HowlRound Theatre Commons: 3 June 2018 marked the end of an era, and the dress code was “your FUNeral finest.” The FUNeral, as we called it (billed with the tagline “like a funeral, but FUNNER”), was a party celebrating the end of Patrick’s Cabaret. It was the last show hosted by the organization, a radically inclusive queer-led performing arts incubator in Minneapolis known for supporting provocative work. This wasn’t a somber affair; this was a final chance to say goodbye in a flurry of color, glitter, humor, and togetherness.
2 comments:
This article really hit home for me, in a strange way. I’ve been a part of a number of nonprofits over the years (often on the brink or over the brink of financial failure), and across the board, there’s always an intense emotional attachment to the company. It’s hard to take an objective look at the state of the company, and it’s nearly impossible to let go and decide to disperse. Patrick’s Cabaret discovered that their existence relied heavily on their venue; they discovered that they were not going to be able to make ends meet; they discovered that they were not going to be able to work for their mission. The bright side of the “sunset” of a company is the opening that it creates for new companies and new models that are more flexible and able to adapt to change. I appreciate the way in which the leadership of Patrick’s Cabaret created the end of their story as a celebration, not a death.
This is a heartbreaking news to me personally. I always believe the theatre is for everyone, and it should be a neutral ground for any kind of thoughts and practices. Patrick’s Cabaret is an organization that started from scratch in 1986, and along with the underground performances is grew and thrived. It is so hard imagine how much power was embedded in this small theatre. It was meant for the minority and participated by minority. And it is heartbreaking that we are going to lose this kind of window to peek how the lives of others that are apart from but around us. Let’s just hope the artist won’t burn out after this final act of Patrick’s Cabaret and continue to provide us the energy on the path of the theatrical art.
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