The Nola Project Inc

THE NOLA PROJECT IS AN ENSEMBLE THEATRE COMPANY STRIVING TO CHALLENGE, ENTERTAIN, AND ENGAGE DIVERSE NEW ORLEANS AUDIENCES THROUGH HIGH-QUALITY AND INNOVATIVE PERFORMANCES OF RELEVANT GREAT WORKS, THE DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION OF NEW PLAYS, AND COMPREHENSIVE THEATRE EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES.

THE SEAGULL: OR HOW TO EAT IT ADAPTED BY LOCAL AUTHOR, GAB REISMAN (EXPENSES: $43,573.00)THE NOLA PROJECT, WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NOMAL PRESENTED THE SEAGULL, OR HOW TO EAT IT BY NEW ORLEANS PLAYWRIGHT GAB REISMAN. THIS WORLD PREMIERE WORK RAN TWELVE PERFORMANCES OUTDOORS IN THE AMPHITHEATER WITHIN NOMA'S BESTHOFF SCULPTURE GARDEN BETWEEN OCTOBER 12 AND 30, 2022. THE PLAY IS A FRESH ADAPTATION OF THE CLASSIC CHEKHOV PLAY THE SEAGULL, NEWLY UPDATED AND TRANSLATED BY LOCAL PLAYWRIGHT REISMAN SO THAT THE ACTION IS NOW SET IN THE NEW ORLEANS REGION DURING PRESENT DAY. THE PRODUCTION FEATURED A CAST OF 10 AND A PRODUCTION TEAM OF 15, MEANING PAID WORK FOR 25 LOCAL NEW ORLEANS THEATRE ARTISTS. THE PRODUCTION FOLLOWS IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF SEVERAL SUCCESSFUL PRODUCTIONS PRESENTED BY TNP IN THE BESTHOFF SCULPTURE GARDEN DATING BACK TO 2011 WHEN OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH NOMA BEGAN. THIS PRODUCTION DREW APPROXIMATELY 2000 ATTENDEES FOR THE DURATION OF ITS RUN, AND OUR TICKET PRICING STRUCTURE ENSURED THAT ALL NEW ORLEANIANS WERE ABLE TO AFFORD TICKETS AND THAT NO ONE WAS TURNED AWAY FOR LACK OF FUNDS. OUR GARDEN PERFORMANCES ARE A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE THAT CAN ONLY BE FOUND IN THE CRESCENT CITY.

OTHER PROGRAMS

WHITE (EXPENSES: $27,124.00)WHITE IS A RELATIVELY NEW PLAY BY THIS YEAR'S WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR DRAMA (FAT HAM), JAMES IJAMES, A QUEER BLACK WRITER WHOSE STATURE AND SPOTLIGHT IS QUICKLY GROWING IN THE AMERICAN THEATRE. THIS PRODUCTION WILL MARK THE FIRST PROFESSIONAL JAMES IJAMES PRODUCTION TO BE PRODUCED IN NEW ORLEANS. THE STORY OF WHITE FOLLOWS GUS, A VISUAL ARTIST WHO WANTS TO BE PRESENTED IN A MAJOR EXHIBITION FOR ARTISTS OF COLOR. HE HIRES VANESSA, A BLACK ACTRESS TO PERFORM AS BALKONA TOWNSEND, A BRASH AND POLITICAL ARTIST THAT WILL FIT THE MUSEUM'S DESIRE FOR "NEW VOICES." EVERYTHING IS GREAT, UNTIL BALKONA TAKES OVER AND GUS HAS TO DEAL WITH THE MESS HE'S MADE. THE PLAY SPINS OUT OF CONTROL AS IT EXPLORES ISSUES OF RACE, GENDER, SEXUALITY, AND ART. DC METRO THEATRE ARTS REVIEWED THE PLAY BY SAYING, "WHITE IS PURE GOLDIJAMES' AUDACIOUS AND HILARIOUS PLAY TAKES ON RACISM, SEXISM, AND A HANDFUL OF OTHER ISMSIT'S BOLD, OUTLANDISH, INSIGHTFUL, AND EXCITINGA SHARP DECONSTRUCTION OF RACIAL, ETHNIC, GENDER AND SOCIAL STEREOTYPES, EXAMINED FROM MULTIPLE POINTS OF VIEW."

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (EXPENSES: $52,791.00)THE NOLA PROJECT AND THE NEW ORLEANS MUSEUM OF ART (NOMA) WILL COLLABORATE TO PRESENT AN OUTDOOR PRODUCTION OF A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM WITHIN NOMA'S BESTHOFF SCULPTURE GARDEN. THE PRODUCTION RAN 12 PERFORMANCES BETWEEN MAY 10 AND 28, 2023 AND ATTRACTED OVER 2000 LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THE LARGE-SCALE PRODUCTION EMPLOYED THE LOCAL NEW ORLEANS TALENTS OF 14 ACTORS, 3 STAGE MANAGERS, 6 DESIGNERS, 4 MUSICIANS, AND 10 PRODUCTION STAFF MEMBERS.