A s Matrix celebrates 20 years of engaging the community through innovative the-

atre arts programming, the future looks bright. Today, Dr. Shaun and Wes Nethercott’s dream of creating an original collaborative theatre rooted in community, social justice, and inclusiveness is an award-winning arts organization. “I’m proud of our accomplishments,” said Shaun. “Our unique collaborative method of writing has resulted in the creation of 100 original produc-tions, and we have served more than 14,000 participants and presented to more than 100,000 individuals.”

You’re all invited -- supporters, alumni, friends, and participants – to come celebrate our accomplishments and attend an entire year

of exciting events planned in celebration of our 20th anniversary. It starts with our Birthday Party on Saturday, April 16 at the Mexicantown Mercado. Music, food, games and many surprise activities promise to make the evening a night to remember. The partying continues in the fall as we revive Southwest Story, one of our most popular shows, opening Friday, October 14. Join us, too, October 21 -23 for our Homecoming Weekend celebration!

Visit our Facebook page to leave your Matrix memories and email 20years@matrixtheatre.org to become part of the team creating these birth-day events.

After 6 months of creation, our giant hero puppet, Justin Dart, rolled through the nation to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the American Disabilities Act (ADA). Dart was known as the father of the ADA, the civil rights law for people with dis-abilities. Justin passed away on June 22, 2002 - almost 12 years after the signing of the ADA and exactly 8 years before its unveiling at the U.S. Social Forum in 2010. The puppet toured the streets of Washing-ton D.C., Chicago, and Michigan, along with a dedicated troupe of individuals with and without disabilities, the Justin D’Artists. Geared with his famous cowboy hat and 5 ½ foot wheelchair, the D’Artists spread awareness about civil rights for people with disabilities.

Puppet construction began in winter 2010 with many volunteers - both with and without disabilities. Slabs of dried terra cotta clay, news-papers, and sculpting supplies made up Dart’s construction. Community Puppets Manager, Megan Harris, and sculptor Carl Goines provided

artistic skills and guidance to create this authentic reproduction of the civil rights leader. The suit, pants, and tie were designed to match Dart’s actual clothing. Even his wheelchair stickers and buttons on his suit were exact replicas.

Through the gracious support of Michigan Disability Rights Coalition and United Cerebral Palsy of Michigan, we formed the Justin D’Artists! The first showing of the magnificent giant puppet of Justin Dart occurred at the Opening Ceremony of the U.S. Social Forum in Detroit alongside other giant hero puppets. The puppet was shown at a banquet of 1,300 in D.C., where Dart’s wife Yoshiko marveled at the likeness. Later that summer, the Justin D’Artists partici-pated in the Chicago Disability Right Parade and at the Arts, Beats, and Eats Festival in Royal Oak. Everywhere the D’ Artists go, they manifest and share the spirit of Dart’s famous words, “I am with you. I love you. Lead on!”

To learn more or to arrange a booking, email info@matrixtheatre.org.

S P E C I A L T H A N K S

Janice Fialka & Rich Feldman

and Roberto Clemente Recreation Center

for making the Justin Dart Project

possible!

If You BuIld It, theY WIll leArn!

UPCOMING EVENTS!

February 11 - 20Collage 2011

March 22World Water Day

March 25 - 27Ambassador of DetrOZ

april 8 - May 1 April Foolery:Backstage Passes by Roger KersonPara Siempre by Maria Serratos

april 1620th Birthday Party!

May 14 Water Fest

July 5 - august 5Summer Camps

OctOber 14 - NOveMber 13Southwest Story

OctOber 21 - 23Homecoming Weekend!

M a t r i x M a r q u e e Celebrate 20 Years of Collaboration!

2 0 y e a r s O F e x c e l l e N c e

Ghost Waters is a three year project changing the way Detroiters look at and treat their environment. People of all ages are making puppets and plays and holding amazing events about various water issues.

