The lovewell method ::


MORE INFORMATION:

About Lovewell Sweden
Lovewell USA website

The Lovewell Method uses a one-of-a-kind approach to the interdisciplinary arts in order to achieve a full-blown staged production of an original piece of musical theatre in a matter of three weeks. Lovewell’s Founder and Artistic Director, Dr. David Spangler, has spent the past twenty years refining this method and has also written a dissertation on the methodology and the process that is Lovewell. The starting point for each workshop is the knowledge, experience, and skill brought into the group by the participants and the staff members. Throughout the three-week creative process, the staff members help the participants to realize their ideas in a meaningful and timely context, which will result in the finished product: the full-length, original piece of musical theatre.

The theme, characters, dialogue, plot, music, lyrics, dances, and design are all created and written from scratch and are realized using the resources within the group of participants. One of the main goals of the staff is for the show to reflect the message agreed upon by the participants and to have that message strongly delivered to the audience come opening night. Having the participants deliver a message that lies close to their hearts always results in a powerful dialogue with the audience making this a theatrical experience beyond the ordinary for the spectators as well as the performers.

Throughout the workshop, the participants will be trained and gain understanding of the various crafts necessary for a production of this type. This includes everything from brainstorming the ideas for the show and the writing of the songs and dialogues, to the marketing of the show and then, finally, the performance. Although the final result is the musical itself, the creative process and the many experiences the participants have together will result in something even more important: new friends across the world and memories for life.

Lovewell Institute and its workshops have been praised by many evaluators independent of one another throughout the years for their educational and artistic value. In 1996, Lovewell was chosen by the American President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities as one of the most effective educational programs in the arts for young adults. Lovewell Institute - Sweden has now started a new collaboration with the Oskarshamns Folkhogskola, which aims at being mutually beneficial to both parties.

Lovewell in the USA is supported by big names such as Stephen Sondheim (‘West Side Story‘, ‘Sweeney Todd’ etc.), Stephen Schwartz (‘Wicked‘, Disney’s ‘Pocahontas’ and ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’ etc.), and actor Ted Danson (‘Saving Private Ryan‘), who are all on Lovewell’s Honorary Board of Directors.

Visit lovewell.org for a more in-depth description of what Lovewell is, what Lovewell does, and how Lovewell does it.