News & Views of Phillips Since 1976
Sunday December 21st 2025
What You See February 2019
JOSELYN PETTIT, age 9
Our first submission comes from 9-year-old Joselyn Pettit who loves the colored glass and “giant brick of cheese” toy at the Phillips Community Pool.
To be part of our new WHAT YOU SEE feature, post a photo to your Instagram account and tag #alleynews, or email it to copydesk@alleynews.org. All ages encouraged to participate.
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What”'s possible for HOTB, MayDay?
by TESHA M. CHRISTENSEN
Bruce Silcox
HOTB has been a offering after-school and summer programs for kids at Little Earth, the Waite House, and Collaborative Village (a PPL project) for several years. About 150 kids are part of this year-round program that focuses on telling the stories of the Phillips neighborhoods and participants”' cultures. Along the way, children learn shadow puppeting, stilts, storytelling and more.
In the Heart of the Beast Theater (HOTB) has already said farewell to two staff members, and by June 2019 it won”'t have any full-time staff left.
But it isn”'t disappearing.Â
Executive Director Corrie Zoll is hopeful about the organization”'s future and believes it is full of exciting possibilities.
“This is an extremely painful moment,” Zoll admitted. “At the same time, I”'m really looking forward to conversations with people about what is possible.”
WHERE DOES THE MONEY COME FROM?
HOTB announced in January its plans to significantly reduce its operations in 2019 and cut staff. Grants it had been counting on when the budget was made in August did not materialize.
 HOTB relies on a variety of funding sources, including foundations, donations, and grants. Complicating things is that most of the funding available for arts is given to new projects.… Read the rest “What”'s possible for HOTB, MayDay?”
In the Heart of the Beast is short of funds, losing staff but looking to the community for answers
Bruce Silcox
HOTB Executive Director Corrie Zoll is hopeful about the organization”'s future and believes it is full of exciting possibilities. “This is an extremely painful moment,” Zoll admitted. “At the same time, I”'m really looking forward to conversations with people about what is possible.” Last year, HOTB had expected to receive a $30,000 foundation grant that it did not get, which meant that MayDay operated at a loss of over $50,000. This was covered by reserve funds but HOTB can”'t continue to do that. The organization doesn”'t feel that it can be the sole organizer of the event anymore as it has grown so much. Drop by Feb. 5 to share your ideas at a community meeting, 7-9 p.m. at 1500 E. Lake St.
AT A GLANCE
>> MayDay Parade and Festival will indeed happen this year: Sunday, May 5, 2019.
>> In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre has been the sole producer of MayDay for 45 years.
>> Because of fragile financial conditions of the In the Heart of the Beast Theatre, and in order to assure the continuance of MayDay, HOBT is calling for community conversation to evolve the leadership base of MayDay and adapt for sustainability.… Read the rest “In the Heart of the Beast is short of funds, losing staff but looking to the community for answers”
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