic Art, reviewers
noted that the relationship between PlayMakers and the Department of
Dramatic Art “is not only a jewel for the University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill; it is also a flagship for theatre training in America.” Under the
leadership of Producing Artistic Director Vivienne Benesch since 2016,
PlayMakers has continued a tradition of producing vibrantly reimagined
classics, large-scale musical theatre, and significant contemporary work.
Benesch is especially committed to PlayMakers’ role as a hub of social
and civic discourse in the region and to building our reputation as an
incubator for new American plays.
Between 2016 and 2018, PlayMakers developed and premiered its first full
commission, LEAVING EDEN, conceived by local playwright Mike W iley
and singer-songwriter Laurelyn Dossett. W orking on this piece emboldened
our organization and our community to engage with more risk-taking new
work. Through a transformative gift from a loyal patron, in 2021,
PlayMakers established the New Commissions Fund to continue cultivating
the next generation of great American plays and playwrights. The fund’s
first commission, Bekah Brunstetter’s THE GAME, premiered in April 2024
at PlayMakers; the second, Mike W iley and Howard Craft’s THE
CHRISTMAS CASE OF HEZEKIAH JONES, will have its world premiere in
December 2024.
Docusign Envelope ID: 5C256EF3-BBCD-4FD6-922F-A5FC9410DC42
How many Orange
County residents
does the organization
serve?
12,509
Has your
organization
undergone any
Diversity, Equity, and
Inclusion (DEI)
training? If so,
please explain. If not,
please explain any
barriers that have
prevented you from
receiving this
training.
As part of PlayMakers’ anti-racist/anti-bias work, the company continues to
navigate the complex systems which comprise the relationship of a public
university to one of its professional arts entities. This work is pursued
through several avenues including collective and individual exploration and
learning through university and community resources. Recent shifts within
state and national politics have created and/or reinforced barriers around
language and operations that may slow various facets of transformative
work.
PlayMakers maintains an AEDI committee in collaboration with the
Department of Dramatic Art focused on global issues at the intersection of
their relationship and with particular attention paid to addressing relevant
challenges and opportunities across the professional departments within
PlayMakers. W ithin these efforts, individuals participate in university
sponsored training on implicit bias and inclusive practices to develop
working processes which foster other elements of belonging in principle
and operations.
In addition to these internal supports, PlayMakers is actively engaged
within a network of organizations including TRG Arts, Theatre
Communications Group, the League of Resident Theatres, Actor’s Equity
Association, Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, and the
International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees which provide
guidance and support in human resource management and workplace
protections as relates to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
W hile a recent decision by the UNC Board of Governors to repeal its
existing DEI policy has impacted operations on campus, PlayMakers
remains committed to its mission to tell stories from and for a multiplicity of
perspectives and to its vision of provoking, representing, and creating.
These values are intrinsic to our organization. PlayMakers will continue to
have 50% of our season programming written by Black, Indigenous, People
of Color playwrights; will continue to assemble diverse creative teams as
necessary to achieve our mission; and will continue to educate ourselves
on best practices for creating a truly inclusive, anti-discriminatory artistic
practice and workspace.
During FY24-25, will
your organization
receive operational
support funding from
the North Carolina
Arts Council or the
North Carolina
Department of
Natural and Cultural
Resources?
No
Docusign Envelope ID: 5C256EF3-BBCD-4FD6-922F-A5FC9410DC42
Organization's EIN 566001393.0
Organization
W ebsite
playmakersrep.org
Authorizing Official's
Name
Penny Gordon-Larsen
Authorizing Official's
Title
Vice Chancellor for Research
Authorizing Official's
Phone
9199663411
Authorizing Official's
Email
sponsoredprograms@unc.edu
Applicant Race W hite
Financial Overview
FinancialOv erv iew_Submittable.xlsx
Organizational Financial Statements
PRC_Operating_23_24_25.xlsx
2023-annual-comprehensiv e-financial-report.pdf
Docusign Envelope ID: 5C256EF3-BBCD-4FD6-922F-A5FC9410DC42
Deficit/Surplus PlayMakers is functionally a unit of UNC's College of Arts and Sciences
and is held to the College's accounting and budgeting procedures. Due to
this, we are not able to finalize actual expenses for FY24 and our operating
budget for FY25 until the end of July. In addition, we are not permitted to
display any rollover of surplus from the current fiscal year into our
operating budget for next fiscal year until the books have been officially
closed on FY24 at the end of July.
