Chattanooga Pulse

Destiny Theatre Company is driving the dramatic destiny of Chattanooga. The nonprofit theatre company founded as Destiny Ensemble Theatre Company in late 2005 by theatre, television and film actor/director Karl D. Gardner is serving the community by producing a full season of works at a time when many theatres and local businesses are struggling just to keep their door open.

Destiny’s vision is of an inclusive theatre for all artists and audiences and “seeks to utilize theatre as a vehicle for cultural enrichment, creative stimulation, inspiration, and entertainment” within the Chattanooga community. So how does DTC find a balance? How do they reach the masses? By taking race and ego out of it, Gardner explains.

“I choose a play where I think, ‘Everybody would enjoy this.’ I take me out of what I want to see onstage—I try to be more in tune to the city and think ‘What can I do that will bring more people to the theatre?’ Our primary goal [continues to be] to do great work everybody will enjoy and not care what race of people are on the stage.”

He continues, “I’m a Chattanooga native and I didn’t grow up doing theatre. I went away to school and had some success as an actor, and, when I would come home sporadically, I started noticing a developing arts community. The one thing Chattanooga didn’t have was a dedicated company offering a season of productions featuring minorities. I was going to start such a company in Atlanta. My main inspiration for starting DTC was [to fill this need] to complement the already thriving arts community in this city.”

In order to build his company, Gardner began by going to various theatrical venues in the city to view the local talent. He saw lots of talented artists and great potential in many who were untrained. Gardner saw his inner purpose to be a teacher and leader in the community, providing these artists with solid training in acting and a performance space where a multi-ethnic perspective would be welcomed.

“A lot of these artists never had the opportunity to have training and I wanted to try to provide this. DTC’s primary focus wasn’t [initially] on the African American community, but I knew I wanted to serve the underserved community. At the company, we provide the opportunity for training, to grow, learn and develop as an artist. Some don’t want to be trained…some we take out of the world of academics and most do something at church…but overall people have been receptive.”

With his company assembling and his future before him, Gardner went in search of a board of directors who would support his mission. He initially approached people he admired in various professions, looking for a diverse group of theatre lovers.

“I wanted a mix—not all artists or people based in the business. I looked at people who had an interest, who wanted to see an organization like Destiny thrive in Chattanooga.”

With a seven-member board of directors firmly in place, Gardner began DTC’s odyssey with Livin’ Fat by Judi Ann Mason at the Memorial Auditorium Community Theatre in May 2006. The comedy was well received by the community, with significant ticket sales and sponsorship by 17 individuals and corporations.

Season One continued with the hit gospel musical Crowns by Regina Taylor. Crowns was recognized by The Pulse as Number 5 on the Top Ten list for 2006 Performances In the Arts and grossed more than $10,000 in ticket sales. The dramatic comedy Jar The Floor by Cheryl L. West and the six-time Helen Hayes award-winning musical Bessie’s Blues, written and directed by Thomas W. Jones II, finished out the season.

Season Two saw the Chattanooga premiere of Langston Hughes’ Black Nativity, a gospel music celebration of the “greatest story ever told.” Season Three began with a play from the New Works Series, Thomas W. Jones II’s adult comedy Why a Sista Can’t Get No Love?, followed by S. M. Shephard-Massat’s civil rights drama Waiting To Be Invited. The final play of the season was a performance of the hit stage play 12 Angry Jurors, adapted by Sherman Sergel, and based on the Emmy award-winning television movie 12 Angry Men by Reginald Rose.

Now in their fourth season, DTC still struggles to select appropriate material for their Chattanooga audience. Gardner explains, “When I think about the work, I think it’s been more—I don’t know what word to use, intelligent?—we’ve chosen more classics and more identifiable productions. We get more out of classics than new works; when I put [a new work] out there and audiences don’t know about it, they don’t connect with it. Surveys we’ve taken with our audiences have shown that they prefer dramas and comedies, and our mission is to create an eclectic mix of classic and contemporary.”

What makes DTC different is that the company brings the audiences works which celebrate ethnic diversity.

“It is not our primary goal but it is a focus—making these productions available to the minority community. Several people who have come to DTC thank me; many of the audience members have never come to a theatre before. A lot of theatres are good in their own way, but they don’t have a lot of roles for African Americans. That’s what makes Destiny different. It’s what sets us apart. In the future, we want to continue to be that go-to organization. We would like to share our casts and be the place where someone can call and ask ‘Do you know of any [minority] actors/artists we could use?’”

So how does DTC attract and train its performers?

“We are building a professional theatre company, but we are open to anyone with any level of experience, young to professional; we don’t isolate anyone. We expect [the newcomers] to elevate the production, not to bring the group of professionals down. So we train them well. We expect them to move on to other markets, Atlanta, Knoxville, and we teach them how to prepare their auditions well.

