FAQ
"A tango dance studio, a romantic wine bar, a chocolate lounge - you could spend every weekend."-Minnesota Monthly.
"...you'd be hard pressed to find a cozier place for a bowl of homemade soup."- Rake Magazine.
The name 'Old Arizona', what does that have to do with anything?
Old Arizona, you ask? What does the name have to do with what we do? Nothing and everything. "Old Arizona" was the nickname given the building after the last commercial enterprise in this space. The building has a direct lineage to Vaudeville and 100 years ago when it was a scene shop used to hand paint backdrops and fabricate props for Vaudeville theaters and opera houses throughout the country, and more recently, the television and film industry. So, the name is about the building and the place and what we started with. If that were all, we could change the name and perhaps be more relevant. But we're sticking to our guns (Old West, you know) and keeping our name.
From the Old West we take some of the attributes we want girls participating in our youth programs to have and/or grow into...a sense of adventure, independence, and the ability to change their destiny... taking their future into their own hands and forging a (new) place for themselves in the world. We do it here, in Minneapolis, so we take the Old West and put a new spin on it.
Our girls are pioneers in their own lives. They are striking out in new directions in order to find a new life for themselves. We use the arts, creativity and entrepreneurship to help them get there, and our various revenue streams support all that by contributing 100% of our profits to our own youth programs.
If you wonder about the name and are talking about it, that's good, right? Just remember, Old Arizona is a place to forge new identities and values for today's youth who live in challenging environments. In fact, Old Arizona is a portal to all the possibilities our youth can dream of and a means for them to reach those dreams.
What is this place?
History
The original business located within Old Arizona's walls was called Twin City Scenic Company. Operating from 1895-1979, this historic scenic studio created theatrical products for Vaudeville and a variety of theatre productions, opera houses, fraternal organizations, educational auditoriums, civic events, and commercial venues. A fire in 1980 brought and end to the first chapter. Arizona Scenic, a company comprised of scenic painters from Arizona, rented a portion of the building in the early 80's and provided the television and film industry with backdrops and props until they filed bankruptcy and closed the doors. The building was abandoned, slid into advanced stages of disrepair and was referred to as that "old Arizona studio"... thus it's name.
Who we are today
Old Arizona is now a center for performing and media arts, located on "eat street" at the intersection of Nicollet Avenue and 29th Street in Minneapolis, just five minutes south of the downtown business district. Busy year round, the center hosts an eclectic mix of classic & contemporary theatrical productions, dance performances, concerts, commercial film and video productions, screenings, CD release parties, weddings and receptions, special occasion parties, workshops and corporate events. Renowned for its uniquely intimate... "It feels like someone's home" environment, Old Arizona is perfect for your next social gathering.
About Us
In 1989, Darcy Knight and Elizabeth Trumble purchased the building and began repairs. After witnessing the unhealthy behavior of the youth frequenting their corner they realized the need for positive activities to engage the youth in their neighborhood and in 1993, founded Old Arizona Collaborative as a 501 (c)(3) non profit organization established to help young women sustain the clarity, voice and self-confidence they risk losing during the challenging transition from adolescence to adulthood. They donate 100% of the profit from their cafe & wine bar, as well as their storefront tea store, chocolate lounge and wine shop to the organization to help provide free arts classes to inner city teen girls in an effort to bridge the gap during unsupervised out-of-school time, when many crimes and unhealthy teen behaviors occur. Art has proven to be a successful means to connect with program participants, and the building provides a safe alternative to the street.
Vision
To contribute to our community's character by fostering greater confidence, caring and creativity in our youth.
Mission Statement: Old Arizona Studios, Inc. (for profit)
To be an inspirational, self-sustaining, socially conscious, entrepreneurial business that supports its own non-profit organization through multiple revenue generating streams.
Mission Statement: Old Arizona Collaborative, Inc. (non profit)
To be a hub of creative expression that inspires growth in our community's youth, thereby creating social change in the neighborhood.
Core Values
1. Build a positive team and family spirit. 2. Do more with less. 3. Create experiences that make people feel better. 4. Be unique in what we do and how we do it. 5. Encourage/Inspire big dreams, living large. 6. Dare to do it. 7. Genuine.
Who are the girls you serve?
Old Arizona's youth programs serve inner city, teenage girls who have an interest in the performing, media, and visual arts. Our programs are a proven successful means by which young women learn to make positive life choices.
How old do you have to be to be in your girls program?
Teenagers (13 to 19 years of age).
Why don't you have youth programs for boys?
We do. It's called Getting Our Act Together, a Teen Talent Revue. This program is for talented young men and women (teens) who have had no training or access to a professional stage. Teens are chosen from open auditions to participate in twelve week performing arts workshops culminating in live stage productions in Old Arizona's theater.
We are fortunate to have highly respected artists within our community mentoring our youth and assisting them in achieving their dreams. Roosevelt Darnell Mansfield (RDM), is our musical coach. RDM is an influential part of the Twin Cities hip-hop scene. He is a well-rounded artist, producing and engineering his own songs and recently performed in four SOLD OUT shows at the "Southern Theater". His goal is to prove that Hip-Hop can be positive, and still make your head bob without relying on profanity to finish a phrase.