Due to this, we currently project a draft budget that is not in-line with our
actual fiscal picture. In the attached draft budget, we project a sizable
deficit for the next fiscal year, while also projecting a sizable surplus for the
current fiscal year. This surplus is due in part to year-over-year rollover of
funds received from the Shuttered Venues Operators’ Grant and other
funding related to the COVID-19 pandemic. W e currently expect to continue
rolling over a portion of this surplus into the next fiscal year and lower our
operating deficit from $900,000 to $300,000. Again, due to University
procedures, we cannot show this in our budget until after the close of the
fiscal year.
However, as our year-over-year rollover continues to decrease while
expenses rise (due in part to rising production cost and having to shoulder
more and more integral staff costs and state taxes not paid for by the
University), we are facing a structural deficit going forward. To address
this, we have set a goal for our 50th anniversary in 2027 to raise our
endowment by $15 million and build our annual fund to a sustainable
$500,000. W e remain optimistic that through careful budget maintenance,
we will also spend less than we project during FY25 and decrease the
currently projected deficit.
If the current or next
year budget
represents a 30% or
more change from
the year prior, please
explain why.
Please see above.
Are you an entity of
UNC-Chapel Hill or
another unit of state
government?
Yes
W hat percentage of
your FY25 operating
budget will be
provided by the
state?
17.6
PROJECT/PROGRAM
INFORMATION
Tell us about your project or program
Title of Grant
Request
Developing new work and young artists
Docusign Envelope ID: 5C256EF3-BBCD-4FD6-922F-A5FC9410DC42
Grant Amount
Requested
5,000
Is the person in
charge of this
program or project
different from the
Authorizing Official?
Yes
Project Director
Name
Jeff Aguiar
Project Director Title Director of Engagement and Education
Project Director
Phone
(646) 430-4315
Project Director
Email
jaguiar@unc.edu
W hat are you
requesting funding
for?
A specific program or project
Project/Program
Summary
As part of PlayMakers’s deep commitment to both new work and youth
engagement, PlayMakers seeks funding to implement a community feature
spotlight as part of the 2024 world premiere of “The Christmas Case of
Hezekiah Jones,” by local luminaries Howard Craft and Mike W iley. Our
playwrights have embedded several delightful feature opportunities into
their script, including a North Pole Elf dance break and a finale featuring
Santa and all our community participants. Our production, directed by
company member Kathryn Hunter-W illiams and choreographed by Tracy
Bersley, will feature local actor Trevor Johnson in the role of Hezekiah as
well as Rasool Jahan in the roll of SilverBell
W ith project partners Seed Art Share, The ArtsCenter, and W alltown
Children’s Theatre, we also plan to host classes and rehearsals connecting
our artists with area youth. These engagements will explore acting and
performance techniques and introduce the world of “Hezekiah.” Participants
will then build applicable features for the production with our director,
choreographer, and a production assistant.
As part of PlayMakers’ efforts to both meet youth where they are and
expand engagement beyond our walls, we anticipate sharing space with
these partners at their own sites before moving to the theatre. W e plan for
3-6 hours of skill-building and 15 hours of rehearsal prior to tech at the
Center for Dramatic Art. During tech, featured youth artists will be
introduced and integrated into the broader professional theatre structure.
“Hezekiah” will run at the Center for Dramatic Art for 15 performances from
November 27-December 15.
Docusign Envelope ID: 5C256EF3-BBCD-4FD6-922F-A5FC9410DC42
Project Start Date
(no earlier than July
1, 2024)
September 1, 2024
Project End Date (no
later than June 30,
2025)
December 15, 2024
Project Goals Conceived as part of PlayMakers’ Radical Inclusion Initiative reimagining
how audiences engage with work, this project explores how PlayMakers
can deepen engagement with middle and high-school students and provide
entryways for the community into the artistic process.
A primary goal is to provide a valuable educational opportunity for middle
and high-school students through a professional experience with
“Hezekiah,” as traditional arts programming in the area often only serves
elementary age children. Through our partnerships with Seed Art Share,
The ArtsCenter, and W alltown, PlayMakers will formalize and strengthen
our connections with youth who have expressed a desire for deeper
involvement in theatre. Through working with W alltown specifically, we also
hope to connect more students and from outside Orange County with arts
education happening within our county. Students from across these
organizations have previously worked with PlayMakers during our summer
programming, so we are excited to begin efforts to re-engage them
throughout the year.
As we engage communities more broadly through “Hezekiah,” we hope to
include more audiences not traditionally served by the theatre. This
sentiment is echoed by our engagement described above, but also extends
to audiences who may believe that PlayMakers and the arts “may not be a
space for me.” Reaching beyond our building is key to establishing and
strengthening an appreciation of the arts as practice, entertainment, and
profession. Through “Hezekiah,” PlayMakers hopes to celebrate, uplift, and
include the many communities comprising Orange County as vital and
integral to its health and wellness.
