December 3-30

A joyous holiday tradition returns!

La Befana

Based on the ancient legend of the Italian gift giver, La Befana reveals the splendid wonder of common things.

Click here for show times and ticket information

HOBT Education Now

Summer Fun with Field Trips, Residencies & Puppet Shows!

Whether through hands-on workshops or Captivating theatrical productions, HOBT Delivers exceptional - and FUN - learning Experiences to people of all ages, abilities and adaptive styles. Visit our theatre, studio or classroom - or we'll come to you!

Read about all our fun and educational summer programs in the complete brochure by clicking here.

Call for MayDay
2011 Artists!

Apply now for FT paid artists positions for next MayDay. Starts February 2011 to May 10, 2011.

Click here to download application.

Deadline to apply is 9/13/2010

Fare thee well, Kathee!
Welcome, Loren!

On September 1, we bid farewell to Kathee Foran with much love and thanks for her many years of service as In the Heart of the Beast Theatre's Executive Director. The theatre is in good health as Kathee leaves for Spain to walk the Camino de Santiago as the first steps of transition from her long years here. Congratulations on a job well done, Kathee! And Blessings for your next adventure! (Watch for announcements of a party in her honor.)

Welcome to Loren Niemi as he fills the post left by Kathee. Loren arrives with his experience of encouraging art as an integral piece of community development. He is a writer, a storyteller, and an instigator of community dialogue through storytelling. He has been a manager of organizational development, and many years ago, he was the ringmaster of HOBT's epic Mississippi River Tour "The Circle of Water Circus!"

As part of the interview process, we asked why Art is important in our time. Loren wrote: "Art is important at all times. Art is the organizing principle of human experience, allowing us to manage the chaos of life and environment through narrative. Art is the visible manifestation of our culture's hopes and dreams, our fears, and conjectures of "what if?" and "why..." It is the essential challenge to intolerance and authoritarianism; (a) subversive and necessary expression..."

Loren says he is joining HOBT with a healthy mix of joy for an organization he loves, and honest trepidation for the work he knows is required.

Welcome, Loren, ringmaster once again of a "3 ring circus." I, and we all, look forward to the adventure ahead!

-Sandy Spieler, Artistic Director

Letter from Kathee Foran

Dear Friends,

Our fiscal year will end on August 31st and I am making my final appeal for your continued support of this amazing organization. After twenty years in the saddle I will soon retire as executive director of In the Heart of the Beast. The reason I've stayed well beyond the two or three years I first imagined is because HOBT is about something important. It's about using the form of puppet and mask theater along with a quirky brand of humor to examine the issues of our neighborhood, our country and our place in the world. We've always operated "close to the bone" and this year is no different. Your support as we close out the year is critical to our stability. Please help us continue to create work of imagination and meaning in the year to come.

With a grateful heart for an amazing twenty years, Kathee Foran

VOLUNTEER CORNER

We owe a big THANK YOU to the Community Service Stars for assembling a 5,000-piece mailing for us. Matt Malakowsky, Team Leader from YouthCARE (Cultural Appreciation & Racial Equality), brought 11 teens to HOBT Who completed this huge, important project in just one day! Thank you from "The Heart!" Volunteering makes a difference to us, and can make a difference to you, too. You'll meet new people, learn new skills, feel valued, and have fun! If you'd like to know more about volunteering at HOBT contact Margery Otto at 612-721-2535 ext. 16 or at motto@hobt.org.