Title
Recognizing the work of Penumbra Theatre and proclaiming Founder & Artistic Director Lou Bellamy and Playwright & Associate Artistic Director Dominic Taylor as honorary goodwill ambassadors for the City of Saint Paul.
Body
WHEREAS, the Penumbra Theatre Company was founded in 1976 in the city of Saint Paul, Minnesota by Obie-award winning Louis Bellamy, who created Penumbra to make socially responsible art - art with intent, art that creates change; and
WHEREAS, Penumbra has produced over 150 main stage productions in over 3 decades of continuous existence in Saint Paul, Minnesota's capitol city, with over 30 world premieres; and
WHEREAS, Penumbra has achieved a national presence beyond its Saint Paul home, with presentations at the August Wilson Center for African American Culture, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; the Cleveland Play House in Cleveland, Ohio; the Trinity Repertory Company in Providence, Rhode Island; the Round House Theatre in Bethesda, Maryland; the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota; the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in Saint Paul, Minnesota; the Signature Theatre Company in New York, New York; the Arizona Theatre Company in Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona, among others; and
WHEREAS, Penumbra is nationally recognized as the definitive interpreter of the works of two-time Pulitzer Prize winning playwright August Wilson, and has produced more August Wilson plays than any other theatre in the country;
WHEREAS, Penumbra reaches more than 40,000 people of all backgrounds every year through its performances, and over 5,000 students annually through its Education Outreach and Summer Institute programs; and
WHEREAS, Penumbra is the nation's largest professional African American performing arts theatre, and Minnesota's only such theatre, contributing over $2 million annually to the local economy; and
WHEREAS, under Mr. Bellamy's continuous leadership, Penumbra Theatre has stayed on the cutting edge of the national theatre scene, and continues to present groundbreaking productions; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of Penumbra's achievements and national impact, it has been honored with the 2011 Kennedy Center Fund for New American Plays, thus enabling the theatre to create an original play, I WISH YOU LOVE, written by Associate Artistic Director Dominic Taylor, and directed by Founder & Artistic Director Lou Bellamy; and
WHEREAS, this world premiere original play (a drama with music about a moment in the life of Nat King Cole, featuring Dennis Spears as Cole) will celebrate its send-off celebration on this evening, Friday, May 20, 2011, and will then stage its regional premiere at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, June 11, 2011; Now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Saint Paul City Council does hereby proudly and publicly acknowledge the above outstanding achievements of Saint Paul's own Penumbra Theatre, and its 30 plus years of rich history and legacy, on this day, Friday, May 20, 2011; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Saint Paul City Council acknowledges the dedication and talent of Founder & Artistic Director Lou Bellamy, Playwright & Associate Artistic Director Dominic Taylor, and the entire staff and theatre company of members at Penumbra; and be it
FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Saint Paul City Council affirms the aforementioned pride by naming Founder & Artistic Director Lou Bellamy and Playwright & Associate Artistic Director Dominic Taylor as honorary good will ambassadors for the City of Saint Paul.