Four Joliet artists combine their talent to produce original shows

JOLIET – The mother of a young prize fighter suddenly dies. His absentee father reappears in his life. Love. Healing. Redemption.

These are the themes addressed in “The Love Movement,” the first original music theater production by Artistically Speaking, a group of four Joliet-born-and-raised artists who have joined their collective talents of dance, choreography, music composition and script writing to create live performance art for the Joliet area.

“We had done different artistic ventures independently,” said Crystal Malone, 29, of Joliet, a dance artist and law student. “I thought maybe we could come together and do something to support each other and the community.”

Other members are Eric Jordan, 32 of Joliet, a full-time musical artist; Betina Dunson-Johnson, 29, of Yorkville, choreographer and dance teacher at Oak Park and River Forest High School; and Kaitlin Morris, 29, of Joliet, playwright and employee for the state.

“I’m excited to see what we can do as a group in and for Joliet,” Dunson-Johnson said. “We all love the arts and we’re grateful for the people who worked with us and made us who we are today.”

Morris’ inspiration for the 90-minute “The Love Movement” came from two sources: Her role as a co-owner of a martial arts business and the group’s desire for a production centering on self-love and self-forgiveness.

It’s not the typical church play or community theater musical, Morris said, but she enjoys “breaking the mold” and giving the audience thought-provoking and conversation-starter storylines.

“I like to address uncomfortable topics,” Morris said, “and to create a platform to discuss issues that affect individuals and communities.”

While growing up, Morris wrote and acted out skits for fun and for her church, Brown Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Joliet. She also journaled her thoughts and shared them with her mother because Morris found it easier to express impressions and emotions through writing instead of speaking.

Morris majored in creative writing at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. That degree led Morris to write sports newscasts while interning at a radio station, which she relished as much as penning a play.

“In my mind, that’s the same as script writing, since it’s read aloud,” Morris said. “I love writing anything that can be performed in some way.”

The Artistically Speaking website, at kasmorris.wix.com/artisticallyspeaking, said Morris had a stint with the 14-time Emmy award winning Baltimore Raven’s broadcast department and the NCAA Division of Intercollegiate Athletics. She also wrote lead-ins for NFL Sportscaster Dick Stockton and worked with Super Bowl winners and sportscasters Daryl Johnston and Tony Siragusa.

Like Morris, Malone is interested in social issues – except Malone expresses them through dance instead of writing, she said. Although Malone danced at both La Danse Academie in Joliet and Generation Dance Company in Joliet, and took lessons in both flute and piano, her artistic preference, for many years, was drama.

Malone participated in the youth drama programs offered through the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park in Joliet and earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in theatre arts (with a concentration in dance) from Howard University in Washington, D.C.

Eventually, dance became Malone’s preferred medium – she has a master’s degree in fine art in dance performance and choreography from The College at Brockport State University of New York – although she initially found it the hardest to master.

“I found myself more emotionally connected to dance than any of the other art forms,” Malone said. “There’s something special about communicating without saying anything, just allowing your body to ‘speak.’ ”

Dunson-Johnson's professional dance training was through Perfect Rhythm Dance Academy and New Generation Dance Company (both in Joliet) and Ohio State University, where she studied with a variety of professional dancers, the website said.

According to the website, Eric Jordan studied music performance and education at Illinois State University in Normal. Jordan also has “performed and toured” with Sotto Voce Tuba Quartet, the Brass Band of Central Illinois and the ISU Wind Symphony, with which Jordan has recorded four compact discs. Jordan also has won many scholarships and awards.

He hopes attendees to Artistically Speaking productions walk away feeling positive and uplifted and that inspires other people to “go out into the world to be artists.”

IF YOU GO
What: "The Love Movement," a musical theatre production
When: 7:30 p.m., May 16
Where: Joliet Junior College, MainStage Theatre, 1215 Houbolt Road, Joliet
Tickets: $30. Available at the door and through the website below
Visit: kasmorris.wix.com/artisticallyspeaking