From the Artistic Director from the program of Dreams This Way
“This isn’t how I was expecting
things would go.”
That’s the first line ever uttered at a Raw Impressions performance.
In fact, we required the writers to start their pieces with that sentence.
At the time, it reflected how we were all reeling from the shock of
9/11. Now it’s relates to everyone’s amazement at the growth
Raw Impressions has undergone.
Raw Impressions came into being in the fall of 2001 when Patrick Mellen
called me and said, “I have a space, let’s get together and
do something.” In half an hour we came up with the idea of getting
together 10 writers, 10 composers, and 10 performers to make ten 10-minute
musicals in 10 days. That first day, we came up with the name and mission
of our company as well. We’d make it so emerging artists with day
jobs could participate. We’d make it so our friends could come
together and make “art” at a time when many of us were wondering
what difference it would make in this new world.
We were only planning one event.
Two and a half years later we’ve made 124 musicals, 26 films, 18
dances, and a new performance group – RIOT. We’ve had over
750 artists participate in our presentations with events on both coasts.
The world-renowned LaMaMa E.T.C. has welcomed us into their family.
Our films have been presented at over a dozen major festivals. And most
recently, we were honored with a 2004 Jonathan Larson Award (named in
memory of the creator of RENT) for Artistic Vision and Commitment to
developing new music theatre – an award usually given to companies
which have been in existence for 20 or 30 years with budgets 100 times
our own.
Raw Impressions comes from a tradition we’d like to acknowledge.
We owe a huge debt to Ben Krywosz – the Artistic Director of Nautilus
Music Theatre in St. Paul. For 20 years Ben has been leading the Composer/Librettist
Studio he created at New Dramatists, in which Patrick and I both participated.
Ben’s Studio is closed to the general public to create a safe environment
where artists can experiment. We wanted a similar atmosphere, with the
added commitment of bringing our works to the community. Which brings
us to tonight.
We’re thrilled you’re here to see these eight extraordinary
pieces. We might call them “The Best of RIMT”, but the truth
is there are many pieces that have been created for RIMT that are just
as wonderful as those you are about to see tonight. This program is
a representation of the kind of inspired creativity and collaboration
that is at the heart of what Raw Impressions is all about.
Finally, I want to thank all the hundreds of artists who have given
their time, energy and talent to all the work that you aren’t seeing
here tonight. Those people, as much as everyone involved with the show
you’re about to see, have contributed to the lifeblood of this
community. At Raw Impressions, we’re committed to inspiring artists
to be prolific with excellence. Tonight, I hope we inspire you.
David Rodwin
Producing Artistic Director
Raw Impressions, Inc.