JOHNATHON KELSO
2 | a letter Welcome to the tent – aka the sort of light at the almost end of the really weird tunnel. Since shutting down our physical theater in March of 2020, The Alliance has been in full tilt morph mode. We’ve become producers of drive-in theatre. Streamers of animated film. Explorers and exploders of all things Zoom. Creators of drive in theatre staged in shipping containers. You name it, we took a swing at it. And there have been some moments of terrific agility and innovation that made me exponentially more proud than I already was of the people with whom I get to work. Flipping rock stars, these folks. But. Heart of hearts? I’m old school. Above all else in this art form, I love most the fact that the artists and the audience are in common space on a common pursuit to create an hour or two of human community. To wrestle in real time with the real truths and joys and sorrows of our shared time on the planet. This work is so messy and wonderful and ephemeral – and it has been missed. So. Whether you’re here to hear the stories and songs of the American worker (and – unique to this production – of the Atlanta worker), or whether you’re here with your family for the music of some truly beautiful blackbirds or the troubadour musings of Woody Guthrie, or if you’re here to celebrate the artistry of Atlanta’s own Sister Omelika, Tyrone Jackson, or the brilliant work of Tiny Theatre – welcome. For reasons of emotional health as well as physical health, the entrances to this tent are WIDE open. Come in. Join us. Welcome for the first time, welcome back for the 40th time. If you squint – you can just about see the light.
Susan V. Booth Jennings Hertz Artistic Director
alliancetheatre.org | @alliancetheatre
