Spamtown, USA

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When:

Thursday, February 27, 2020 - 10:30am - 12:30pm

Where:

Who: Best for students in middle and high school due to length, content, and themes of this performance.
Due to the age recommendation and capacity of the Cargill Stage, lap passes will not be available for this production.

How much:
Cost for Adults/Educators: $10.00
Cost for Children/Students: $10.00

Please register by: Friday, January 10, 2020 - 5:00pm

Description

Cargill Stage

You’ve read the story of the 1985 Hormel strike in Austin, Minnesota. But this is what wasn’t printed in the newspapers; the families, the kids, and the idealized town where everything was fine … but was it? A moving portrait of families divided, where confrontation was the new normal, and where children’s dreams of fashion school, tennis competitions, and space travel were interrupted by arguments and ethical questions. This is the story of the hurt that comes when you’re forced to take sides, the hope that comes in surprising alliances, and the laugh-out-loud humor that makes everything possible.

Written by Philip Dawkins.
Directed by Will Davis.

Things to Know About the Show

• The playwright traveled to Austin, MN and interviewed many adults and kids about their real-life experience living through the Hormel strike and the aftermath. Stories from these interviews directly influenced scenes and dialogue in the show.
• This play takes place in the 1980s—references to pop culture, slang, and views of that decade are represented throughout this play.
• This show contains scenes depicting tension between family members, friends, and coworkers, resulting in harsh language, bullying, and some instances of physical violence.
• Spamtown, USA is a brand new play which means that content may change as script continues to be developed. Keep an eye on the student matinee website for the most up-to-date information.

Approximate run time: expect Spamtown, USA to run approximately 2 hours including one 15-minute intermission

Please be aware of the following content:

• Language: The adults and kids experience insults and bullying language. Many characters are called “scabs.” God-damn is used multiple times by both kids and adults.
• Footage of the NASA Challenger launch and explosion is projected onstage. The sounds of pigs being slaughtered by heavy machinery will be heard. Trig is arrested.
• Violence and Scariness: There is a description of a factory accident. Scott (age 13) protects his home with a BB gun after someone burns the word “scab” into his garage. Many characters argue.

An Educator Guideis available for download.

More information at childrenstheatre.org including a performance description, a full synopsis, and a full list of content advisories.

CTC’s Online Journal, Off Book, is a great resource to dig a little deeper.After the show, student can submit questions for a chance to be answered by the cast and crew.

Children’s Theatre Company is located next door to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.

Event information Cancellation information Additional information Registration form 

Payment information

Payment must be received by: Mon, Jan 13, 2020 - 5:00pm

1. Please plan to send your payment the same day that you register.
    
   The organizer will expect to receive your payment within 3 days of your date of registration — or by the payment deadline above, whichever comes first.
    
2. Immediately after you register, you will be emailed payment instructions from admin(at)homeschoolrecess(dot)com.
    
   Make sure your email filters recognize this address as a legitimate sender. If you don't receive this email, please check your spam, junk or bulk mail folder. Contact the organizer if you are unable to find it; if you receive no response to your email, please call the organizer.
    
   You are not officially registered until the organizer receives your payment.
    
3. When the organizer records your payment, you will be emailed a payment receipt from admin(at)homeschoolrecess(dot)com.
    
   If you've sent your payment and haven't received a payment confirmation, please contact the organizer by email or phone.
    
4. If the organizer doesn't receive your payment within 3 days of your date of registration or by the payment deadline, whichever comes first, the organizer may remove your family from the registration list.
    
   You will be notified with an email from admin(at)homeschoolrecess(dot)com should this unfortunate event occur.
    
   If you are unable to send payment immediately, please contact the organizer to make other arrangements. This protects the organizer from non-payment due to payment instructions blocked by overly aggressive spam protection.
    
5. If you need to cancel your registration, please do so via an email request to the organizer.
    
   Non-payment is not an acceptable way to cancel your registration. If you wish to cancel, please be respectful of the volunteer organizer's time and send an email request.
    
   If you fail to send a cancellation request by the cancellation deadline, you will remain responsible for reimbursing the organizer for the cost of your family's participation.
    
6. To help the organizer identify you in the registration database, please include your username and field trip number along with any requests. This information can be found in your payment instructions email message and on the registration form on this page.

Event information Payment information Additional information Registration form 

Cancellation information

Cancellation deadline: Fri, Jan 10, 2020 - 5:00pm

TO CANCEL BEFORE THE DEADLINE: 
(1) Please let the organizer know as soon as possible via email. 

TO CANCEL AFTER THE DEADLINE: 
(1) Let the organizer know as soon as possible via email. 
(2) No refunds can be made as the organizer has already paid for your tickets. 
(3) To avoid empty seats, please attempt to transfer your tickets to another family.
(3a) Any reimbursements should be handled privately between you and your substitute. 
(3b) Please let the organizer know about the substitution. 
 
