THIRTY YEARS OF ANIMATING THE ARTS LANDSCAPE
Hukwe Zawose from Tanzania performing at WOMAD '98
For over three decades, One Reel has been animating the arts landscape regionally, nationally and internationally with a wide spectrum of festivals, special projects and performances.
The non-profit organization employs more than 40 specialists, representing every aspect of event production, from sponsorship, public relations, marketing and advertising to booking, admissions, security, concessions, construction, lighting and sound.
Since 1972, more than 100,000 artists of different traditions, cultures and disciplines have performed to more than 10 million audience members at One Reel events.
One Reel is also an active member and advocate for educational, literary and international cultural projects. The organization has spearheaded in-school educational programs, created language arts workbooks, and published two anthologies of contemporary non-fiction. Additionally One Reel has earned a reputation as one of the pre-eminent presenters of Asian arts in the United States.
One Reel produced Japan's Grand Kabuki Theatre 12-city U.S. tour in 1990
Building on 35 years of history, One Reel continues to evolve, explore and redefine what artistic activism can do to enliven the urban environment.
VAUDEVILLIAN ROOTS
One Reel's reputation as unique extends back to its origins as "The One Reel Vaudeville Show" in 1972. Founded by current One Reel president and CEO Norman Langill, this traveling band of new vaudevillians toured the Northwest countryside in a customized Model T Truck, with fold-down flaps that served as the stage, presenting such memorable cult fare as "The Bride of Bigfoot" and "The Nightmare Curse of the Mutant Slug of Horror from the Tomb of Blood."
Over the next ten years, The One Reel Vaudeville Show moved from performing to producing, as the organization began booking, staging and organizing events for other Northwest arts groups.
BUMBERSHOOT: SEATTLE'S MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL
Michael Stipe of R.E.M. at Bumbershoot '03
In 1980, One Reel was invited by the City of Seattle to produce its then-modest arts event known as Bumbershoot. One Reel implemented some major changes in the Festival and over the next ten years transformed the event from a regionally focused fair to an internationally acclaimed arts festival that annually draws a quarter million people to the Seattle Center.
One Reel has continued to produce, and now presents, Bumbershoot. In addition, the organization has added an impressive number of jewels to its Ha! Ha! Ha! Crown. In all, One Reel has produced and presented over 200 world-class arts events and theatrical productions.
Over the past 35 years, One Reel has continuously operated under the leadership of Norman Langill, president, founder and artistic director, and been governed by a Board of Directors, many of whose members have been involved since the earliest days of the company. As an arts organization, One Reel is the fifth oldest in Seattle, and one of the largest. One Reel is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization.