FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: October 4, 2005
Contact: Christa Skiles
Public Relations Director
513-345-2242, ext. 232

CINCINNATI PLAYHOUSE IN THE PARK PARTNERS WITH INKTANK FOR SECOND SEASON OF ALTERACTIVE SPEAKS, CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHAT’S POSSIBLE

(CINCINNATI) – The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and InkTank — a volunteer-based, nonprofit organization that emphasizes the grassroots promotion of writing among non-traditional voices — have partnered for a second season of alteractive speaks, a series of panel discussions that focuses on issues of interest to Cincinnati residents. The schedule kicks off on October 10 and continues through November 7 on four selected Mondays with topics that impact the future of our city, including religion and crime, minority owned businesses, mass transportation and affordable housing in economically diverse neighborhoods.

According to Playhouse Producing Artistic Director Edward Stern, “Last year, we saw that alteractive speaks can be a positive forum for conversations about issues that are important to all of us. This year’s format stresses even more the value of hearing all voices in the discussion, and the many opportunities for a positive change that exist when we open that dialogue to everyone.”

With alteractive speaks, the organizers are creating a new way of addressing the challenges that face Cincinnati, in an atmosphere that is comfortable and welcoming to all. “We’re asking that everyone participating — from the speakers, the hosts, the moderators and even the audience — adhere to a few simple ground rules,” says InkTank Executive Director Jeff Syroney. “We come together to create a new possibility by having a conversation we have not had before. We do not come together to negotiate interests, share our stories or problem solve the past or future. For that reason, no one will be asked to yield on their beliefs or interests, but rather the series will be structured along specific conversations for possibility, ownership and commitment.”

Each evening will begin with opening comments from panelists and then break into small discussion groups followed by a forum that connects the discussions back to the larger group. Each of the conversations will be facilitated by a group of volunteers led by Jeffrey Stec, who has worked extensively with local author Peter Block’s Civic Engagement Series. Each program begins at 7 p.m. and ends at 9 p.m. Admission is on a pay-what-you-can basis so that no one will be excluded for financial reasons.

The complete schedule for the series includes:

Monday, October 10: What's Possible:  Church and State
The conversation will focus on partnering with religious organizations to address Cincinnati's social problems while respecting all citizens' religious beliefs.

Monday, October 17:  What's Possible:  Dollars and Diversity
The discussion will be about creating, nurturing and producing strong businesses owned by people of color.

Monday, October 24:  What's Possible:  Wheels that Work
The program will look at the possibilities of creating a transportation system that connects people to jobs and stimulates urban development.

Monday, November 7:  What's Possible:  Room for All
The conversation will address stimulating both market rate and affordable housing in economically diverse neighborhoods.

To reserve tickets for alteractive speaks, call the Playhouse box office at 513/421-3888 or toll-free in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana at 800/582-3208. Call 513/345-2248 for TDD accessibility. More information is available on the Playhouse web site at www.cincyplay.com or at www.inktank.org. Parking is free.

InkTank is a collective of writers committed to connecting people through the power of words in workshops and writing groups, publications and performance. Now celebrating its one year anniversary, the organization has accomplished much in its infancy — most notably, the establishment of Writers’ Weekend — the only free community-wide writing workshop in the country, in which professional writers, editors and publishers volunteer their time to encourage new voices. InkTank also opened its “world headquarters” in Over-the-Rhine and hired its first full time staff member. From this central location, InkTank uses its more than 150 volunteers to create and maintain its extensive programming throughout the city.

The alteractive speaks series is made possible with a grant from The Agnes and Murray Seasongood Good Government Foundation.

Artists fly to and from Cincinnati on Delta Connection Comair, the Playhouse’s official airline.

The Playhouse is supported, in part, by the generosity of the tens of thousands of individuals and businesses that give to the Fine Arts Fund.

The Ohio Arts Council helps fund the Playhouse with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.

The Playhouse also receives funding from the City of Cincinnati.

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