Theater project to be held in Glenwood Cemetery

After two years of writing, researching and collaborating, UM-Flint faculty and students are in the final weeks of rehearsal for Glen-Wood: Restoration of Spirit, a site-specific theater project. The play opens Sept. 23 at Glenwood Cemetery.

The idea for the project came from "a conversation between friends in downtown Flint," said Janet Haley, project director and UM-Flint theater professor.

The Genesee County Historical Society president, Michael Freeman, told Haley he wanted to do something to "put Glenwood back on the map."

After an initial proposal of a costumed tour of the cemetery, Haley decided she wanted to take the project further.

UM-Flint students provided the research under the tutelage of history professor, Amy Pflugrad-Jackisch, who devoted a course to the 19^th century Midwest and Glenwood Cemetery specifically. The class culminated in researched biographies of the people buried at Glenwood — biographies that provided the factual base for Haley's project.

Glenwood was established as a "rural cemetery" in 1857. In an age of burgeoning industrialization and pollution, rural cemeteries were seen as a necessity for Americans to maintain "compassion and spiritual alignment," Haley said. "People needed to have clean air, open space and a place to return to," she said. Laying ancestors to rest out of town was a way to combine recreation and memory.

Glenwood is no longer a rural cemetery. Located at 2500 W. Court Street, it is in the heart of the city.

"I drove by it for 15 years and never went in there," Haley said. "It was interesting to me. As an artist and community activist, I wanted to create a piece to raise awareness of this place and the lives of the people at rest there."

As she has experienced personally, Haley hopes the piece is an awakening for Flint's public as they come to know and share Glenwood.

"The intention is two-fold — to learn about people and reveal place," Haley said of the project, whose slogan is "Reveal place. Revive history. Restore spirit."

The text of the play is drawn from archival documents — letters, journals, autograph books. No characters in the cast of 24 are meant to represent the dead, Haley stressed. "There'll be no impersonations of C.S. Mott," she laughed.

Rehearsals have been held at Glenwood since April.

The project has received a 2010 Arts of Citizenship fellowship grant from UM-Ann Arbor's Ginsberg Center.

Haley said the exploration of Flint's history comes at a relevant time.

"I grew up in a prosperous Flint in the '70s and '80s and the current generation finds it fun to hate on Flint. They don't know the history, the cycles that Flint has gone through — from lumber to carriages to cars. There's always been a next thing and a response to crisis. Now we're at that point. Now what? Is education the new industry?"

Glen-Wood actress Jessica Back said the project is a wonderful way to advance avant garde theater in Flint.

"The historical impetus is a beautiful way to help the audience be comfortable with this type of theater. Local audiences are used to seeing classical theater — on a stage with lights and a script. It's the making of the future, while honoring the past. I am honored to be involved," she said.

Haley stresses that this is not a spooky graveyard piece in time for Halloween.

"This is about community conversation and community memories. This is public art, like public sculpture. It's not for the satisfaction of the arts. It's not a commissioned piece for historical society. It's for Flint residents as a group — a very diverse group."

Performances will run Thursdays through Sundays, Sept. 23 to Oct. 3. Tickets are $5 and must be purchased with cash or check at UM-Flint. A shuttle will take people from UM-Flint to Glenwood. Information on parking and transportation will be provided at the box office.

Call 237-6520 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information. The project has a Facebook fan page at http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Glen-Wood-Restoration-of-Spirit.

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