Satori Theatre Company of Detroit, Michigan (Seeking a Theatre of Realistic Involvement) was a youth organized and directed theatre company that operated between 1971 and 1977.
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Origins
The company was founded in 1971 by Michael Dinwiddie and Kathryn Ervin. Students at Cass Technical High School and Mumford High School in Detroit, the premise for the company was to create a youth theater for which teens would write, direct and produce performance for the local community. The Reverend Eugene McCornack, pastor of Mayflower Congregational United Church of Christ located at 7301 Curtis Road in northwest Detroit allowed the group to use the church's stage located in its Fellowship Hall as a rehearsal and performance space. Membership in the company was by formal audition. The first production, two original one-act plays, were first performed at the Church in July 1971. Membership in the company grew quickly with Satori becoming known as the "kid's theatre." Michael Dinwiddie and Kathryn Ervin served as the co-directors of the company from 1971 to 1974. George Swan III was appointed executive producer company in 1974 and director from 1975 to 1977.
Performances
In February 1973, Satori Theatre Company was invited to participate in the Mort Furay Theatre Festival, a juried series of performances organized by the Detroit Metropolitan Theatre Association with sponsorship by the City of Detroit Parks and Recreation Department at the Detroit Institute of Arts Theater. The company featured “The First Day” as its selection in the competition. Detroit Free Press Critic John Weisman in an article dated Sunday, March 4, 1973 wrote, “ Each theatre—with one exception—performed out of its roots. Only the high school kid’s theatre, Satori, wrote a show that could be called universal in theme. …Only the youngest group present sensed whether by instinct or art is indeterminable—that theater is a universal, not a specialized experience. Of the eight awards presented at the conclusion of the competition, Satori earned three: the Hall Youngblood Award for playwriting (Michael Dinwiddie), Best Supporting Actress (Kathryn Ervin), and Best Supporting Actor (Taylor Segue III).
Earning recognition among the 20 community theatre companies competing in the event, the company was asked by Dr. Shirley Harbin (Director of Performing Arts for the City of Detroit Department of Parks and Recreation) in 1973 to serve as one of four touring theatre companies for the Detroit Parks and Recreation Summerstock performances. Other touring theatre companies included the Magic Square Players, Silent Language Theatre, and the Indian Myth Theatre scheduled for performances from June through early September in public parks and community centers across the city. The invitation was extended for an additional two years under contract with the Detroit Department of Parks and Recreation.
Invitations for performances by Satori Theatre Company were received from a number of venues. These included the Cobo Convention Center Christmas Festival. The company performed at this annual event from 1972 through 1976. The company was featured on local television programs including the "Don Haney Show" (December 1972), the "Collage" program on WXYZ-TV 7 (local ABC affiliate), WGPR Channel TV-62, and special performances highlighted on WWJ (now WDIV) television. The company performed socio-dramas written for special events at Wayne State University in Detroit, the General Motors Institute (now Kettering University) in Flint, Michigan, and Kirwood Community College in Roscommon County, Michigan. Faith-based and community organizations requested performances and demonstrations by the “kids theatre.” The company toured public schools in southeast Michigan and statewide with emphasis on its “Black History” shows and socio-dramas focused on youth development issues.
Closure
While the impetus for the company was a theater operated by young people, as members matured, the national economy declined, independent stages closed, and public funded support for community theater was cut, Satori Theatre Company formally closed at the conclusion of the musical production “Brown-Eyed Momma” in 1977 after six seasons of performances.
Impact
Satori Theatre Company was unique for its time in its success as a youth organized and directed organization. Members of the company were asked to participate on the local host committee for the International Theatre Olympiad held in Detroit in July 1975. During the six years that Satori Theatre Company flourished, nearly 40 productions including full-length productions, musicals and one-acts were produced. Ninety-seven persons were accepted into full-membership into the company.