"This process made me realize that our community theatre can do more. We can choose socially relevant shows. We can work under pressure. And we can succeed." Charity Main, actor
Stomping Ground celebrates small-town theatre-making by
producing contemporary plays, using a hybrid of local and
professional artists, on rural stages. We seek to
re-invigorate our community theatres by providing
aid and resources, while re-energizing the people
and artists within each community.
We embrace inclusion and support an anti-racist vision for the American Theater. Through means of performances, workshops, and gatherings, Stomping Ground is a vehicle for radical and relevant theatre in Small-Town America. Vroom vroom.
INNOVATE
Using a hybrid of local and professional talent, we produce theatre that is one-of-a-kind both in process and product.
ORIGINATE
We work with playwrights who are passionate about creating and developing new works within a rural community.
RE-INVIGORATE
Our stages of small-town America deserve all the love. Based on a space's specific needs, we aim to leave every space in better shape than we found it.
PARTICIPATE
Not only do we offer free theatre to the community, we provide workshops from our artists &
free mental health resources
from our amazing partners.
AJ Clauss
Co-Artistic Director,
Director of Development
Lilli Hokama
Co-Artistic Director, Director of Community Relations
Kenzie Whitener
Director of Research & Mental Health Initiatives
As we prepare to travel the mid-west and beyond, it is crucial to recognize here, and more importantly on every stage we stand, the cultural legacy left behind from our colonizers of stolen lands and forced removal of the native peoples of these lands.
We are indebted to the labor and unwilling sacrifice of those whose freedom was destroyed. We acknowledge the culture of this violence through generations of colonialism and the resulting landscape still affected and witnessed today.
We accept our legacy with humble hearts and promise to always lead every room, enter every space, with this conviction at the forefront.
