The Artistic Home

The Artistic Home opened their doors this week, and let a whole heap of talent onto the stage. Lucky enough, I was able to bear witness to this year’s production of Cut To The Chase, a series of three, home grown, one-act plays. Entries this year: Everything in 150 Pages by Nick Izzo, directed by Maria Stephens; Memories From Dreamland by Matt Malinowski, directed by Kaiser Ahmed; and A Dove State Andando by Matthew Welton, directed by Gerard Jamroz.

What’s truly impressive about this performance is that the entirety of the production staff (including the actors, writers and directors) are all members of the Artistic Home’s tight-knit creative family. Though each play is at an early stage, the opening night shone bright with potential. The acting ensemble is a hard working, large group. All of whom are either current or former students of the acting studio.

After the opening, there were cookies, there was wine and there was nice conversation. Once the delightful reception had ended, I was graced with a stroke of luck – I found myself wandering with the whole Home family up Clark Street to a nearby watering hole. There I was surprised to find Frank Nall and Mark Ulrich, featured in last year’s Jeff recommended Juno and the Paycock. Maybe it was just me, but it seemed like they were leaning over the bar in character. Juno, which was a complete success for the Home last season, is being remounted at Theatre on the Lake on July 29^th. There are only five performances, however, so be sure not to miss it. After some topical talk with Nall and Ulrich (who is nothing like his Jeff award-winning Joxer Daly), it became clear to me why I find the Artistic Home to be such a profoundly forward moving environment. These people train together, they work together and they drink together. The Artistic Home is a completely living, breathing, creative organism all to itself. And for that reason, I feel it should be supported and respected.

Do yourself a favor: go see both the Cut to the Chase one-act plays and Juno and the Paycock. I assure you, they will both be well worth your time and hard earned dollars.