Kathryne Martin to Collaborate With Renaissance Theaterworks for THE ROAD TO MECCA

Renaissance Theaterworks (RTW) is working with a local visual artist, Kathryne Martin, for the production of THE ROAD TO MECCA by Athol Fugard. Thanks to the support of the Mary L. Nohl Fund, Kathryne is working on many small owl sculptures that mirror the real-life work of the main character in the play, Helen Martins of South Africa. Ms. Helen's work and life bear surprising similarities to Milwaukee's own Mary Nohl's life.

This Saturday, December 2nd, at the Kenilworth Art Studios, Kathryne Martin, RTW staff, board members, community friends/volunteers and girls from PEARLS for Teen Girls and girls from Journey House's "Girls in the House" group, will be creating owls for the set of RTW's production of THE ROAD TO MECCA, showing in April at the Broadway Theatre Center.

Kathryne Martins, RTW and Pearls for Teen Girls enjoyed an owl making event earlier this year and expect there will be more Mecca Making events between now and the show. This is a great opportunity for hands on learning and to participate in something far from ordinary. Kathryn will be leading the owl making event this Saturday and sharing the story of outsider artists Helen Martins and Mary Nohl.

The owls involve forming chicken wire, wrapping with gauze, plastering and embellishing and come showtime, Kathryne and RTW hope to have over 1000 sculptures to spill off of the set and into the theater lobby. THE ROAD TO MECCA is one of Fugard's most lyrical plays and is based on the life and work of Helen Martins - South Africa's foremost Outsider Artist, who created her own Mecca through sculpture in a desolate region of Apartheid South Africa.

The mission of Renaissance Theaterworks is to create moving theater that awakens our recognition of what it is to be human – from classics to world premieres – with attention to women’s roles onstage and off. Founded in 1993, Renaissance Theaterworks is, presently, Milwaukee’s only women-founded and women-run theatre company.

Renaissance Theaterworks is a member of Theater Wisconsin and the Third Ward Arts District. Renaissance Theaterworks receives support from the Wisconsin Arts Board, Milwaukee Arts Board, CAMPAC, United Performing Arts Fund, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, private donors and foundations.