The U.S. Social Forum was a social and environmental justice event with over 15,000 attendees. Matrix provided workshops to create puppets and props for the River Resurgence Pageant. Attendants gathered to march and recreate the Savoyard River that once flowed in downtown Detroit. There were fish, water, spirits, animals, and humans swimming alongside each other!

In our Puppetry classes, students reinvented new and more intricate puppet projects using many recycled mate-rials. The participants designed the stories for the shows, and conducted their own research into our relationship to water. Their new plays have been the focus of Matrix World Water Day and Water Fest.

Matrix Teen Company participated in this initiative with the creation of their play, Water In Our World. During our 2010 summer camp, they explored the buried rivers of Detroit and invented a performance with dance, music, spoken word, and theatrical scenes. They presented it at The Detroit Zoo, the Maker Faire Festival, and for Central Methodist Church. It will tour during Spring 2011.

With support from partners — Greening of Detroit, Sierra Club, and many others — the projects were a fun way to plant the seed of water consciousness. Join the fun with the upcoming performance and workshops of Marsh-land Security or by joining the writers circle now working on Home Waters, the new play for 2012.

g h o s t w a t e r s

We’re making huge strides with new productions and giant puppets! We have a new Matrix Teen Company, and the Young Playwrights are developing their own play. And through generous support from the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, we have new 2010 Promise Scholarship recipients!

The Matrix Teen Company provides teens oppor-tunities to explore all aspects of theatre. In addition to polishing their acting skills, they’ll learn everything from set construction to promotion strategies and behind the scenes work. Three productions, along with summer tour dates are already planned!

For the first time, the 11 – 14 year olds are creating a full-length play. This play is based on The Wizard of Oz, and called Ambassador of DetrOZ. The story includes a red-sneakered girl who finds herself on Zug Island and needs to follow the Detroit River to find her way home. Show dates are March 25 - 27.

This year the 8 – 11 year olds will create the puppets of their dreams. Their major project of the Fantasy Crea-ture Puppets class is to create a giant puppet inspired by mythical creatures. It’s sure to be larger than life!

Our 5 – 7 year olds kicked off their winter semester by attending a community presentation of characters from Sesame Street, where they met some of their favor-ite TV friends. And they were interviewed for TV! Next, they’ll create a play about animals who live in marshes.

To learn more or register, call Andrea Scobie, Director of Education at 313.967.0999 or matrixtheatre.org.

le t t e r f ro m t h e ex e c u t I v e dI r e c to rDuring the past year, much of our company’s time and heart has been occupied by the Ghost Waters Initiative. This project is helping us see the Detroit region as a place of fertility and possibility, situated in one of the world’s most productive and water blessed environments. As we have gone deeper and deeper into this work, making puppets and plays, it has been heartening to see this change take hold. In these pages—and throughout all our work— you will see how this art-work is changing lives and trans-forming our community, providing a way for all of us to see a lush and sustainable future.

Last April, I was named one the inaugural Green Leaders of Michigan. The honor accrues more to the dedicated and visionary staff of Matrix, who in their thousands of interactions with our participants, bring to birth the reality of a just, beautiful, and sustainable culture. It is—and they are— astonishing and I am humbly grateful to work in the company of such wonderful people.

cr e At I v I t Y th r I v e s At sc h o o l o f th e At r e !

2010 Promise Scholarships

Puppetry Gabrielle Clayton

Performance Damon Whitman

Playwriting Rosario De La Cruz - Martin

t h A n k Y o u

Through your generous support, Matrix Theatre Company is able to provide the communities of Detroit and Southeast Michigan with quality educational and theatrical programs.