TO CANCEL ON THE DAY OF THE EVENT: 
(1) It is not cool to just not show up. The group cannot be queued to be seated until all members of the group have arrived, so please let the event organizer or Group Lead know as soon as possible if you are unable to attend — via email, text message or voice mail. 
(2) To avoid empty seats, please attempt to find a last-minute substitute for your family, but remember the CTC policies restrict these student matinee tickets to homeschool students accompanied by adults directly involved in educating those students. 

Event information Payment information Cancellation information Registration form 

Additional information

Please arrive by:

* Please plan to arrive by 9:30am (1 hour before showtime) in order to have plenty of time to find parking, check-in with the Group Lead, visit the bathrooms and otherwise be prepared for our group to be seated promptly. Please plan to be early to avoid being late due to inadequate maps, confusing road signs, road construction, heavy traffic, parking difficulties, inclement weather or uncooperative children. 

* Seats are determined on the day of the show. Seating is dependent on when the group is ready to be seated. Groups are seated in the order that their Group Check-In Pass is presented to the Check-In Usher. Our group will not be queued to be seated until everyone is present. Once everyone has arrived and the Group Lead has the Group Check-In Pass, the group will proceed upstairs in a single file line. Wait at the top of the stairs for the Check-In Usher to lead our group to the entrance to the theatre in a single file line to be seated. 

* Seats cannot be saved. Everyone in the group should take the seats the ushers indicate. CTC aims to keep groups together but groups may be split between rows. If certain adults need to be with certain children, those adults should be standing next to those children in the single-file line. If they are separated during the seating process, they should take the seats indicated and rearranged their seating within the group only after the entire group has been seated. 

Where to meet:

Please gather in the granite lobby, by the ticket office, until the Group Lead has checked in and received the Group Check-In Pass and Ticket Stickers, unless directed elsewhere by the staff. Please check in with the Group Lead when you arrive. Everyone in the group must be present before the group can be queued for seating. Tickets cannot be left at the ticket office.

Food policy:

No food or beverages are allowed in the theatre. 

Alternate plans:

During inclement weather, allow extra travel time. Refunds will be issued only if CTC cancels a performance. Groups will be notified via email no later than 7am on the morning of the performance if the Student Matinee performance has been canceled. CTC does not issue refunds if you fail to attend your scheduled performance for any reason, including weather conditions. 

Parking information:

Please allow for an extra 15-20 minutes for parking to ensure that you can join the group in time for the group to be seated promptly.

The parking ramp is directly south of the CTC-MIA complex. The ramp entrances are located on 3rd Ave S between E 24th St and E 25th St. During CTC shows, this parking lot is credit card only.

There is a surface lot directly across the street from the ramp with an entrance on 3rd Ave S and another on E 25th St. 

There is an additional lot northeast of the museum with entrances on 3rd Ave S, E 24th St, and Clinton Ave S. 

At this time, parking is $8 for the first 5 hours and $1 for each additional hour. Please follow instructions at the pay stations. Be aware that there is a possibility of event rates. 

More information and a map can be found at childrenstheatre.org/plan/getting-here/parking-at-ctc

Directions:

From the east on I-94 West (from St. Paul), exit at 11th St and follow 11th St exit to the second stoplight. Turn left onto 3rd Ave S. Continue on 3rd Ave until you see the MIA on your right, just south of the intersection of E 24th St and 3rd Ave S.

From Downtown Minneapolis, drive south on 3rd Ave (away from the Mississippi River) until you see the MIA on your right, just south of the intersection of E 24th St and 3rd Ave S.

From the west on I-394 East (from St Louis Park), exit on 12th St and drive 4 blocks, turn right on La Salle Ave. Take La Salle to Franklin Ave and turn left on Franklin and proceed to 3rd Ave S. Turn right on 3rd Ave and proceed to the MIA.

From the north and northwest on I-94 East (from St Cloud), take the Hennepin/Lyndale exit. When Hennepin and Lyndale divide, continue on Lyndale Ave S to E 24th St. Turn left and proceed to 3rd Ave S. Turn right onto 3rd Ave.

From the north and east on I-35W South (from Duluth), exit to I-94 West then exit at 11th St and follow 11th St exit to the second stoplight. Turn left onto 3rd Ave S. Continue on 3rd Ave until you see the MIA on your right, just south of the intersection of E 24th St and 3rd Ave S.

From the south on I-35W North (from Rochester), take the 31st St/Lake St exit and turn left onto 31st St. Drive to 1st Ave S and turn right and drive to 24th St and turn right. Proceed to 3rd Ave. Turn right onto 3rd Ave. The entrance to the MIA is on the right.

Additional information and a map can be found at http://www.childrenstheatre.org/plan/getting-here/find-us

Event information Payment information Cancellation information Additional information

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