Third Space Theater: Funding First Full Production

What is Third Space Theater?

Third Space Theater (TST) is a theater company dedicated to making creative work that challenges artists and audiences with new stories, ideas, and aesthetics while also connecting people to quality local resources working to improve their communities. 

TST is building on the personal creative work of Artistic Director Alex Church to create a company structure that provides a safe, third space (away from home and work) to chew on important stories via conversation, community, and collective action.

TST produces work that is sticky, challenging, and takes audiences to dangerous places. 

Dutch: Made in America (2024)
Portion of proceeds donated to Women Winning
Photo by Alyssa Teh

What has Third Space done in the past?

Alex Church has produced dozens of cabarets, full productions, and workshops throughout Minnesota over the last 7 years. While those productions were not under the Third Space name, they did serve as a place to test what is now the Third Space production model:

- Making art that outlives itself. Using the platform and energy and people power that theater requires to make tangible change that lasts beyond the final performance.

- Connecting audiences with Partner Organizations working on the themes of each production right there within their own communities. Productions raise awareness of and uplift the work of these Partner Orgs

- Inspiring audiences to action and then giving an immediate opportunity to do so via our Partner Orgs

What is next for Third Space?

In this first phase of fundraising, TST has set a goal of raising $5000 or more to greenlight our first full production under the new name.

What show will you produce?

We can't say just yet. First we need to reach out fundraising goal to guarantee the production. Then we'll apply for performance rights, secure a venue, and announce it to the world! Donate, follow along, and be among the first to know :)

We can say that we've chosen a show by a very exciting, nationally renown playwright that has never been produced in Minnesota. It's hilarious, breathtaking, and will have you wondering how so many slugs can cause so much trouble

What will the money be used for? 

Third Space Theater has a goal of raising $5000 or more to fund this first full production.

- $2500 will be used for venue rental and insurance

- $1000 will be used for performance licenses and scripts

- $500 will be used for materials and other purchases

- $1000 will be used to pay artists for their time and talents

Any donations beyond this goal will increase artist stipends, fund marketing efforts, and be put towards funding future productions.

The Elephant (2023)
Book/Lyrics by Alex Church, Music by Shannon Maroney. 
Portion of proceeds donated to Wayside Recovery
Photo by Cole Seager

Why should you donate?

Making theater is expensive, especially theater that budgets for investment into its community. 

TST shows that investment by providing Partner Organizations with a donated portion of ticket sales, free ad space, and (beginning in 2025) a stipend to help cover the cost of providing personnel for in-person talkbacks and resource sharing at performances. 

Church's past productions have donated over $1000 in ticket sales to organizations like the Minnesota Indian Women's Resource Center, Wayside Recovery, and Women Winning. 

Under the new banner of Third Space Theater, we hope to double that impact in the coming year.

Plus, Third Space Theater is a fiscally sponsored project of Springboard for the Arts, which means every donation is tax-deductible! Help out the arts, the Twin Cities community, and lower your tax bill- all with just a few clicks. 

If you can't donate, share this fundraiser to your networks and help spread the word of this exciting new company

Abscission (2022)
Portion of proceeds donated to the Minnesota Indian Women's Resource Center
Photo by Alyssa Teh

To give to Springboard: https://www.givemn.org/organization/Springboard-For-The-Arts