$5000 - $9999Peck Family Fund

$2500 - $4999Detroit Free Press Charities

$1000 - $2499Arts, Beats & EatsRichard P. BaksLorry & Jerome KempfThomas MazaO Beautiful Gaia, Inc.Susan RiceAnn Strand Budd

$500 - $999Renee AheeJean Marie AllionSusan M. BergYoshiko DartFund for Equal JusticeDebbie & Rick HallerNancy Kammer-WildernAlexander McKeenVincent & Ursula MurrayRobert O’Brien & Alice MasonUAW Region 1

$100 - $499Joan AbbeyVictor L. AlbaSuzanne AntisdelAlice Audie-Figueroa & Dave HeckerJohn F. BaranDeb Baumer & Scott SmithTerry M. BlackhawkBill S. BowlesKate BrennanCharles C. BrightAllen CholgerCommunity Shares of MichiganRobert H. CunninghamIdar S. DartChonzette DawkinsJoAnn & Calvin De LorSuzanne & Karl DibbleLeonard & Elizabeth DravingDave & Katie ElsilaRichard Eusani & Susan YeghissianJanice & Ronald FedewaHarvey & Arlene FeldmanJanice Fialka & Rich FeldmanJason & Joanne FliggerCharles & Lora FrankelJanet & Stuart Goldwasser

Jane L. HoehnerShea HowellDaphne P. HughesKim Hunter & Kathryn SavoieMelanie A. HwalekSusanne JanisFrank H. JoycePatrica KolonE. Joyce KrauseJohn & Jane KyriacopoulosPatrica LentRobert M. Loosvelt, DDSCarol McClainValissa NaganasheKaren & Dennis NethercottWesley & Shaun NethercottHarold O. NixonPaul & Mary Jo PlanteGloria RochaCharles & Jean RooneyJoann H. SannehSuzanne E. Sattler, IHMMaureen SheahanAngell & Ronnie ShorterSisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of MaryKate & Michael SprattJacqueline SteingoldJulie Stitt, CPCTellis & Company PLLCJessica TrevinoBrent & Nancy TriestFred & Margaret VitaleNancy Vom SteegMike & Gail WhittySusan D. WoodRobert Wotypka

$1 - $99Gary & Sandra AbrahamBuzz AlexanderAmy AmadorMichelle AndonianJim & Kathy AtkinYusif BarakatMary Fran BarberElizabeth BauerBarbara BedollaGary BoyersGerald & Kathryn BrissonNancy BrownriggAnne & John BurkeRick & Sue VianCarolyn CatlosLes H. CaulfordJack & Audrey W. ChaseDanielle ConroydDora De La Cruz - Martin

Judith A. DrylieRobert Ray DucheneEva Dunwoody CarmonaCatharine & Jeffrey EdgeHelen C. EppsAngelita EspinoMichelle FeldmanPearl J. FeldmanRoy & Jodee Fishman RainesLourdes Fonesca-NearonTheresa M. Fuvoye-MicusJeffrey GrabelskyElizabeth GraceMaria E. GrimmingerPamela Lee HalladayKaren & Frank HammerGregory & Jennifer HandelRachel HarrerPatricia HarringtonCarol HarrisMegan HarrisP.E. HarrisJames E. HartLynda HicksKathryn R. HoardMarta T. HoetgerAnna HoldenS. Scott & Tina HunterCollette A. HymanRon & Ann IrbyMame JacksonKathleen KirschenheiterBeth KloserMary Beth KullenSandra L. LahamNeil & Kay LeightonFred & Joan LernerKathryn & Leon LevittJohn Bruce LilesRose-Erin LoveSylvia MaloCara ManorSandra McClennenReginald L. McGheeMolly McMahonSharon Meyer-GreensponFred MillerNobuko MiyamatoNetwork for GoodValerie OverholtLinda V. ParkerIvan C. PerryJ. Michael & Georgie PetersonGlenda PriceMichelle PriceJohn QuinnBernard Randall

Sophia Raptis & Sean BieriJanet L. Ray & Cynthia S. TobiasMargaret ReyesGloria Rivera, IHMSteven E. SaelzlerJames SalzynskiMarguerite SchervishHoward SchubinerAndrea ScobieMarjorie R. ScottSr. Geraldine E. SellmanMary SeymourAbraham & Yolanda ShawShawn Jones BakeryRebecca SimkinsRichard SperlingKaren SpockMichael S. & Carol SrdjakJohn StephensMary StevensCynthia StuartMichael R. SugarPatricia Sweeney-HubbellTherese J. TernsMargaret ThorpLinda TynanRita VolpeBrenda & Lafayette WestJames H. WitteboisVirginia Ziegler