“People haven’t been used to a minority company being here in Chattanooga. They’re used to touring shows. But I think they’re getting more comfortable with Destiny being here.”

The fourth DTC season opens November 27, 2009 with a production of Driving Miss Daisy, the Pulitzer Prize-winning stage play by Alfred Uhry, at Stage Left at Loose Cannon Studios. The cast features Brenda Schwab, LaFrederick Thirkill and Garry Posey. The remainder of the season includes a revival of Black Nativity, and productions of Miss Evers’ Boys, and Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill. (See details in schedule below).

In addition to providing DTC an audience, people can get involved by volunteering at the theatre, auditioning for shows, or becoming a board member. Gardner’s drive to see DTC succeed is unassailable.

“Our current board members are at the end of their term of service, so we are looking for new people to take their places on the board,” says Gardner. “We are looking for committed, dedicated individuals who want to see advancement in the company and want to see the organization live. The city needs a company like Destiny.”

Destiny Theatre Company 2009-2010 Season

Driving Miss Daisy
Thanksgiving Holiday 2009
Friday, November 27, 8 p.m., Saturday, November 28, 2:30 and 8:00 p.m., Sunday, November 29, 2:30 p.m

While race is the theme at the forefront of this play, Driving Miss Daisy is far more than just a drive down memory lane, glancing at the equality issues that permeated the last century. It is also a heart-warming tale of friendship and aging gracefully

Stage Left at Loose Cannon Studios (1800 Rossville Ave., in the Southside Arts District)
Advance Tickets: Adults $18, seniors and students $16. Groups of 10 or more: $14
All tickets (general seating) $20 day of show.
(423) 242-5156 or purchase at
www.destinyentertainment.org
For group tickets, call (423) 544-1597

Black Nativity
Christmas Holiday 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 7 p.m., Wednesday, December 23, 7 p.m.

Inspired by renowned poet Langston Hughes’s musical gospel play, Black Nativity celebrates the “greatest story ever told,” the traditional Christmas story, using a soulful point of view and distinct energy of the black urban church. Powerful narration and glorious gospel music fill the stage in a jubilant expression of human love, joy and celebration.
Tivoli Theatre, 709 Broad Street
Advance tickets: Adults $22
Seniors, Students and Groups of 10 or more: $18
All tickets $25 day of show
Tickets are available at the Memorial Auditorium box office or charge by phone at (423) 642-TIXS

Miss Evers’ Boys
Black History Month
February 12–14, 19–21, 26–28, 2010
Fridays and Saturdays, 8 p.m. Sundays, 2:30 p.m.

This powerful drama is a fictional account based on the true government study carried out from 1932-1972.

Stage Left at Loose Cannon Studios
(1800 Rossville Ave. in the Southside Arts District)
Advance tickets: Adults $18
Seniors and Students: $16
Groups of 10 or more: $14
All tickets $20 day of show
(423) 242-5156 or
www.destinyentertaiment.org
Group tickets, (423) 544-1597

Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill
April 2010

The time is 1959. The place is a seedy bar in Philadelphia. The audience is about to witness one of Billie Holiday’s last performances, given four months before her death. More than a dozen musical numbers are interlaced with salty, often humorous, reminiscences to project a riveting portrait of the lady and her music.
Location to be determined

Audition Information

Black Nativity
Dancer Roles Needed
Joseph – Dancer
Mary – Dancer

Must have experience in various types of dance.

Those interested in auditioning must reserve spots by Friday, November 20 by calling (423) 242-5156, or e-mail destinytheatre@gmail.com

Only those that call or e-mail and confirm will be allowed to audition.

Audition Date:
Sunday, November 22
3:30 p.m., Loose Cannon Studios,
1800 Rossville Ave.
Rehearsals start November 30

Miss Evers’ Boys
Directed by LaFrederick Thirkill
Characters: (All roles are African American, except Dr. John Douglas)

Eunice Evers – 28, a public health nurse
Dr. Eugene Brodus – 40, Administrative Head, Memorial Hospital Tuskegee Alabama
Dr. John Douglas – 34, Field Physican, United States Public Health Service
Willie Johnson – 19, tenant farmer
Caleb Humphries – 25, tenant farmer
Hodman Bryan – 37, tenant farmer
Ben Washington – 57, tenant farmer

Audition dates:
Saturday, December 12, 1-3 p.m.
Sunday, December 13, 3:30-5:30 p.m.
Stage Left at Loose Cannon Studios, 1800 Rossville Ave.
For more information, contact: destinytheatre@gmail.com or
(423) 242-5156.

Auditions are open to the general public.