Welcome to the Madness: Visiting Perry-Mansfield
Until far too recently, I had never heard of the Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts School and Camp. Tucked away in the mountains of Steamboat Springs, Colorado is an unlikely wellspring of artistic innovation (and equestrian prowess!) that has operated for over a century, training and welcoming what amounts to a Who’s Who of the boldest and most renowned artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. Agnes DeMille’s Rodeo was created there, as was Four Walls by John Cage and Merce Cunningham. Notable acting alumni include Julie Harris, Lee Remick, and Dustin Hoffman (who originally aspired to be a dancer until Charlotte Perry gave him a taste of the actor's life! Let’s all just imagine that for a second.) How had I not known (or attended) before?! Fortunately, Andres Cladera at Opera Steamboat set me straight. He is brimming with passion for this place and the women who dared to dream it up, and now his company is commissioning the 2023 premiere of a site-specific multidisciplinary tribute to this unparalleled hub of creativity that actress/director Charlotte Perry and dancer/filmmaker Portia Mansfield built and nurtured with their own hands. Rightly so—it is obviously the heart of an American artistic circulatory system. Composer Leanna Kirchoff and I are deep into our work on this project in preparation for a summer 2022 workshop of excerpts. We’re calling the piece Welcome to the Madness after the phrase that appears in the students’ manuals every year. Now that we’ve seen it in person, we are surer than ever that the title captures the anarchic, experimental, loving essence of this singular place.
Last month, we enjoyed a magical (a term I don’t use lightly) research trip for a few days in preparation for a summer 2022 workshop. First, we toured the grounds with Executive Director Toni Quick and archivist Karolynn Lestrud, who offered invaluable insight into the history and spirit of the camp. Then we met with Dagny McKinley, author of an important chronicle of the institution’s history and influence on American culture. We also spent a day digging through the archives of the nearby Tread of Pioneers Museum, reading old programs, brochures, newspaper clippings, interviews, and so much more. (Thank you to Katie Adams, our fearless leader through that enterprise!) Finally, it was lovely to spend time with the board and staff who keep Opera Steamboat humming. Their genuine enthusiasm for the flourishing of this art form is inspiring and necessary, and Leanna and I are proud to be working with them.
Our research is far from over, and the prospect of sharing what we’ve learned in this format is a bit overwhelming. I hope these pictures of the trip convey why we came away invigorated and eager to write, and why we can’t wait to be back in Steamboat over the summer, when we can revisit Perry-Mansfield absent of snow in all its verdant, sunny splendor. Until then, please keep your eyes on Opera Steamboat for further announcements in the coming months! And if you want to whet your appetite, these videos are a terrific introduction to the magical madness of Perry-Mansfield.
