Loom Lab, founded in 2017 with an entry into Minnesota Fringe, utilizes elements of devised and physical theater, as well as concert dance, film, puppetry, aerial, and more to create wholly original, interdisciplinary work. Critics have called our past works "an almost vigil-like space of reflection and acknowledgement," (Jay Gabler, City Pages) and "stunning...an evocative, emotional piece that keeps attention as easily as it captures it," (Buer Carlie, Lavender Magazine) while audience members have written that our work is "beautiful, thoughtful, poignant, present, needed," and that "this was hands down one of the most moving dance pieces I have ever seen...the words and movement worked together so seamlessly because the ensemble embodied every complexity of emotion."

Loom Lab presented a workshop version of Old Growth as part of the 2024 Minnesota Fringe Festival to a fantastic audience reception, and we are so excited to delve into a larger, more fully realized version of this project. Old Growth, presented August 1-10 at Windmill Arts in East Point, GA, will be our second show produced outside of a festival format, and our first performance in our new home base of Atlanta, GA. This is our first step in developing an ensemble of interdisciplinary artists and a strong artistic presence in Atlanta. From the responses of those artists who auditioned for this project, our final cast, as well as the myriad dancers and theater practitioners with whom we are connected in the area, Atlanta artists are ready for and craving this type of work.

Beyond Loom Lab's two co-Artistic Directors, Re Edahl (they/she) and Cal O'Brien (they/he), we are working with aerial director Monica Martelly (she/they) and eight performers, including dancers, aerialists, and physical theater actors. The show also includes one larger-than-life puppet, many smaller puppet creatures, and original projection designs. This evening-length work explores grief and connection through the lens of the natural world - drawing both from our personal and cultural relationships to nature, as well as the way that the natural world communicates with itself. Already, the work is shaping up to be both highly communal and extremely personal, moving, alternately mournful and joyful, and deeply connected. We are so, so excited to bring this work to the Windmill stage, and believe that it will be impactful for any audience member who has experienced loss, crisis of identity, or the healing sensation of dirt beneath their feet.

Funds raised via this campaign will pay for venue and rehearsal space rental, base stipends for our cast and Aerial Director, and production costs like costuming and materials for puppet fabrication, allowing funds earned via ticket sales to be used increase performer stipends, provide our directing team with a stipend for the first time in Loom Lab's history, recoup costs from our workshop presentation, pay for professional archival video and photography, and hopefully begin funding for our next project. We're a scrappy organization, accustomed to doing more with less and are excellent at stretching a dollar - but Old Growth is also our biggest and most ambitious show to date, with associated costs. 

Loom Lab is eager to contribute to the robust live arts ecosystem in Atlanta and to expand our own artistic community. We have already seen how Loom Lab's unique creation style benefits the artists we work with and we are excited to invite audiences to experience the resulting magic. With a combined 35+ years of training and experience, we provide a level of ensemble development and interdisciplinary creation that does not currently exist on this scale in this city. By donating to this crowdfunding campaign you are not only supporting this particular project but the future of live arts experimental work in Atlanta. Every arts funding campaign uses the phrase “now more than ever,” but for Loom Lab, that is particularly true - this project and establishing a base in Atlanta is a massive turning point for us, and we cannot do it without your support.

Re Edahl, Co-Artistic Director of Loom Lab / Director and Choreographer for Old Growth:

Re (they/she) is a movement artist currently based in Atlanta, GA, but with performance roots in Minneapolis, MN and Philadelphia, PA. Originally trained as a dancer (at the conservatory-style Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts School, receiving a dual BA in Dance and Sociology/Anthropology from Carleton College, 2014, and additional training at the American Dance Festival) they have a particular love for expanding their skillset with new and interdisciplinary work. In Minneapolis, they spent three seasons as a company member of Live Action Set, a devised and physical theater company under direction of Dell'Arte International graduate and Cirque du Soleil alum Noah Bremer, while also freelancing as a performer with many other dance and theater organizations and working in arts administration at a number of regional dance organizations. In 2021, they moved to Atlanta, GA, and have had the pleasure of working with such exciting companies as Havoc Movement Company (specializing in new action theatre) and Crux Collective (contemporary circus).

Cal O’Brien, Co-Artistic Director of Loom Lab / Narrative Co-Director for Old Growth: Drawn to theatre and acting from early childhood, Cal (they/he) first began formal musical theatre classes at age 11. In high school at the Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists they had a unique opportunity to learn from celebrated Twin Cities theatre professionals such as Wendy Lehr, Dominique Serrand, Annie Enneking and more. This is also where his early training in physical and devised theatre cemented his passion for new works. O'Brien then earned a BFA in Theatre Arts from Stephens College's rigorous three-year two-summer program in Columbia, MO and Okoboji, IA. ​Returning to the Twin Cities, Cal shifted their focus to direction and production, first for the now-sunsetted, all queer, 20% Theatre Company, and then as the other founding half of Loom Lab. Through their work with the company they are intentional about integrating the trauma-informed training they have received from Glasgow, UK-based Company of Wolves since discovering their work in 2016.

Monica Martelly, Aerial Director for Old Growth:

Born in Haiti, Monica (she/they) is a vibrant and passionate purple-haired performer. They've been dancing since the age of 6 and haven't stopped since! They specialize in aerial hoop, dance trapeze, and a variety of dance styles. Combining their breadth of knowledge and expertise, Monica has created some truly unique and unprecedented aerial acts that combine their love of aerial arts with their treasured Haitian culture and heritage. Some of their other recent accomplishments include performing professionally with The Crux Collective in Atlanta, competing at VIVA Fest in Las Vegas, and most recently training and performing at Aloft's JOLT Summer Intensive in Chicago! Monica was a cast member in the original workshop presentation of Old Growth.