Breaking Ice

Breaking Ice: An Arts on Chicago Project

Pillsbury House + Theatre presents an Arts on Chicago project: Breaking Ice, Feb. 18, 25, and 26

Pillsbury House Theatre’s award-winning Breaking Ice company takes on race, class, and economics in this entertaining and thought-provoking live performance.

  • How are our neighborhoods responding to development and change?
  • How do we respond to culture clash and conflict?
  • How can neighborhoods evolve in economically stable and sustainable ways?

We invite you to join us for the show and participate in a short, facilitated discussion afterward as we confront these questions in an effort to strengthen the ties that bind neighbors together.

February 18, 25 & 26

7:30 pm at Pillsbury House + Theatre (Map & Directions »)

Tickets

Pay-What-You-Can. Pick your price for every performance. ($5 per ticket minimum to reserve in advance.)
Reservations: Call 612-825-0459 or reserve tickets online.

*Free Child Care is available for all three performances. Advanced reservations required: call 612-825-0459.


This production is one of the twenty art experiences in the Arts on Chicago initiative, an arts-based community development project led by Pillsbury House + Theatre, Upstream Arts, the Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association, and MCAD Professor Natasha Pestich with support from the Ward 8 Council Office of Elizabeth Glidden.

Student orientations and Racial Equity

Breaking Ice will be performing at student orientation at Augsburg College and the University of St. Thomas on Labor Day this year.

We’re also working on a piece as part of the Racial Equity Network, a collective of state-wide organizations pulled together by the St. Paul Foundation in order to pull our collective powers for the cause of racial equity statewide.

Check this space for more updates.

View all Breaking Ice posts »

ABOUT BREAKING ICE:

Breaking Ice is a customized professional theatre experience created for organizations and businesses that need help with difficult issues both interpersonal and institutional. Because every organization wrestles with communication – often based on misunderstanding or cultural differences. But you don't have to let those differences block your organization's ability to move forward and succeed.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Through research and training, our professional staff develop a customized, highly specific performance that incorporates the issues that confront your organization. Imagine what happens when the same discussions and dialogues you hear whispered at your workplace are illuminated on stage in a safe theater setting? It's a powerful, dramatic, and entertaining way to step back and get a fresh perspective while gaining a more intimate understanding of how individuals relate to each other. Following the performance, Breaking Ice facilitators lead participants in discussions designed to foster better understanding and communication, exploring the tough stuff together. More than 200 organizations have since Breaking Ice began in 1996.

CONTACT US FOR MORE INFORMATION

We welcome the chance to meet with you and discuss how we can develop a program for your organization. Call us at 612-825-0459.

TESTIMONIALS

“The honesty and dynamics of the presentation made people confront things they would rather not see, but also inspired them to be part of the solution. People are still talking about the experience a year later. The program is powerful and motivating. A great teaching tool that is a rare find.” Jim Langemo, Director of Diversity and Inclusion, Best Buy “Breaking Ice does a tremendous job of providing people with the opportunity to discuss their cultural misunderstanding and discover potential solutions.” Carmén Baker, Carlson Companies “Breaking Ice as a training vehicle is one of the best mediums I’ve experienced… a safe way to learn and grow outside your comfort zone.” Phillip Miner, Minnesota’s Private Colleges “The performance will exceed all of your expectations… The most amazing part of the whole presentation was the research that was put into the project and the use of that research in tailoring the presentation to our group. As good as the performance was, it was totally enhanced by the facilitated discussion after the presentation. I was impressed with Breaking Ice at every step in the process and would recommend them to any group.” Juan Martinez, Minnesota Family Support and Recovery Council
Breaking Ice wins Nonprofit Mission Award for Anti-Racism Initiative from MCN and MAP from Pillsbury House Theatre on Vimeo. Pillsbury House Theatre's Breaking Ice program won the 2008 Nonprofit Mission Award for Anti-Racism Initiative from the MN Council of Nonprofits and MAP for Nonprofits. This video was made to highlight and honor the work of Breaking Ice.

Winner of the 2008 Nonprofit Mission Award for Anti-Racism Initiative