Docusign Envelope ID: 5C256EF3-BBCD-4FD6-922F-A5FC9410DC42
Audience Description Audiences for “The Christmas Case of Hezekiah Jones” will include
PlayMakers patrons, representing a broad base of subscribers, multi- and
single ticket buyers, and theatre enthusiasts. This audience population also
includes an estimated 15% average of UNC students between the ages of
18-25. W e expect audiences to come primarily from within Orange County
(Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough) as well as Durham, W ake, and
Chatham counties. W e estimate our total reach will be between 20,000-
40,000 individuals, with racial demographics of about 67% white, 13%
Black, and 10% Asian, according to current population estimates of the
region.
Our planned partnerships with Seed Art Share, W alltown Children’s
Theatre, and The ArtsCenter will engage a small number of participants as
featured community artists—elves in the North Pole; community members
of Chapel Hill; and Christmas celebrants. W e expect between 8-12 young
artists will take part in our engagement programming and join us in Chapel
Hill for the run of “Hezekiah.” This programming will also be open to their
families, friends, and other participants wishing to observe and take part in
the artistic process.
Location Description The primary location for the performance of “The Christmas Case of
Hezekiah Jones” is the Joan H. Gillings Center for Dramatic Art (CDA) at
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an ADA-compliant
performing arts center with classroom studios and two theatre venues: the
Paul Green Theatre and the Elizabeth Price Kenan Theatre. All
performances will run in the Paul Green Theatre, a 550-seat theatre with a
thrust stage. The set designer for the production has already started
considering accessibility needs for community members who will join us.
Assisted listening devices will be available for patrons throughout the run,
and selected performances will offer certain accommodations, i.e., open
captioning and ASL interpretation. Participants from W alltown Children’s
Theatre and other project partners will also utilize classroom, rehearsal,
and studio space within the CDA. Engagement activities with proposed
project partners The ArtsCenter and W alltown Children’s Theatre will take
place on-location at their facilities. The ArtsCenter’s location at 400
Roberson Street, Carrboro, provides updated ADA-compliant facilities for
arts engagement. W alltown Children’s Theatre is a multi-purpose, ADA-
compliant black box theatre space located at 1225 Berkley Street in
Durham.
Docusign Envelope ID: 5C256EF3-BBCD-4FD6-922F-A5FC9410DC42
Artist Description The project’s connection to the production of “The Christmas Case of
Hezekiah Jones” means that the featured youth will engage with a myriad
of PlayMakers’ artists. W e will list a few key players below. The three local
artists that will also serve as the teaching artists in direct connection with
this grant are:
Rasool Jahan: Rasool has been a local favorite guest artist with
PlayMakers since the early 2010s and most recently as part of the
American regional premiere of “Fat Ham” by James Ijames in our 23-24
season. In addition to her extensive stage experience, Rasool has many
TV and film credits, along with work as an assistant director and various
behind the scenes activity on other theatre projects. Rasool’s experience
as a deeply involved Triangle artist is of tremendous value to this project.
Reflecting opportunities and career paths in our own backyard is vital to
strengthening and expanding NC's creative economy.
Trevor Johnson, BA Theatre Education (NCCU)/BA Communications
(UNC), is another familiar local artist with credits across the Triangle. His
most recent roles include Troy Maxson in “Fences” at the Arts Center of
Coastal Carolina and Marty in Dreamgirls at North Carolina Theatre. Trevor
has also previously appeared in PlayMakers’ productions of “Everybody,”
“Jump,” and “Leaving Eden.” Slated for the lead role of Hezekiah Jones,
Trevor’s professional experience and placement within the cast creates
opportunities to inspire future performers and teaching artists through this
project.
The Production Assistant/Assistant Choreographer is anticipated to be a
local artist with administrative and leadership interests. W orking with our
resident company choreographer, Tracy Bersley, this individual will assist
with logistics and planning across the life of the project and support the
choreographic process.
Tracy Bersley, a resident company member and professor in UNC’s
Department of Dramatic Art, will choreograph “Hezekiah” and work with
community participants in building their portions of the production. Most
recently, Tracy made her directorial debut in PlayMakers’ production of
“Murder on the Orient Express” and has often directed PlayMakers’
Summer Youth Conservatory, as well as numerous choreography and
movement credits with PlayMakers.
Kathryn Hunter-W illiams, a resident company member for 22 seasons and
chair of UNC’s Department of Dramatic Art, will direct “Hezekiah.” Kathy’s
most recent acting credits with PlayMakers include “The Game,” “Fat Ham,”
“Hamlet,” “A W rinkle in Time,” and “The Skin of Our Teeth.” W ith
PlayMakers, she has also directed “They Do Not Know Harlem,” “Stick Fly,”
“No Fear & Blues Long Gone,” and “Count.”
