Creativity Connects
Integrity and art that sparks joy
By Alejandra Iannone, Director
Three words to encapsulate the first quarter of Sparkle's 2025? Reflection, weariness, renewal. We've cooked up new ideas and managed to-do lists. We've witnessed unsettling global unrest. And we've done lots of introspection.
Which, let's be honest, is tough.
Especially during a Minnesota winter. Some days, you just want to tick the box, move on, and hibernate till spring. But we've stuck with it! Our team took the last 3 months to envision Sparkle's creative and organizational goals for the 2025 - 2026 season. We anchored to two things: integrity and art that sparks joy. These values became a compass to guide us through some "spirited" conversations. In the end, those tough talks are always worth it. They clear the fog, and they're usually quite interesting.
We got to do chaotic things
I am profoundly grateful for the new opportunities that came our way this quarter, pushing us beyond our comfort zones and deepening our community connections. In early January, Rick and I had the honor of co-teaching nine youth workshop sessions at the Creativity Festival and CreativeCon sponsored by SparkPath.
Elementary and middle schoolers from across the Twin Cities metro met at the University of Minnesota's Ted Mann Hall, where they collaboratively reimagined the story of Pandora's Box through percussion and movement in our new "Finding Your Creative Voice Through Found Objects" workshop.
“We used a lot of energy, and got to make a lot of noise, and it was very fun.”
“The presenters were really nice and funny.”
“I like when we got to experiment with the sounds of different instruments.”
"We got to do chaotic things."
Preparing and teaching those workshops initially felt daunting. To be honest, on some level, we expected a tiny riot, especially from the eight graders. But the experience was vibrant, energetic, incredibly rewarding, and a reciprocal learning experience. Exploring the story of Pandora's Box with the students deepened my understanding of hope's enduring presence.
Seeing them work together reinforced my belief in the unifying power of creativity. Students shared enthusiastic feedback about the sessions, and many called our workshop their favorite. Their comments continue to inspire me. A personal favorite? "We got to do chaotic things."
Take our Joy Survey
Spring's finally here, or at least pretending to be. We're thawing out, building a foundation for a brighter future, one built on integrity, joy, and community. And we're aiming for a more vibrant world, but we need your help. Sparkle Theatricals wants to add some sunshine to your days. Take our joy survey here.
Let’s build a community where creativity thrives.