We kicked of our 2021-2022 season with this performance-based party in the open-air to celebrate our 20th Anniversary at the C. Douglas Ramey Amphitheatre. This celebration had been slated to take place on September 18th at The Kentucky Center. As necessity had been the mother of invention again and again throughout the pandemic, we re-invented our plan for recognizing this monumental milestone, and we came together to celebrate on the same date, but now in the open-air space of Old Louisville’s historic Central Park. Our diverse 19-member ensemble performed readings of excerpts from our “greatest hits” of the last two decades at this festive event. The supportive fans, family members, friends and fellow artists in the audience heard from our founders, our newest ensemble members, and everyone in between!
Credit where credit is due: The title for this event was in part inspired by our practice of candling in and candling out of many of our rehearsals, devising sessions, performances and meetings. This practice, where at the beginning of our time together we pass the candle and each put in it something we don't want distracting us, and then at the end we take out something from our time together that we will treasure, was introduced to co-founder Trina Fischer while at Northwestern University working on Iphigenia in Aulis with acting professors Dawn Mora and Ann Woodworth. Also there is the meaning of keeping the flames of hope, dedication to positive changes, and artistic passion burning through many difficult and challenging times.