The Straz Center for the Performing Arts has a full lineup of programs and performances planned in the coming months. Many programs will bring the region’s veterans to the forefront, allowing them to talk about their experiences in creative and therapeutic ways. Plus, there are other performance that focus on the rich cultural tapestry of Tampa Bay.
Your VetChat
One such ongoing program is called Your VetChat. “We’ve been doing this since 2019,” said Fred Johnson, The Straz Center Community Engagement Specialist. “It is a part of a broader initiative we have called Creative Forces.” And Johnson would know a thing or two about the Armed Forces. He used to be a former Marine.
Tampa is one of 11 original cities that were a part of the Creative Forces initiative sponsored by the Department of Defense and National Endowment for the Arts. The initiative focused on science and research that says using art in all forms helps support recovering and returning veterans. Especially veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan that have traumatic brain injuries and PTSD.
The Creative Forces initiative began with community arts organizations in 2017. It’s a way to support veterans leaving clinical settings and moving back into the community.
Your VetChat takes place on the third Thursday of each month. It is a virtual gathering where vets and caregivers can have a shared conversation about what is happening in their communities and align with a creative prompt. “A perfect example is one of our colleagues who is an art therapist at VA hospital, who showed participants how to take better pictures with their phone cameras,” Johnson said.
“We had some members from the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company who are veterans who use Shakespeare to build a community. The program amplified in 2020 when the pandemic hit,” Johnson adds.
Each Your VetChat begins at 6 p.m. and has a different theme:
- Thursday, Feb. 16—Women Veterans and Artistry
- Thursday, April 20—Featuring Chesapeake Shakespeare Company
- Thursday, May 18—Exploring Creative Family Arts
Veteran Civilian Arts Ensemble
The Veteran Civilian Arts Ensemble is another program hosted by The Straz. It’s where veterans and civilians come together to co-create a work of art.
“This is truly one of those instances where the process is equally as important as the final product,” Johnson said. “Oftentimes, members of the civilian community don’t necessarily understand how to support our vets. We have people that play music, that dance, write poetry, paint, and play instruments. Everyone comes together to create a piece based on the dialogue and conversation that happens between vets and civilians.”
Civilians hear firsthand from veterans. It helps the community more broadly understand and support veterans and their families and caregivers.
Related: Creative Arts Theatre Company Brings Innovative Performances to Kids
“It is a wonderful bridge that utilizes art to create a final performance that this year will happen in May,” Johnson said.
Last year’s performance, entitled What Now?, revolved around what to do to move forward in life.
“It was really a journey with original music, an original script and choreography. Several vets wrote beautiful pieces about finding that pathway from past and feeling safe on a trusted path forward.”
A line from one song goes like this:
I don’t know what to say, I don’t know what to do, because I don’t totally understand the fullness of you.
“It was this conversation about the importance of how individuals feel and what we don’t know about each other. How we can identify that and move forward together,” Johnson said.
“The final piece was a beautifully improvised piece where three huge canvases and VA members created these large, beautiful paintings.”
If veterans and civilians have a common understanding and a common respect for each other, it is the greater good for all, Johnson explains.
BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) Playreading Series
This will be the second season for the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) Playreading Series at The Straz.
“It is a creative thread in the tapestry of the new conversation The Straz Center is having around inclusion diversity, equity and accessibility,” Johnson said.
“At the time of George Floyd’s murder, a new conversation was happening, in terms of taking a look at how we could really amplify our connection with the community in a more diverse way and also create forums and opportunities to really amplify their artwork and their creative contribution,” he said.
“We feature artists like a playwright from the Hispanic community who wrote a phenomenal play built around Tampa Bay and members of the Spanish-speaking community.
The series will take place on Sunday Feb. 5, March 5, April 23, May 28, at 2:30 p.m. at the TECO Theater.
Next month features the African American experience, then April features arts from the American indigenous community.
Straz’s Arts Legacy REMIX
The Straz’s Arts Legacy REMIX is a celebration of the rich cultural tapestry of Tampa Bay. It runs from October through June, including Juneteenth.
“It’s a celebration on our Riverwalk to create free access and opens up an opportunity for members of the community to hear some great local talent and celebrate different cultures,” Johnson said.
Here are the various performances you can see:
- Friday, Feb. 17–International Women’s Celebration. It will focus on women throughout the generations whose unique experiences will be brought to life through diverse artistic mediums. It lauds women in different cultures and their unique journeys toward equality through dance, music, and visual arts. Among performers will be East Indian dancers from Shreyas Arts.
- Friday, March 24—Global Pride – A Unified Community. A celebration of authentic self-expression and experience in this commemoration of the Stonewall Riots. It features local artists that embody the global impact of the LGBTQIA+ community.
- Friday, April 21—Celtic Culture Festival – From the rich and elaborate storytelling of the Celtic culture, from the coasts of Ireland to the Isle of Man, this event will celebrate the effervescent history and artistry that these nations have cherished for many generations.
- Monday, June 19—Third Annual Juneteenth Commemoration (in Jaeb Theater). In an evening of remembrance and celebration, recognizing the importance of the date June 19th, 1865, when enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas were set free, the act which officially ended slavery in America.
All performances take place from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Click here for more information about the Straz Center for the Performing Arts and its upcoming events.