In-Kind DonorsAmanda Le ClairAndrew MooreAngelina Italian BistroAnna StroetgesAvalon Bakery Bill and Charlene Dann Bill BowlesBlue Cross/Blue ShieldBreatheArt TheatreCafé Con LecheCapuchin Province of Saint JosephCassie BalfourCost Plus WinesCraig FahleDan and Stella WoitulewiczDetroit EvolutionDonald CalamiaDowntown YogaEl Central NewspaperEllen Kayrod GalleryFisher TheatreGerrick ReidenbachGlenda PriceGloria RiveraGregg and Angela Newsom

Hector AristizabalJean Marie AllionJanet RayJason MurphyJordi CarbonellJorge CasarezJose CuelloJudith SnowKate BrennanKathryne LindbergKim Wray NormanLa Colmena/Honeybee MarketLa Gloria Bakery Lizzie BaskervilleMagenta Giraffe TheatreMajestic CaféMaria SalinasMary BohlingMary HerbeckMelissa DamaschkeMichael KoehlerNorbert KiddOn The Rise BakeryOur Lady of the Rosary ParishPaint a MiraclePeople’s Water BoardPerformance Network TheatrePrison Creative Arts ProgramPurple Rose TheatreRachel SettlageRandy MauckRay LozanoRussell Street DeliShawn Jones BakerySlow’s BarbequeSte. Anne Catholic ChurchSteve Petix TuxedosSusan FitzmauriceSusan YeghissianTerri King SalonThe Chocolate Bar CafeThe Porter Bottle Company Tom CervanekTom’s Oyster BarUnion Street SaloonVince and Ursula MurrayWes NethercottWashtenaw Interfaith Committee on Immigration RightsWDET-fmWilliamston Theatre

Please notify us if there are any errors on this page.

d e e p & A m A z I n g W o r km A t r I x t h e A t r e c o m p A n Y 2 0 1 0

ceNter: Semaj Willis at Matrix Summer Camp clOckwise: Giant puppet heroes at the U.S. Social Forum; Rosario De La Cruz-Martin in her Playwriting class; Cast of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof; Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom March; Water sprites from Water in Our World; Water Spirit giant puppet at Water Fest.

1991 - 2011

20y e a r s o f

ex c e l l e n c e

M a t r i x t h e a t r e c O M p a N y

Instituted in 2005, the Inclusive Theatre Initia-tive (ITI) now includes services for the blind, deaf, hard of hearing, limited mobility, and Spanish speaking audiences. It also provides support so that people with disabilities can be employed or participate in all Matrix Theatre productions and classes.

Ollie, a woman who is blind, became a member of Matrix Theatre’s Justin D’Artists, a puppetry troupe formed to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). “It’s been years since I was a part of a play,” said Ollie. Her participation in the Justin D’Artists allowed her the opportunity to realize

her disability is not a limitation. She is now an active member of the Ghostwaters Writers Circle, helping to create the new play, Home Waters.

“Ollie’s story highlights the transforma-tive power of offering theatre to all,” said ITI coordinator Krista Dover. “We’re striving to build a community for those with and without disabili-ties and we’re assembling new ways to nurture creativity and inclusion.”

To learn more about Matrix Theatre’s Inclu-sive Theatre Initiative, contact Krista Dover at kdover@matrixtheatre.org.

The MaTrix TheaTre GeTs rave reviews!

