Dear Friends, Family and Supporters of Super Project Lab Improv:

On a warm Sunday evening last June at the intersection of Broadway and West Burnside in downtown Portland, two women from a nearby shelter peeked from the sidewalk into a dimly lit theatre to see an audience on its feet, cheering in support. Inside, fifteen students hug, high-five and bow clearly filled with the rush of adrenaline that is unique to a live stage-performance. For the past 25 minutes, these young performers suspended their fear of judgment, put the success of the group above their own survivalist mentality, and forgot that they are homeless. These confident, creative youth are students of Super Project Lab Outreach.

To us, this story represents the remarkable impact we’ve had in the last year and the potential for even greater impact in the upcoming one.  On so many levels 2010 has been a hugely successful year for us. Here’s how it all unfolded:

Over the course of the year we piloted five new programs serving over one hundred and fifty at risk youth.  Additionally, we produced six performances to provide those youth with an opportunity to be up on stage putting their skills to the test in front of a live audience.  Our 2010 partners included; Boys and Girls Aid-Pettygrove Residential Program, Boys and Girls Aid-the Annex, Outside In-Guerilla Theater, OYA’s Hillcrest Youth Correctional Facility, The Pathfinder Academy and Portland’s Sexual Minority Youth Resource Center.

In May we gained a part-time Education Director, Nicholas Kessler, who has taken our curricula to a new level.  His experience as a teacher is invaluable, and his strategies for impacting the lives of our participants are not only innovative they’re proving highly successful!  We are lucky to have found Nicholas, a partner that shares our organization’s passion and extends its reach.

In September we were awarded our first grant from the Multnomah County Cultural Coalition to complete our pilot program with Outside In.  This grant is evidence of our community’s need for this work and we’re proud that MCCC has shown their willingness to foster an underserved community of young new artists.

Perhaps now more than ever, Super Project Lab is dedicated to its mission: to use performance, outreach and strategic partnerships to connect within and educate throughout our community using the methods of improvisational theater. Our goals for 2011 include doubling the number of youth we serve and continuing to offer classes at zero cost to our partnering social service agencies.

The holiday giving season is upon us and while we know that there are many deserving causes in our community that you will consider supporting, we would like to ask that you consider Super Project Lab Outreach among them.

If you are able to make a tax-deductible donation to our organization, please send a check made payable to:

Super Project Lab

1001 SE Water Ave, #255

Portland, OR  97214

Or if you’d like more information about the work we are doing or how you can get involved, please visit our website at www.superprojectlab.org

Happy Holidays!

Shelley Darcy

Executive Director, Super Project Lab

www.superprojectlab.org

shelley@superprojectlab.org

(503) 750-5247

Please join Super Project Lab and Outside In’s – Guerilla Theater Project for a fabulous night of camaraderie and courage! This show features participants from a class that SPL has been teaching at Outside In. The students will perform an opening set for SPL’s professional improv performers. It’s a great opportunity for us to showcase the work we are doing in our community and celebrate the hard work and courage of the kids from Guerilla Theater.

Super Project Lab performers will include Shelley Darcy and Matt Tabora-Roberts with special guests Nicholas Kessler, Daryl Olson, Heberto Espinosa and Ritah Parrish!

7:00 PM
The Brody Theater
16 NW Broadway, Portland, OR 503.224.2227
Directions to the Theater

Tickets $10.00 ($7.00 for students) – Purchase tickets at the door or online
Buy Tickets Here!

Super Project Lab presents ‘Spring Cleaning’!

The show begins with a special opening performance of Guerrilla Theatre, a youth art group from Outside In. Don’t miss it!

Help inspire the evening’s improv and support the valuable work of Goodwill Industries at the same time. Bring an under-used object or article of clothing to the show; after the show we’ll donate your item to Goodwill.

Special guests: Shelley McLendon and Nicholas Kessler of the The Liberators.