Proud Theater: Beyond

By Proud Theater - Madison

Directed by Brian Wild

It’s 2012 – Is the world really going to end? Or could this be a new beginning?

Art & Soul Innovations (ASI), in conjunction with James Reeb Unitarian Universalist Church, the University of Wisconsin Madison LGBT Campus Center, PFund, and The Mukti Fund presents ‘Proud Theater: Beyond’, a fun and exciting evening of theater, music, poetry and dance written by and starring the talented youth of Proud Theater, Madison’s very own LGBTQ youth theater troupe.

Proud Theater is an award-winning, exciting and innovative youth theater program designed to foster self-expression and self-empowerment for youth ages 13 to 19 who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer/questioning (LGBTQ), or who are the children of LGBTQ parents, or who are allies of the LGBTQ community at large. The youth rehearse during the year at James Reeb Unitarian Universalist Church in Madison.

As in the past with recent critically acclaimed shows ‘Proud Theater: Full Circle’ (2009), ‘Proud Theater: 3D in stunning Queer-O-Rama’ (2010), and last year’s wildly successful ‘Proud Theater: Rockin’ the Rotunda’ (2011), ‘Proud Theater: Beyond’ tackles many of today’s issues that affect youth and does so with humor, heart and honesty as only the young adults of Proud Theater can do. Sometimes outrageous, sometimes profound, the youth share their voices with the community in a no-holds barred and uncensored way. This year the youth look at transgender issues, bullying, racial profiling and many other fun, thought-provoking and compelling issues facing them today.

Proud Theater is a program of Art & Soul Innovations, dedicated to the advancement of queer youth nationwide. “Proud Theater: Beyond’ is also sponsored in part by a generous grant from the Mukti Fund – dedicated to supporting queer youth theater across the country, and PFund – a foundation that supports the LGBT community in the Midwest. Proud Theater also enjoys support from local organizations Fromagination in downtown Madison which specializes in artisanal cheeses and companions, and Life After Hate, an online magazine dedicate to the notion that kindness and compassion are virtues of strength, not weakness.

Is it the end of the world – or a new beginning for Proud Theater? Come find out with ‘Proud Theater: Beyond’ - a wonderful evening of theatrical excitement - loud and clear, proud and queer - as only the talented youth of Proud Theater can offer!

For more info on the show, contact Proud Theater at info@proudtheater.org, or visit www.proudtheater.com, or call Brian Wild at 608-222-9086.

Produced by Proud Theater at the Fredric March Play Circle - UW Madison Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St, Madison

Performances: May 3-5, 2012

Performance Times: May 3, 4, 5, 2012 - 7:30 PM and a special matinee on May 5, 2:00 PM. Doors for ‘Proud Theater: Beyond’ will open at 7:00 PM for the evening performances and 1:30 PM for the Matinee performance.

Tickets go on sale March 15, 2012, and are 10 dollars each. They can be reserved by phone at 608 265-2787, or online at www.uniontheater.wisc.edu/boxoffice.html.