MISSION
Heartwood Theater promotes the theater art experience in the lives of children and adults in the community. Performers and audiences alike share an artistic experience that challenges the human spirit and inspires personal growth and enlightenment. The Heartwood experience will focus on the beauty of artistic expression, the necessity of social discourse, a passion for artistic growth and excellence, an examination of the human spirit and an assumption of our vital human purpose.

1) regional youth education in the theater arts

2) regional adult education in the theater arts

3) an annual performance schedule open to the public

4) the creation of a theater arts facility located in the midcoast

The theater arts are inclusive of nearly all artistic disciplines. With small theater ensembles, both youth and adult, working in temporary spaces, as a starting point, Heartwood will develop and implement a broad vision - to include educational and performance opportunities across a number of art disciplines. A full theater arts complex, with music, theater, rehearsal, technical, performance, and classroom space is the far reaching vision of this organization.

ESSENTIAL - PHILOSOPHIES

Spirit
Members, employees and volunteers of the organization will endeavor at all times to behave with integrity - with one another, with audience members, with visiting artists, with volunteers, and with staff.

Clear, kind and honest communication, that honors both high expectations and sensitivity, will be the rule.

Each production will be followed by mandatory debriefing sessions where a Heartwood standard critique and evaluation format will be implemented. All cast and production staff will be asked to assess and evaluate the production. Audience and performer critiques may be solicited for use in these general sessions and in organizational evaluations.

THEATER & ARTS

All productions will endeavor to the highest possible standards and expectations given the human and material resources within our possession. We will strive to touch our audience’s intellect and emotion, as well as their senses of social, emotional, and spiritual well being.

As is essential in the theater, art at Heartwood will take all forms, from dance and music to sculpture, from performance to graphics. All elements of performance and technical theater will be honored and valued.

Art that invigorates, amuses, challenges, energizes and uplifts will form the basis of production decisions.

A financially and artistically reasonable organization will balance its possibilities with careful decision making. Artistic decisions will be the driving force at Heartwood. The financial and decision making entities will endeavor to uphold and support these choices by providing adequate material and community resources.

RESPONSIBILITY

Adults will understand their place as role models to the youth who participate in Heartwood programs. All adult to child interactions will be undertaken with the understanding that Heartwood will be a safe, healthy environment in which youngsters can grow in their talents and in their self perceptions.

Heartwood theater will be a substance free environment. Student participants will be mentored and encouraged to excel with the understanding that academics and personal health take precedence over performance.

In the interest of family and personal health, one day per week will be scheduled as a dark day for the theater. No organized performances, rehearsals or other formal business will be undertaken. Exceptions to this principle will include matinees during performance runs and occasional emergencies.