A B O U T H A P P Y D A Y S“What a thrill to see such a wonderful production. Kudos to you and everyone involved. It was very special to be

able to see Beckett done to perfection by the experts.” - Tim Lentz

A B O U T V A N I S H E D “I brought my two younger sons to the play over the weekend and everyone thought it was GREAT. Keep encouraging the youth / our leaders of tomorrow

to forge ahead.” - Anita Tellis

A B O U T C AT O N A H O T T I N R O O F“The cast is magnificent! Big Daddy, Maggie, Big Momma

... the Matrix makes Tennessee Wiliams’ play come alive!” - Jacqueline

Steingold

“…all four of us LOVED it! We were so thrilled by the quality of the acting and direction - quite impressive,

by anyone’s standards! In fact, we could imagine their being successful ‘Off Broadway! ‘Congratulations!!

…it was sensational!” - Penny Bailer

These are just a few of the glowing reviews of performances emanating from the Matrix Theatre, our professional destina-tion theatre. Since October 2009, the Theatre has produced Happy Days, Puppet Scrooge, Vanished, and Cat on A Hot Tin Roof. Stephanie Nichols, who mastered the challenging role of Winnie in Happy Days, was honored for her performance by being nominated for a Wilde Award. Vanished was featured at the United States Social Forum and received national press.

These plays join Matrix’s long history of amazing and award-winning plays. From Fear and Faith to Beyond Violence to Homelands: Michigan Central to Boomtown, 1925 to Harpers Ferry and Mother Tongue, Matrix has been building a reper-toire deeply rooted in the lives and times of our city.

mAtrIx theAtre compAnY pArtnershIps,

collABorAtIons & memBershIps

Alger TheatreArtServeBagley HousingBarbara Jordan ElementaryBoll Family YMCABuilding with BooksCity of Detroit Recreation Dept.DPL Conely Branch LibraryCouncil of CommunitiesCristo Rey AcademyCultural Alliance of Southeast MichiganDPL Douglass Branch LibraryEastern MI Enviro. Action CouncilUM Edward Ginsberg CenterGreater Detroit Area Agency for the Blind and Visually ImpairedGreening of DetroitHeritage WorksInside Out Literary ArtsInstitute for Arts Infused EducationLiving ArtsMarquette Elementary SchoolMichigan Non Profit AssociationMichigan Opera TheatreMichigan Sea GrantMichigan Welfare Rights OrganizationNew DetroitNsroma AcademyO.W. Holmes SchoolPeople’s Community ServicesRoberto Clemente Recreation CenterSierra Club Michigan ChapterSoutheast MI Enviro. StewardshipSouthwest Detroit Business AssociationSouthwest SolutionsUnited Cerebral Palsy of Metro DetroitU M Dearborn Sociology DeptU M Research Opportunities ProgramU M Residential CollegeUrban Neighborhoods InitiativeVSA MichiganWayne County Four StarYouth CAN

Check out our website:

matrixtheatre.org

for the latest news at Matrix!

M a t r i x t h e a t r e c O M p a N y

2011-2012BoArd of dIrectors

PresidentSue Sattler, IHM

Vice PresidentJulie Stitt

SecretaryDaphne Hughes

TreasurerKate Spratt

Board MembersM. Renee AheeVincent MurrayRobert O’Brien

Bill JohnsonJeff Curtis

W E A R E M A T R I X

staFF, FrOM leFt: front row, Groups Sales Coordinator Krista Dover; Media Coordinator Danielle Daguio; Community Puppets Manager Megan Harris; second row, Director of Business Operations Chris Blunden; Executive Director Shaun S. Nethercott; Education Coordinator Laura Perez; Director of Production Megan Buckley; third row, Puppetista Dana McCombs; Director of Education Andrea Scobie; Technical Director Kevin Barron

O u r M i s s i O N

Matrix Theatre Company uses the transformative power of theatre to change lives, build community and foster

social justice. It creates opportunities for children, youth, adults and elders,

especially those in isolated or challenged communities, to become creators, producers

and audiences of original theatre.

2 7 3 0 B A G L E Y • D E T R O I T M I 4 8 2 1 6 • 3 1 3 . 9 6 7. 0 9 9 9m a t r i x t h e a t r e . o r g