A Prairie Homeless Companion
Central Minnesota Tour
October 5-12, 2023
Minneapolis - Elk River - Brainerd - Little Falls - Saint Cloud - Staples
A Prairie Homeless Companion, Central MN Ensemble
Cast (In order of appearance)
Host: Maren Ward
Producer: Corey Walton
Acting Company: Marcia Barnes, Annette Bryant
Production Assistant, and Jenny: Caroline Mannheimer
Dave: Robert Blood
Mother/Daughter Team: Kris Jackson and Swazi Jackson
Open Mic: Linda Stately, Mason Paul Persons, Kris Jackson and Swazi Jackson
Service Providers: Katie Dillon (Minneapolis), Cindy Ley and Heather Kliewer (Elk River), Vicky Kinney (Brainerd), Rose Surma (Little Falls), Harry Fleegel (St. Cloud), Jode Freyholtz-London (Staples)
Additional community performers at each location TBD
Production Staff
Directed by Esther Ouray and Maren Ward
Written by Josef Evans
Musical Direction - Brian Laidlaw
Technical Direction/Sound Design - Peter Morrow
Company Management - Esther Ouray
Stage Management - Kallie Melvin
Props - Esther Ouray and Shannon Kemp
Musicians - Ash Hanson and Brian Laidlaw
This production was developed in collaboration and includes contributions from past cast and crew including Eric Avery (direction and set), Kevin Springer (sound design), Darwin Dyce, Marvin Howard, Jenn and Izzie Lamb, Arminta Wilson (cast).
Song Credits
Sweet Potato Jamboree and The Runaround -Music and Lyrics by Josef Evans
House a Home, Miserable Falls Theme, What’s Standing in the Way - Music and Lyrics by Ash Hanson and Brian Laidlaw
You can also listen to the radio play of A Prairie Homeless Companion on zAmya’s YouTube channel, and learn more about the history of the production on zAmya’s website at zAmyatheater.org.
Donations Welcome!
If you were inspired by watching or listening to A Prairie Homeless Companion, and would like to make an additional contribution to support the tour and the work zAmya does, we would welcome your gift.
About the script:
In 2019, Partnership Art, a program of the Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership, sponsored zAmya Theater from Minneapolis and PlaceBase Productions from Granite Falls to create A Prairie Homeless Companion. Story circles were held in four Southwest MN Communities: Willmar, Marshall, Hutchinson, and Worthington. Playwright Josef Evans created the script which was toured back to those same communities. zAmya adapted the play for radio and a recording is available at zamyatheater.org. Today's production was adapted with content gathered through story circles and workshops with people experiencing housing insecurity and service providers in St. Cloud and Little Falls with significant content coming from Rose Surma and Oasis Central Minnesota.
About zAmya Theater Project:
zAmya Theater Project uses the powerful combination of artistic expression and lived experiences of homelessness to uplift and inspire a community that works for housing justice for all. We gather and share real stories to build understanding, awareness, and connection that motivates and empowers people to break through stereotypes and restore dignity. Since our founding in 2004, zAmya has employed a troupe of 8-17 actors who are homeless or formerly homeless. In addition, an ever-rotating cast of over 400 participants and over 25,000 audience members have attended 500 performances and workshops in the Twin Cities and Greater, MN.
About PlaceBase:
PlaceBase Productions is a production company that explores community stories through site-specific performance and the arts. Their work cultivates stewards of community identity by connecting people to their common places, stories and relationships. Their goals are to foster creativity, play, and, above all, a sense of place.
About Oasis Central Minnesota:
Oasis Central Minnesota’s mission is to alleviate homelessness in Morrison County by providing emergency shelter. Oasis was incorporated in 1988 to address food and housing deficiencies in Morrison County. Oasis provides emergency shelter and case management to individuals and families experiencing homelessness. The organization is the sole provider of emergency shelter in Morrison County and much of the surrounding area. Due to the location of their organization, they do not serve the Metro area. Oasis’ service area is Central Minnesota. In 2019, Oasis provided housing services to 100 households, consisting of 132 adults and 80 minor children. As the organization works to address the immediate needs of those experiencing homelessness, housing insecurity and hunger, another goal of Oasis is to increase awareness and community engagement on issues of homelessness, housing, hunger, and poverty.
Additional Partners:
Thank you to our incredible partners. We see you. We stand with you, in solidarity.
Align - Minneapolis
Open Doors for Youth, Community Aid Elk River, ISD728 - Elk River
Bridges of Hope, My Neighbor to Love Coalition - Brainerd
Oasis Central Minnesota - Little Falls
Homeless Helping Homeless - St. Cloud
Wellness in the Woods - Staples
Venues:
We appreciate the support of our venues:
Plymouth Congregational Church, Minneapolis
Elk River High School, Elk River
Gichi-ziibi Auditorium, Brainerd
Great River Arts, Little Falls
St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud
Timberlake Hotel, Timbers Restaurant and Event Center, Staples
Thanks also to KVSC 88.1 FM for their live broadcast of the Oct. 11 performance of A Prairie Homeless Companion at St. Cloud State University.
Funding for A Prairie Homeless Companion:
Thanks to our generous funders for making this production possible!
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through grants from the Five Wings Arts Council, the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, and The Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. This project is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional contributions from the Laura Jane Musser Fund, and the McKnight Foundation.
