Have We Met? is a special storytelling series celebrating the 35th Anniversary of the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. Throughout the next 365 days, we’re introducing the people who help shape Seattle’s neighborhoods every day; gardeners, volunteers, organizers, advocates, artists, leaders, City staff, and neighbors who care deeply about their communities. These short conversations offer a glimpse into the lives, passions, and places that embody our work and make Seattle feel like home.
We recently connected with local writer, director, and producer Chris Hopper to learn about how a Neighborhood Matching Fund grant has helped support the Black and Tan Project and bring community theater to more people in Seattle. Chris has written and directed multiple plays centering Black history, culture, and experience in America including “Reparations Play” and “The Black and Tan Musical.” Meet Chris!
Tell us about your project, and what sparked the idea?
I was inspired by the Broadway community of New York City, I feel Seattle has the demand and need for community theater, and it is growing year by year. The Department of Neighborhoods provided a great opportunity not to only provide theater to the public but to bring it to the public for FREE so that marginalized groups who cannot afford a ticket to a show would be able to enjoy theatrical productions.
How did neighbors come together to make it happen?
We have partnered with numerous dance and acting studios around the Puget Sound/Seattle area to help aspiring actors and dancers, and local businesses to serve as vendors. Volunteers from college and high school Theater groups helped round out our team to put the project together.
What was the most meaningful moment during your project?
The audience response to our last production of “Reparations Play” will stay with me forever. We received a 10-minute standing ovation after we wrapped the production, and young audience members began ascending the stage to dance with the cast during the show’s finale. Also, alumni from both my elementary school [Columbia] and my high school [Ingraham] came out to support the production! It was an incredible moment.
Where there any barriers or challenges you faced as a group?
Once a performance venue wanted to see our contract because they were doubtful we had the means to would pay after doing a previous show at that same venue. It didn’t make sense to me, but our NMF project manager, Juan Martinez, stepped in and assured the organizers at the venue that we were backed by DON and advocated for our organization. If I could give any advice to future NMF recipients, it would be to stay the course and never give up. Lean on your Project Manager because they are there to help you, just like Juan helped us.
How did this project reflect your community’s culture or values? How did it build trust or connection?
I write plays that focuses primarily but not limited to the African American Experience, and also history related to Seattle, I feel the work is important to share the whole history versus the history we are used to seeing or the history that we are taught. Trust is the ultimate glue that holds the leadership team together. Our leadership team has been outstanding in bringing concerns to the table so that we can solve them right away verses waiting until the last minute. Its important that we are all on the same page to avoid chaos.
Looking forward, I want to continue writing that connects with my community and cultural history. We plan to make a trailer for a potential television series about Seattle’s Back Pioneers during the Progressive era 1918 that takes place at one of the first NAACP meetings. I want to take this to local and national film festivals to continue sharing this history.
Why are programs like the Neighborhood Matching Fund so important?
The Department of Neighborhoods gives a voice to artists of color in Seattle who otherwise wouldn’t get the private funding. This helps to provide services, events, and community theater to the general public without barriers that sometimes inhibit people from this experience.
To learn more about the Neighborhood Matching Fund visit: www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/community-grants/neighborhood-matching-fund.
