Collaboraction launched its 25th season at Moonrise Sunset, a “full moon affair” that also marked one of Chicago’s first outdoor summer events, Thursday, June 24 at Rockwell on the River.
More than 100 supporters of Collaboraction’s social change mission were happy to come together in person to look back at the company since its start in the basement of Café Voltaire 24 years ago, and usher in Collaboraction’s exciting future vision as a hybrid company focused on live theater, digital programs and social justice.
Chicago dance artist Vernon D. Gooden performed an excerpt from his 2020 Peacebook short Blackbird at Collaboraction’s Moonset Sunrise 25th Anniversary celebration. Credit: Joel Maisonet
To start, guests walked and talked through a 10,000-square-foot art installation cataloguing the first 24 years of Collaboraction with archival photos, videos, costumes, an interactive timeline, scenic design elements and live, pop-up performances.
(left, from left) Collaboraction Artistic Director Anthony Moseley, Founding Company Member Sandra Delgado and Executive Director Dr. Marcus Robinson shared emcee duties at Moonset Sunrise. (right) Darlene Jackson, aka DJ Lady D, The First Lady of Chicago House Music, spun tunes at Collaboraction’s Moonset Sunrise. Jackson also serves as Collaboraction’s board president. Credit: Joel Maisonet
On stage, artistic director Anthony Moseley introduced Chicago artist/activists Loretta Firekeeper Hawkins, Gary Mills and Willie E. Round as new company members. He also saluted Executive Director Dr. Marcus Robinson, who is moving on to be Co-Director of Enrich Chicago. The good news? Dr. Marcus has joined the company’s Board of Directors and will expand his role as a featured host on Collaboraction’s Together Network.
(left) Collaboraction Artistic Director Anthony Moseley (right) introduces new company members (left, from left) Gary Mills, Willie Round and Loretta Firekeeper Hawkins at Moonset Sunrise. (right) Chicago jazz legend Ernest Dawkins, who is profiled in Collaboraction’s 2021 edition of Encounter Englewood, on stage with emcees Dr. Marcus Robinson (left) and Sandra Delgado at Moonset Sunrise. Credit: Joel Maisonet
Collaboraction’s 25th anniversary event doubled as a launch pad for the company’s new logo, created by Coact.
Guests also were the first to sign up to be a CollaborActivist, the company’s new member program that supports digital workshops and live programs, helps pay artists equitably, and provides a brave space for diverse voices who create transformative performances on critical social issues. CollaborActivists receive exclusive invitations to monthly social events (virtual and in-person), free or discounted tickets, special swag, and updates on Collaboraction’s community impact.
Want to spark social change in Chicago and beyond? Become a CollaborActivist for as little as $1 a month at collaboraction.org/collaboractivist.
For more information, visit collaboraction.org, follow the company on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or YouTube, or call (312) 226-9633.
Watch as CollaborActivists share why they've joined to support Collaboraction's social change mission at the company's Moonset Sunrise celebration.
(left) This Example Setter didn’t perform, she breathed life at Moonset Sunrise.
(right) Company member Antonio Brunetti performed Everybody Loves Collaboraction.
(left) Collaboraction Company Member Sandra Delgado (left) and Artistic Director Anthony Moseley introduce three new members of The Light, the company’s new youth performance, mentoring and social activism program (middle, from left) Marcus Jackson, Ava Lynn Trpeski and Nathaniel Buescher. (right) Lawndale-based spoken word artist and new Collaboraction Company Member Willie Round performed at Moonset Sunrise.
(left) Journey Hale sings at Collaboraction’s Moonset Sunrise 25th Anniversary celebration. (right) Joy Smith, a percussionist, teaching artist, and producer of the podcast Tru Chat, featured in Collaboraction’s 2021 edition of Encounter Englewood, performed live at Moonset Sunrise.
