NAUTILUS MUSIC-THEATER

HELP US BRING BACK JOAN OF ARC:

Perhaps you were among the lucky few who were able to see our sold-out run of JOAN OF ARC, a new operatic-meditation-musical-theater-cantata-chamber-music-performance-art-storytelling-piece which audiences called "shockingly beautiful -- visceral and gorgeous -- luminous -- breathtaking -- words cannot describe how amazing -- I was brought to tears -- so full of emotions -- incredible -- an evening I will not ever forget -- exquisitely profound and lovely!"

Critics said ““Nautilus opens a can’t-miss production of JOAN OF ARC -- an intimate tour de force performance, played with artistry and unerring assurance by the hugely talented Jennifer Baldwin Peden -- her compelling narration of the plot, resonant affinity for the character, and angelic soprano are equally and utterly riveting -- majestic and girlish, charismatic and vulnerable -- she beautifully conveys [Joan’s] courage, spirit, doubts, and determination -- powerful singing voice and magnetic acting -- beautiful expressive music -- soulful melodic lines and harmonic structures -- uplifting -- enormously entertaining and compelling -- unexpected and deeply moving -- fascinating and inspirational -- amazing, original, challenging, creative -- JOAN OF ARC is the most moving performance I’ve seen this year -- you’d be hard pressed to find a more rewarding night of theater than this.”

With your help, we are able to re-mount this production of JOAN OF ARC this January 5, 6, 7, and 8, 2012. Since box office can’t cover all the expenses, your donations will help cover the costs of re-mounting our production, so that more people can see this fabulous performance by Jennifer Baldwin Peden and the cast of JOAN OF ARC.

Good citizens appreciate the arts, but great ones are visionary enough to know that the kind of behind-the-scenes arts understructure in which Nautilus works is absolutely crucial to a healthy and creative social environment. Investing in our work now will ensure that future audiences will have the opportunity to see the kind of innovative work and powerful performances you have come to expect from Nautilus.

ABOUT NAUTILUS:

Nautilus is the only arts organization in Minnesota, and one of the few in the country, dedicated to creating new opera and music-theater pieces and to developing creative and performing artists. We use music-theater as a tool to create enriching experiences for artists and audiences, supporting the individual and collective growth of the human spirit. We engage almost a hundred artists each year, and over half of our annual budget is paid as artists fees.

• Our ARTIST DEVELOPMENT Program provides growth opportunities for composers, writers, performers, directors, and musical coaches. We offer classes in Performing Power, Composer-Librettist Studios, and the annual Wesley Balk Opera/Music-Theater Institute.

• ROUGH CUTS is a series of informal monthly readings of works-in-progress, dialogues between artists and audiences, and explorations of the creative process. ROUGH CUTS presentations feature uncompromising vocal and theatrical talent in an intimate and informal setting. The program provides an unusual opportunity to sample professional quality music-theater for only $5 -- plus, we serve free cookies and milk!

• We present fully-staged PRODUCTIONS of full-length music-theater works, including premieres of new work we have developed and supported, or innovative productions of existing operas and musicals. Recent presentations have included critically-acclaimed productions of TWISTED APPLES, UNTOLD LIES, SISTER STORIES, ALICE UNWRAPPED, ORPHEUS AND EURIDICE, A WATER BIRD TALK, CAROUSEL, I AM ANNE FRANK, MAN OF LA MANCHA, and many others.

• COMMUNITY COMMISSIONS are projects initiated by or commissioned for specific communities, such as other arts organizations, academic institutions, or human service organizations. Recent projects have included collaborations with the West Side Theater Project, Springboard for the Arts, Lawrence University, McNally Smith College of Music, and many others.