ARTS Program - Activities Revealing Talents & Skills

For information contact the Program Developer/ Theatre Director, Annie Roseen

CHOICE, unlimited (218) 724-5869

BOLD-choice Theatre Company(Battling Obstacles Living with Disabilities)
BOLD-choice Theatre Company is an Outreach Theatre Company that creates and tours disability awareness theatre productions. It provides a unique style of theatre performance that exposes community and student audiences to the talents of individuals with disabilities.

BOLD-choice is happy to announce its new production, TIMBER!: The Story of Paul Bunyan.  The cast has been selected and rehearsals have begun. The show will be up and ready to tour the 2012-2013 school year.  TIMBER!  is the story of larger than life Paul Bunyan and how he navigates in a world where he literally and figuratively does not fit in.  The characters in the play include Paul’s loyal friend, Babe the Blue Ox, Paul’s parents and classmates, woodland creatures and the townsfolk that are changed by Paul’s unique gifts and struggles.  BOLD-choice is excited to share its new production with you all in the near future

To book a performance or for more information, contact Theatre Director, Annie Roseen
at CHOICE, unlimited (218) 724-5869

Check out BOLD-choice on PBS’ The Playlist

FAQs about booking a BOLD-choice Theatre production:

What day of the week does BOLD-choice Theatre perform?

• The Company members are available to perform on Tuesday afternoons.
• A 1:30 pm performance time often works out to be the best time for a performance.

How much does it cost to bring BOLD-choice to your school or organization?

• A BOLD-choice production is $200 per production for K-12 schools.
• Our performance fee helps cover expenses CHOICE, unlimited spends toward travel and employee time. We work out an agreement with schools and organizations that cannot cover our initial fee as listed above. Contact Annie Roseen at (218) 724-5869.

What size space is needed to make it happen for BOLD-choice to present there?

• A performance space that is large enough to suffice both actors and audience.
• The actual performance area should be approximately 25’ deep by 25’ wide.
• The day of the performance this space must be available the whole day so as to allow the crew to set up for the performance.
• Actors arrive at noon to rehearse. This becomes a closed rehearsal until 15 minutes prior to show time (30 minutes prior for public audience presentations).

What age group does BOLD-choice appeal to?

• We have found that BOLD’s unique style of performance appeals to all ages. However, each production is created with a different age range targeted. Our current adaptation is being created to appeal to Middle School through High School primarily.

Why would a school want BOLD-choice Theatre to perform for its students?

• BOLD-choice provides high impact Issue Awareness Entertainment that promotes student discussion concerning topics such as:

• disability and diversity awareness
• bullying and teasing
• appreciation of differences
• loneliness and isolation
• thinking for oneself
• individuality

Testimonials:
The following quotes were taken from evaluation sheets and thank you letters written about the BOLD-choice Theatre’s past performances.

• “This was one of the best performances I have seen dealing with disabilities and diversity.”
• “Mesmerizing performance – you had the students’ attention the entire time.”
• “My students ‘got it’ – better than any lesson I could teach.”
• “I know this really touched my students and they saw the message of looking at people’s character.”
• “The most touching parts were when the actors shared about their disabilities.”
• “Your troupe made a big impact here!”
• “The discussion guide was very helpful in engaging the students to openly talk about disabilities and diversity.”
• “We’d love them to come back again.”

• “I learned something from this play. I learned that every one including people with disabilities are special.”
• “Disabilities can be painful to have but even though you still have a big heart.”
• “It made me feel that disabled people are so cool.”
• “It was really awesome.”
• “Thank you BOLD-Theatre for the best play ever to be seen by people.”
• “If I could see your play again - I would.”

Professional instruction in the arts is available to CHOICE, unlimited consumers free of charge in the following art disciplines:

Visual Arts: Studio Class
Participants discover hidden talents while discussing art and developing their individualized artistic expression. The class provides its participants an opportunity to learn how to work together on special projects.
Where: Lincoln Park Center
When: Thursdays throughout the year at 9:30-10:30 or 11:00-12:00 in 12-week sessions
Fee: $20 for community members that are not CHOICE, unlimited consumers

These developing artists have the opportunity to display their work in public venues and at CHOICE, unlimited’s annual Art Show Fundraiser.

Fundamentals of Dance and Movement
This class offers students a chance to get acquainted with moving their bodies to music. It will explore different genres of music and movement. The class will be a beginner-level class and is geared toward all people that would benefit from getting in touch with their bodies and gaining control over their movements. It is appropriate for those that may have difficulty with movement or expression.
Where: Mt. Olive Lutheran Church
When: Mondays at 9:30-10:30 in 10-week sessions
Fee: $20 for community members that are not CHOICE, unlimited consumers

Movement & Dance: Emotion in Motion
This class is a little quicker paced and challenges both past and new participants to explore the potential of their body’s individualized expression of movement. Participants gain greater body awareness and control and become less inhibited in expressing emotions and movement in front of others. Dancers get a chance to become more confident in their abilities and opportunities as artists.
Where: Mount Olive Lutheran Church
When: Mondays throughout the year at 1:00-2:15 in 10-week sessions
Fee: $20 for community members that are not CHOICE, unlimited consumers

Theatre Arts: Acting Class
This 10-week course allows participants to gain valuable communication and performance skills while having fun. The group learns how to portray different characters and emotions while participating in theatre games and improvisations.
Where: Mount Olive Lutheran Church
When: Wednesdays throughout the year at 1:00-2:15 in 10 week sessions
Fee: $20 for community members that are not CHOICE, unlimited consumers

Creative Writing
This 12-week course gives participants an opportunity to explore the art of creative writing. Creative Writing Class explores four genres: Poetry, Short Fiction, Memoir, and Playwriting. Join us for an introduction to renown writers and instruction on the craft of each genre including; metaphor, specific image, imagining character, and developing plot. Each meeting includes in-class writing time, time to share work, and instruction on out of class assignments.
Where: Duluth Art Institute West                                   
When: Fridays at 1:00-2:15
Fee:  $20 for community members that are not CHOICE, unlimited consumers

Music Exploration
This 10-week class seeks to engage in the discussion of music history, including various genres and artists. In addition, the students will be working on rhythm- making their own rhythmic instruments, eventually participating in a drum circle and potentially creating a song by the end of the session. 
Where:  Duluth Art Institute West
When: Thursdays at 1:00-2:15
Fee: $20 for community members that are not CHOICE, unlimited consumers