zAmya Theater Project proudly presents DisPlace: A North Loop Fantasy Quest by Elle Thoni and the Cast, an original production that blends real-world housing issues with fantasy role-playing adventure. Created in partnership with the North Loop Neighborhood Association and Avivo Village.

DisPlace: A North Loop Fantasy Quest

March 13 (Preview) 14 & 15 at 7:00 PM; March 16 at 2:00 PM
2 hours with 15 min intermission
ASL interpretation on March 15
Luminary Arts Center
700 North 1st Street, Minneapolis

About the Play

Hear ye, hear ye! His honorable Lord Sunshine hereby invites you to the first official Festival of DisPlacement, celebrating the triumph over poverty in the Kingdom’s Northern Loop! Rest assured, there is absolutely no chance whatsoever that you will run into any wayward heroes or formidable monsters on your way to Archer’s Arena – which is definitely not Target Field. However, please be advised that you may want to keep your sword on you… you know… just in case.

North Loop condo residents and Avivo Village emergency shelter guests join together on an epic fantasy quest for housing justice in Minneapolis. Inspired by the high-energy imagination of tabletop roleplaying games.

Through audience participation, and immersive storytelling, DisPlace challenges audiences members to think about how we can come together as a community to create housing justice.

Dungeons & Dragons? Roleplaying games?
This play is inspired by Dungeons & Dragons! D&D is a tabletop role-playing game where players create characters and embark on adventures in a fantasy world guided by a Dungeon Master (DM). The game blends storytelling, strategy, and improvisation, with players making decisions that shape the narrative. Actions are determined by rolling dice, primarily a 20-sided die (d20), and using character abilities. D&D encourages creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving, making it a beloved game among fantasy enthusiasts!

Cast

Dungeon Master / Lord Sunshine - Katie Burgess
Stevie / Adrien - Jada Windom
Erika / Tate - Caroline Mannheimer
Ricardo / Presley - Robert Blood
Jordan / Purple Yoda - Niles Williams
Wisdom / Snowflake - Tahiti Robinson
Running Elk / Silent One - Jerry Blackbird

Ensemble

Alo Osberg, Annette Bryant, Davin Gibbons, Greg Tromiczak, Jeff Spears Sr, Ken Moore, LaBreaya Bell, Linward Jones, Lurch, Mason Persons, Patty Gille, Rezene Tesfatsion, Sol Sepulveda, and Stayci Bell

Production Staff

Director - Harry Waters Jr.
Assistant Director - Marcia Barnes
Stage Manager - Blake Brown
Set Designer / Set Builder - Michael Grittner
Lighting Designer - Kurt Kung
Projection Designer / Videographer - Gloria Collyard
Puppets / Props / Costumes - Orren Fen
Costumes - Mason Persons
Sound Designer / Musician - Carlisle Evans Peck
Music by Brass Solidarity
Marketing by Amy Danielson

More Details

Thursday, March 13th is a preview night.

Regular price tickets are $20 ($15 on preview night). No one will be turned away for lack of funds. Please pay what you can, less if you need, or more if you choose. If you select a higher price ticket, your payment helps cover the costs for others, and makes it feasible for us to keep producing shows like this. No refunds on tickets.

All ages welcome. Parental discretion is advised – audience discussions may include adult topics such as substance use and trauma.

$10 gift cards will be available after each performance for individuals with lived experience of homelessness (while supplies last). Sign up at the box office upon arrival. Use code word "Expert" to claim a gift card.

Doors open one hour prior to show time. The house opens 30 minutes to show time.

Free parking will be available in the parking lot across the street from Luminary Arts.

Accessibility

The venue is ADA accessible. 

Listening assisted devices and wide seats are available upon request. 

There is a curb-cut ADA drop off area directly in front of the building. There is a ramp to access the front entrance.

Luminary Arts has two accessible parking spaces available in the parking lot which is located across the street from the theater entrance. Parking is free.

Saturday's performance (March 15th) includes ASL interpretation.

Visit Luminary Arts Center's website for more information about accessibility.

For inquiries regarding accessibility, ticket exchanges, or other details, contact Deb Ervin at deb@zamyatheater.org.

Volunteer ushers needed!

Ushers are needed for each of the four performances. UPDATE: We need one more usher on Friday, 3/14, and then the need will be met. You’ll need to arrive 1.5 hours before showtime, be comfortable standing for a long period of time, and help out at the start of the performance and during intermission. If you’re interested in volunteering, or have questions about it, please contact Deb Ervin, zAmya’s Operations Manager, at deb@zamyatheater.org. Make sure to provide a phone number to reach you at, and the date(s) you prefer to volunteer — we appreciate it!!

About the project behind the play

The North Loop is a unique neighborhood, home to both upscale condos and rentals and higher-income residents, and several organizations sheltering low income residents in need of housing. Recently there has been acute conflict over a homeless encampment.

zAmya, North Loop Neighborhood Association and Avivo have joined forces to create the joint project, Neighbors Being Neighbors In the North Loop, which aims to establish a shared vision in the North Loop of what needs to happen for all community members to feel safe, have shelter, and ensure support for the most vulnerable. 

One special outcome of the project will be a new play - made by, with and for - North Loop community members across the housing spectrum. This original play will debut in 2025 and  weave true experiences with unsheltered homelessness into a fictional narrative, inspiring neighbors to dream up solutions to end homelessness. 

Our deepest hope is this process galvanizes a neighborhood coalition to work together in an ongoing fashion, to address future concerns regarding homelessness/housing.

Project Timeline

2025 DisPlace will make its premiere in March at the Luminary Arts Center, performed by zAmya Theater Project Troupe Members and residents of Avivo Village.

2024 we are developing the final script and music for DisPlace, hosting community engagement events, and giving sneak peek performances.

Spring 2023, we “shared back” an original script at Avivo Village based on the conversations and ideas shared during the listening sessions. The play reading included zAmya Troupe Members and residents of Avivo Village.

Fall 2022, North Loopers attended “listening sessions”. These interactive workshops promoted deep sharing, dialogue and listening. Stories were collected to create the first draft of a new play about the North Loop, reflecting perspectives from community members of all housing experiences.

Summer 2022, zAmya performs Second Chance at Target Field Station Amphitheater as a starting off point for the project. Community members from diverse backgrounds came together for a fun, elevating event focused on homelessness.

About the partners

The North Loop Neighborhood Association (NLNA) is an organization consisting of residents, property owners, and business owners of the North Loop Neighborhood. They strive to foster a strong community rich in diversity of ideas, talents, people and property, promoting a climate of safety, livability, and improvement through public neighborhood meetings, communication and advocacy.

Avivo serves more than 11,000 individuals each year helping them find housing stability, achieve recovery, and secure employment and economic advancement. Serving Minnesota since 1960, they specialize in helping individuals and families who face complex barriers – homelessness, chemical addiction or mental health concerns, poverty, or unemployment. Avivo’s holistic approach to providing shelter and housing supports, chemical and mental health services, career education, and employment services embraces each person’s unique journey. Avivo's paired services lay a foundation of health, and social and economic wellness, that transforms lives. Included in Avivo’s services is Avivo Village, an indoor community of 100 secure, private dwellings or “tiny houses” located in North Loop, providing shelter and wraparound services.

zAmya’s contribution to the partnership is experience in designing and facilitating art based, community building processes that bring together neighbors with a variety of housing experiences and result in creative solutions and increased compassion.