Amy Sackett, artistic director and choreographer, has a diverse dance background from classical ballet and modern to hip-hop and breakin'. She graduated from the U of M with a F.F.A, studied at Tisch School of the Arts in NYC, and has taught dance to Old Arizona's youth program participants for several years.
How long have you been open?
We've been here for 20 plus years: In 1987, the storefront operated as an independent bookstore devoted to the Divine feminine and gradually transitioned into the tea shop and chocolate lounge it is today. Never loosing sight of its spiritual roots it has become a source for an amazing variety of spiritual art, enlightened apparel and inspirational accessories to help heal, raise the consciousness of your surroundings, and express your spirituality in a hip creative way. In 1992, we cut through the wall of a garage attached to the main building and created a doorway between the two spaces. Initially, the space, which is now our cafe, was used as a lunchroom for the many film crews and photographers that once used the main stage for commercial production. In short order the space was brought up to code and in 1993 we opened to the public as a coffeehouse/cafe. In 2005, we acquired our beer and wine license and have since referred to the space as Old Arizona's Cafe & Wine Bar.
As mentioned above, the main stage was used as a production studio for television and film from the mid 80's until 2002 when we acquired our theater license and transformed the space into a center for performing and media arts. In its "hay day" as a production studio OA was the go to place to film rock videos, television commercials and scenes from various movies shot in the Midwest. Now for a little name dropping... Prince, Paula Abdul, Toni Braxton, Sinead O'Connor, Linda Eder, Lori Line, Johnny Lang, Boys to Men, the Steeles, Kevin Garnett, Rosie Perez, Marisa Tomai, Christian Slatter, Italian suspense film maker Dario Argento, and so, so many more, used the space for rehearsal, filming, or to party.
Today, Old Arizona is host to many of the performing arts groups that reside and work in the Twin Cities, such as our resident Blue Phoenix Circus Troupe who delight audiences with their "death defying" aerial skills, and emerging artists such as Rainy Day Cabaret Dance Company, in addition to the well established Jungle Theater, a regular in our rehearsal loft... affectionately referred to as the "jungle gym".
What happens in your theater space?
Busy year round, Old Arizona hosts an eclectic mix of classic & contemporary theatrical productions, dance performances, concerts, commercial film and video productions, screenings, CD release parties, weddings and receptions, special occasion parties, workshops and corporate events. Renowned for its uniquely intimate... "It feels like someone's home" environment, Old Arizona is perfect for your next social gathering.
Who do I talk to if I want to rent space?
Darcy Knight. She may be contacted by phone at 612.871.0050 or, by email: irish@oldarizona.com.
Wasn't the "Log Cabin Flowers" shop located on Franklin Avenue? How did you get it?
Yes, it was located on the corner of Franklin and 1st Avenues. After jumping through many hoops to save the little landmark, we were able to convince the powers that be downtown and the developer of the condominiums and CVS Pharmacy, that now resides on that corner, that we could put the flower shop to good use by restoring it and reopening it as a flower shop and run it as a youth employment program that would teach floral design and skills to operate a small business to inner city teen girls.
We managed to rescue the log cabin just hours prior to it being demolished. With professional help the cabin was jacked up out of the ground, wheels were placed under it, and we moved it down Nicollet Avenue in the wee hours of the morn. We were able to make the turn at the corner of 29th Street and Nicollet Avenue and slide it through our side gate with 8 inches to spare (after removing the flower boxes on the front), and slid it back onto a new foundation next to our cafe. And there it sits awaiting renovation.
In order to open the flower shop, though, we have to significantly upgrade the building. We are looking for people willing to invest in entrepreneurs of the future by donating to our building fund today.
When are you open?
The storefront and cafe are open Wednesday through Saturday from 11AM to 7PM. The cafe is also open pre-show and during intermission when there are performances in the theater.
The schedule for the theater is posted inside the PERFORMANCE/ EVENT window on our home page.
Most theatrical/ dance productions begin at 7:30PM - 8PM.
Why aren't you open on Mondays and Tuesdays like everyone else?
Actually, theaters are generally dark (closed) on Mondays, and often on Tuesdays, because they are open on weekends. Mondays and Tuesdays are our weekend, at least for now. The growth in our popularity is cause to review the need to staff up and extend our hours. Stay tuned.
Why do you have so many doors?
Each door is a portal to a new possibility...
At one time the building was divided up into three separate addresses; 2819, 2821, and 2823 Nicollet, thus it has three separate entrances. It may be confusing to the first timer, but if one takes the time to read the plethora of signs it's not that difficult to find your way. Someone is generally stationed in the cafe to assist folks when needed.
What is your background?
We could go two ways to answer this question. On the one hand, both founders of Old Arizona have a background in film and theater... Darcy as a professional makeup artist, Elizabeth on the production side. Together they have numerous years of experience and a strong affinity for the arts.
On the other hand, we've been a part of this neighborhood for over two decades, long before "Eat Street." We have a heartfelt commitment to the community and especially to its youth who need access to resources that will help them build their confidence, resist delinquent behavior and elevate expectations for themselves and the youth around them.
Do you advertise?
By word of mouth and through our web site.
We are in the same budget bind many small businesses and non profit organizations are finding themselves during these challenging economic times. Our focus is on funding our programs rather than advertising right now.