The State Of Mu - Updates and Transitions
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
Your commitment to lifting up the stories of the Asian American community is inspiring!
These past two months have been full of change, loss, and uncertainty. Yet through it all Theater Mu has continued to stay true to its mission—amplifying artists of color, creating excellent work, and giving voice to marginalized stories. We’re doing that by employing our staff and artists, connecting virtually, and supporting our Asian American communities.
We’re extremely grateful for the outpouring of support we’ve received from you, our family. Although Mu has experienced financial loss, we’re working with our foundation funders and generous donors like yourself to cover minor setbacks. Here are some ways we’re building the world we want to live in and moving Asian American theater forward:
1. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Mu’s staff engages in weekly community meetings with 25+ Asian Minnesotan organizations such as the Coalition of Asian American Leaders and Reviving the Islamic Sisterhood for Empowerment to actively combat COVID-19-related racism, offer expertise, and share resources.
2. OFFERING VIRTUAL EVENTS THREE TIMES A WEEK
MU MONDAYS
Virtual table readings and discussions of plays with Asian American artists from across the country.
MU-TINI HOUR
Live hangouts with theater makers and friends including Lauren Yee, David Henry Hwang, Lea Salonga, and George Takei.
FAMILY EXPLORATIONS
A chance for the family to learn alongside our theater artists. So far, we’ve explored cooking, puppet making, and new languages.
3. SUPPORTING ARTISTS
This work is giving us a chance to employ artists. And thanks to the help of our season subscribers and funders, Mu and Jungle Theater were able to partially compensate the company of this summer’s cancelled production, Cambodian Rock Band. We’ve hired teaching artists to develop “Mu Explorations” and “Mu Stories,” programs to be offered at schools around the Twin Cities. Plus, we still have two commissioned plays in development! We’re keeping busy in order to come back next season with better, more impactful programming.
As you can see, our 2019/20 SEASON: THE WORLD IS OURS TO BUILD isn’t over yet. To celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, we have an exciting lineup of events planned for this month, including our first-ever 24-Hour Virtual Play Festival, featuring more than 30 directors, playwrights, and actors.
Additionally, Mu will undergo two planned staff transitions. First, Development Director Tiffany Xiong is welcoming a new family member in June and will be leaving Mu. Then at the end of July, Managing Director Shannon Fitzgerald will step down to pursue her MBA at the University of Minnesota. It’s a bittersweet time, as we’ll miss them both dearly. We’re grateful to them for their incredible work at Mu and are excited for their new adventures.
Your support can truly make a difference through this transformative time. DONATE TODAY so that together we can continue to support artists and provide opportunities for our family and community to see and make art. Thank you for your help in building this season. We miss you and look forward to the day we can see you in person. Until the theater doors open again, we wish you peace, happiness, and good health!
Sincerely,
Lily Tung Crystal
Artistic Director