(left, from left) Priya Shaw, Sarah Neukom, Anthony Qaiyum, Matt Woodburn and Rachel McClain at Moonset Sunrise. (right) Yuri “The Human Beatbox” Lane at Moonset Sunrise.
(left) Ambiance performs at Moonset Sunrise. (right) Frequent Collaboraction performer Matthew LaChappelle acknowledges applause at Moonset Sunrise.
(left) New CollaborActivist Denise Paretta Giszczynski (left) was highest bidder for an original poem written for and performed by Loretta Firekeeper Hawkins (right) at Moonset Sunrise. (right) PHENOM performs at Moonset Sunrise.
(left, foreground) Collaboraction Artistic Director Anthony Moseley flanked by (behind, from left) Founding Company Member Sandra Delgado, Executive Director Dr. Marcus Robinson and Board Member Sammy Rangel, Executive Director, Life Against Hate, at Moonset Sunrise. (right) Lyana Funches of Think Outside Da Block, which rallies the Englewood community through innovative programming such as the annual Roll N Peace bike ride, spoke at Moonset Sunrise.
Rashada Dawan performed at Collaboraction’s Moonset Sunrise 25th Anniversary celebration, June 24, 2021 at Rockwell on the River.
Please credit all photos: Joel Maisonet
About Collaboraction
Collaboraction, Chicago’s theater for social change, collaborates with a diverse community of Chicagoans, artists and community activists to create original theatrical and virtual experiences that cultivate dialogue and action around the world’s most critical social issues.
Collaboraction’s Together Network presents exclusive virtual content like Becoming, a live web show for all people looking to be active anti-racists (first Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m. CT), and Crucial Connections, a live, interactive talk show that brings social justice warriors, artists and community residents together for crucial conversations (third Thursday of every month, 8 p.m. CT). Learn more at collaboraction.org/together-network.
After 10 years at the Flat Iron Arts Building in Wicker Park, Collaboraction has moved to AV Chicago in Chicago’s South Loop and has been focused this past 14 months on producing high-end virtual theater, live, interactive talk shows and online special events. All productions have adhered to Collaboraction's six-point pandemic safety protocols, and all artists and staff have been paid equitably per Collaboration’s new Equity Pay for All policy instituted last July.
As soon as it’s safe to present in-person performances again, Collaboraction will continue to use the theater at Kennedy-King College in Englewood as its mainstage producing home. Meanwhile, Collaboraction has initiated a search for its next home for live performances, community building and video production, exploring Chicago neighborhoods historically overlooked like Englewood, Austin and Lawndale.
Since its founding in 1996, Collaboraction has pushed artistic boundaries working with more than 3,000 artists to bring more than 60 productions and events to over 150,000 audience members. Collaboraction partnered with the Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Parks program for five straight years cultivating relationships and theater in Englewood, Austin and Hermosa through its Crime Scene, PEACEBOOK and Encounter tours. Other memorable productions include Collaboraction’s 2019 enhanced co-production of Sandra Delgado’s La Havana Madrid with Teatro Vista, Forgotten Future: The Education Project by Sarah Moeller, This is Not a Cure for Cancer by Anthony Moseley and Sarah Illiatovich-Goldman, Gender Breakdown by Dani Bryant and Erica Barnes, Dark Play (or stories for boys) by Carlos Murillo, the Chicago premiere of 1001 by Jason Grote and the annual SKETCHBOOK Festival for 15 years.
Collaboraction has been acknowledged for innovation and inclusivity by using theater as a tool for social change with numerous awards including, most recently, a 2020 Foster Innovation Award from Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), the 2020 Multi-Racial Unity Award from the First Unitarian Church - Chicago, a 2018 Stand For the Arts Award from Comcast, and an Otto Award from New York’s Castillo Theatre.
Collaboraction is supported by The Chicago Community Trust, The Joyce Foundation, The Field Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Wicker Park & Bucktown SSA #33 Chamber of Commerce, and the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency. This project is partially supported by a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events with funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
For more information, visit collaboraction.org.