Wild Swan Theater Announces Grant to Develop New Production Based on Arab Folktales

Wild Swan Theater is delighted to announce a $29,200 grant award from the Detroit Auto Dealers Association (DADA) Charitable Foundation Fund of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan. Funds will be used to develop, in collaboration with the Arab American National Museum, an original, main stage and touring production for elementary school audiences inspired by Arab folktales-Marketplace Stories: Folktales from the Arab World. The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan awarded grants totaling $534,000, from DADA to a diverse group of 15 nonprofit organizations that provide services to children and youth in the region. "This year's grants are the largest in the DADA Charitable Foundation Fund's history because of the increased support received from the DADA," said Mariam C. Noland, president of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan. "Thousands of children throughout metro Detroit will benefit from the services provided by these 15 organizations."

"Funding from DADA helps us fulfill our mission of producing innovative, inclusive, and affordable theater," said Hilary Cohen, Co-Artistic Director of Wild SwanTheater. "Our goal in creating the work is to celebrate the Arab American culture in Michigan because it is such a vibrant part of our state's heritage." Marketplace Stories: Folktales from the Arab World will premiere at Towsley Auditorium on the campus of Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor and at the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn in May 2017. All performances will be American Sign Language shadow interpreted for Deaf patrons. Backstage touch tours and audio-description are available for blind theater patrons. These services are free but must be reserved by calling (734) 995-0530. After May 2017, the production will be available for touring to schools, museums, libraries, and theaters through Michigan.

Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan is a full-service philanthropic organization leading the way to positive change in our region. As a permanent community endowment built by gifts from thousands of individuals and organizations, the Foundation supports a wide variety of activities benefiting education, arts and culture, health, human services, community development and civic affairs. Since its inception, the Foundation has distributed more than $870 million through more than 58,000 grants to nonprofit organizations throughout Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, Washtenaw, St. Clair and Livingston counties. For more information, please visit www.cfsem.org.

The DADA Charitable Foundation Fund was established at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan in 1998 by the DADA, a trade association composed of more than 200 automobile dealers in metropolitan Detroit. The Fund represents a lasting legacy of the DADA's charitable commitment to southeast Michigan.

Founded in 1980, Wild Swan Theater has earned a nationwide reputation for our critically acclaimed productions performed by our award-winning troupe of professional adult actors, dancers, musicians, and American Sign Language (ASL) performers. Wild Swan Theater is dedicated to producing professional children's theater of the highest artistic quality and to making that theater accessible to low income, minority and disabled children through low ticket prices and innovative outreach programs. American Sign Language interpretation, audio description, and back-stage "touch tours" allow us to provide a full theater experience for patrons who are blind, deaf, mentally, or physically disabled. For more information, please visit www.wildswantheater.org.

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