Co-directed by Jessica Hale with Matthew Cumbie, Out and Back Again connects LGBTQ+ artists, community members, and organizations of NW Arkansas to explore notions of home, communal care, and what it means for queer people who leave and return to the places they were raised (or for those who stay). Over the span of nine months, the creative team gathered to research and move through these ideas in rehearsals, over Zoom calls, and with a larger cast of community performers through a series of community workshops. Growing Our Own Gardens: Out and Back Again premiered at The Medium in Springdale, AR, on May 26 and 27, 2023.
Creative Team
Jessica Hale & Matthew Cumbie, co-directors and performers
Tara Baker, graphic design
Dana Doughty, costume design
Roma Flowers, projection design
Mary Forrest, stage manager
Matthew McMillan, sound design
Stowe Nelson, sound research and support
Logan Starkey, box office associate and community performer
RumWolf, lighting design and installation artist
Lyle Oberman, collaborating artist
Sam Trombly, collaborating artist
Blake Worthey, collaborating artist
Jade Zickefoose, collaborating artist
Collette Bliss, community performer
Anna Castleman, community performer
Allison Griffin, community performer
Liv Lynch, community performer
This project was supported by the Creative Exchange Fund (CXF) by Creative Arkansas Community Hub & Exchange. CXF is presented at The Medium in partnership with the Tyson Family Foundation. To learn more, visit http://cachecreate.org/cxf/. We are also grateful to the many individuals who offered their support, and especially to Brock Thompson for contributing so much to our research and to a larger understanding of queer history in Arkansas.