Our outdoor spaces have been especially beautiful lately! Above is Alley Stage with Katrin Talbot on viola and Matthew Guenette on verses for yesterday’s Viola, Poetry, and Chocolate—a free community event with all sorts of inspiration for the senses. Last weekend we were treated to Reading Anna K by Fran Zell as part of our Alley Stage Reading Series, and we’re looking forward to ITCH by DC Cathro on October 12—tickets available in advance or at the door. Our Alley Stage Reading Series provides space for Midwestern playwrights to share their works in progress, local actors to perform new work and share their craft, and for audiences to engage during the post-reading talkbacks. A key part of our mission is cultivating the creativity in our rural communities and the Alley Stage Reading Series helps us work to enact this mission.

Another key aspect of our mission is to care for our rustic campus and historic buildings—you might have noticed our campus improvements lately: from new fencing to restored lanterns and more to come. We invite you to visit during Fiber Faire September 28 for all the fiber-tastic fun (spinning & weaving & embroidery & more! Plus a pop-up market) and to check on our progress. We’re excited to make our campus more welcoming for visitors as we celebrate twenty years of creativity and get ready for twenty more. On October 14 (our sign-the-papers-actual-birthday!) we invite everyone for a Lantern Lighting on the Green at 7:30 p.m. The sun will have set and we’ll be ready to light the way for the future along with all of you!

Have you started working on your costume yet for A Ghostly Gathering, our freakishly fun fundraiser on October 26? We’re leaning into spectacle and the sideshow this year with a Fire Show, carnival games, a strolling magician, Tarot readings, and music by Feast of Mutton. Doors open at 5:30. We’ll have food and drink all over campus and a Night Market. Get your tickets now and sign up to be a vendor. This rain or shine or snow event is not recommended for children. We look forward to welcoming families to our annual Trick’r Treat night October 31!

See you soon,