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Contact:
Jesse Kretsinger Discourier Media 1740 W 76th St #1E, Richfield, MN 56423 320-360-0549 |
::FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE::
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Free Movie 'All for the Best' Shows How
Live Musical Theatre Survives Pandemic
ALL FOR THE BEST: HOW TO MAKE A MUSICAL DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC will be released for free viewing on YouTube on Sat., Jan, 30, 2021. http://tinyurl.com/aftbmovie
Little Falls, MN-- Jan. 16, 2021: In his non-profit film, All for the Best: How to Make a Musical During a Global Pandemic, independent filmmaker Jesse Kretsinger tells the story of how Little Falls Summer Musical rehearsed and performed the summer 2020 production of Godspell – outdoors and socially distanced. A Discourier Media and Little Falls Summer Musical production, All for the Best will be released for free viewing on YouTube on Sat., Jan. 30, 2021, with a special live-streamed premiere and Q&A session on Fri., Jan. 29 at 7:00 p.m.
When pandemic restrictions began in March, LF Summer Musical founders Lucas Burr and his father Michael Burr watched area theater organizations cancel or postpone their production schedules, throwing into question the future of in-person live performances. But rather than canceling the production, the company’s creative team wanted to test their flexibility. “We believed we could follow all the rules and still put on a good quality show,” said Lucas, the show’s co-director and music director.
With Godspell, the creative team found ways for characters to interact from afar, invented intense choreography that could be executed while socially distant, and engineered a portable set and orchestra stage that could be assembled on the lawn at The Long Drive-In Theater in Long Prairie. This created an in-person experience that maintained safety for everyone involved. However, the rigorous process also created a series of difficulties that proved to be an existential challenge for the production. The film depicts the full range of emotions the production team experienced as the needs of public health clashed with the creative process
When pandemic restrictions began in March, LF Summer Musical founders Lucas Burr and his father Michael Burr watched area theater organizations cancel or postpone their production schedules, throwing into question the future of in-person live performances. But rather than canceling the production, the company’s creative team wanted to test their flexibility. “We believed we could follow all the rules and still put on a good quality show,” said Lucas, the show’s co-director and music director.
With Godspell, the creative team found ways for characters to interact from afar, invented intense choreography that could be executed while socially distant, and engineered a portable set and orchestra stage that could be assembled on the lawn at The Long Drive-In Theater in Long Prairie. This created an in-person experience that maintained safety for everyone involved. However, the rigorous process also created a series of difficulties that proved to be an existential challenge for the production. The film depicts the full range of emotions the production team experienced as the needs of public health clashed with the creative process
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The film features interviews from throughout the course of the production, conducted by Kretsinger with Lucas and Michael, as well as co-director Michael Kalpakoff, assistant director Christian Thoms-Warzecha, and cast members Ryan Stangl, Madeline Wright, Nate Moga, Emma Ahlin, Angela Wright, Luke Rentschler, and Mia Hoffman. Kretsinger also was a member of the cast, putting him in the middle of the story while he was documenting it. The videography process also was a cooperative effort, with the cast, crew, and their families providing additional footage and photos from rehearsals and performances.
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All for the Best: How to Make a Musical During a Global Pandemic will be released for free and without advertisements on Sat., Jan. 30, 2021 at the Discourier YouTube channel, which can be found at tinyurl.com/aftbmovie. Prior to the film’s public release, it will be streamed live in a special advance premiere and watch party on the Discourier YouTube channel Fri., Jan. 29 at 7:00 p.m., with a Q&A session featuring Godspell’s cast and crew members. Updates on the film can be found at facebook.com/lfsummermusical.
About Discourier Media: Discourier Media is a content startup owned and operated by Jesse Kretsinger aimed at creating digital media to the benefit of Minnesota’s businesses and organizations. All for the Best is the first project released under the Discourier Media brand.
Jesse Kretsinger is a fiscal year 2021 recipient of a Creative Support for Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund. This project also was made possible by a grant provided by the Five Wings Arts Council with funds from The McKnight Foundation.
About Little Falls Summer Musical: A 501(c)3 not-for-profit theatre company, LF Summer Musical supports arts enrichment and learning by bringing together the best pre-professional, amateur, and professional artists in the area to create first-rate musical theatre shows. In 2021, LF Summer Musical will continue the local tradition of outstanding community theatre with the world-premiere production of Darling, a new play by former Little Falls native Taryn Verley.
The 2020 LF Summer Musical production of Godspell (2012 Revision) was produced by special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). LF Summer Musical’s 2020 program was made possible in part by a SourceWell Small Project grant. More information about LF Summer Musical is available at www.lfsummermusical.com and www.facebook.com/lfsummermusical.
Jesse Kretsinger is a fiscal year 2021 recipient of a Creative Support for Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund. This project also was made possible by a grant provided by the Five Wings Arts Council with funds from The McKnight Foundation.
About Little Falls Summer Musical: A 501(c)3 not-for-profit theatre company, LF Summer Musical supports arts enrichment and learning by bringing together the best pre-professional, amateur, and professional artists in the area to create first-rate musical theatre shows. In 2021, LF Summer Musical will continue the local tradition of outstanding community theatre with the world-premiere production of Darling, a new play by former Little Falls native Taryn Verley.
The 2020 LF Summer Musical production of Godspell (2012 Revision) was produced by special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). LF Summer Musical’s 2020 program was made possible in part by a SourceWell Small Project grant. More information about LF Summer Musical is available at www.lfsummermusical.com and www.facebook.com/lfsummermusical.
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