Jeff Aguiar, PlayMakers Director of Education and Engagement, and
Chelsea James, PlayMakers’ Producing Associate, will provide
administrative support for the artistic project and connect artists with the
intended communities and participants described above.
Docusign Envelope ID: 5C256EF3-BBCD-4FD6-922F-A5FC9410DC42
Are you hiring
multicultural artists
with the requested
funds from this
grant?
Yes
For each multicultural
artist you intend to
hire, please list their
name, race, and how
much you plan to pay
them.
Rasool Jahan, Black/African American
Trevor Johnson, Black/African American
PlayMakers will pay both Rasool and Trevor $875 each for seven weeks of
work on “Hezekiah,” totaling $6,125 each. This grant will fund a portion of
their overall costs, with PlayMakers covering the remaining costs of their
salaries through ticket sales and contributions.
How will the
project/program be
publicized and
promoted to reach
intended
participants?
PlayMakers will publicize “The Christmas Case of Hezekiah Jones” through
a variety of marketing channels. W e maintain paid advertising partnerships
with W UNC and PBS-NC to run broadcast advertisements for all mainstage
programming; “Hezekiah” will be included in advertisements this year. In
addition, PlayMakers will invite journalists from publications such as
Broadway W orld, Triangle Review, Chatham Life and Style, IndyW eek, and
the Cultural Voice of North Carolina to dress rehearsals and opening night
to create additional buzz through reviews. These same and additional
publications will receive press releases ahead of the premiere.
PlayMakers’ marketing staff will produce printed and digital pieces to
advertise “Hezekiah” to our extant base of subscribers and single ticket
buyers. Printed materials will include season brochures, show-specific
postcards, and programs. Currently, PlayMakers has sold over 1,800
subscription packages for its mainstage programming, including “Hezekiah”
as a major programming component for the season. W e plan to send
weekly segmented email campaigns to over 27,000 digital subscribers to
advertise the show. Lastly, PlayMakers will utilize social media including
Facebook and Instagram to creatively engage patrons through a unique
social media campaign, such as our “Moustache Murder Mystery” for a
previous production of “Murder on the Orient Express.”
Docusign Envelope ID: 5C256EF3-BBCD-4FD6-922F-A5FC9410DC42
How will you
evaluate the success
of the program?
Qualitative data relating to participant engagement will be a blend of
teaching artist-led learning sessions and more traditional arts-based
survey/interview methodologies. Centered within this inquiry will be
questions around what motivated participation in the project and how
individuals perceive their own identities as artists and “playmakers” as a
result of involvement in the project. In the long-term, we hope to have
positively impacted participants’ artistic development, measured through
participation in future arts programming at PlayMakers or throughout the
region.
Metrics for success for the larger endeavor include audience participation
via ticket sales to “Hezekiah,” which will demonstrate a deeper level of
engagement with the arts among Orange County populations as a primary
target and surrounding counties – i.e., Durham, Chatham, and W ake – as
secondary targets. W e also plan to gather qualitative data as it relates to
audience engagement with the theatrical production specifically and the
arts holistically via traditional post-show surveys. These surveys will also
collect demographic information such as race/ethnicity, gender, household
income, and so on. Through the collection of this information, we hope to
see a greater level of participation in the arts by traditionally underserved
or underrepresented multicultural communities.
PROJECT/PROGRAM
BUDGET
Please fill out the charts below with your project's expenses and income.
Use the "Explanation" box to offer details for each category. NOTE: The
Total Cash Expense must equal the Total Cash Income. Click here to view
a sample budget.
Project Expense
Expenses-english-rev ised.xlsx
Project Income
Income-english-rev ised.xlsx
Resumes of artists/administrators
Trev or_Johnson_resume.pdf
RASOOL_JAHAN._Theatrical_Resume_2.pdf
Chelsea_James_Professional_Resume.pdf
Aguiarcv 2024.pdf
Board of Directors List
PRC_Adv isory_Council_FY24.pdf
IRS Tax Exemption
PlayMakersIRS_taxltr-1.pdf
W ork Samples
Video Sample:
External Link 1
https://vimeo.com/969169690/2633937669?share=copy
Docusign Envelope ID: 5C256EF3-BBCD-4FD6-922F-A5FC9410DC42
Video Sample:
External Link 2
https://vimeo.com/969169988/d4de34e163?share=copy
Video Sample:
External Link 3
https://vimeo.com/969169794/302d4d8914?share=copy
Letters of support (optional)
PLAYMakers_support_Letter_2024.pdf
Docusign Envelope ID: 5C256EF3-BBCD-4FD6-922F-A5FC9410DC42