THE FUTURE.
VISION
Obvious Dad will be recognized as a leading performing arts organization in the Southeast by creating meaningful performances with high production value. We will always take risks on experimental works but never sacrifice the accessibility of the themes, audience and community engagement, and our physical space—we will never be elitist. We will become a year-round professional theatre that produces quality work utilizing local talent paid fair contract wages. We will ensure that all playwrights, performers, designers, all other collaborators, volunteers, and audience members are fully welcomed and have a meaningful sense of belonging.
THE PLAN.
Despite being a midsized city whose population growth shows no signs of slowing, Chattanooga does not offer local, professional theatre programming to diversifying local audiences, tourists, and regional artists. While there is a community theatre and the occasional for-profit touring production, community members and artists of greater Chattanooga have no outlet for new works that are professionally produced, aesthetically driven, and boldly relevant. Obvious Dad has demonstrated over the past three years that with modest funding, community-minded curation, and the expertise and creativity of our leaders, we can create community engagement in experiences that centralize marginalized voices and unapologetic stories. When we expand into a year-round producing nonprofit theatre in a permanent physical space, we plan to offer high-quality regional premieres for Southeastern audiences, diverse programming for underrepresented communities, and professional opportunities for local artists.
WHY
CHATTANOOGA
COMMUNITY EXPANSION
Obvious Dad creates work with and for the Chattanooga community, which has expanded exponentially over the past few years, enhancing the diversity of our community in every aspect.
Since the pandemic, Chattanooga has seen an influx of people moving from out of town to enjoy the region's beautiful outdoors, a technologically engaged business community, a plethora of philanthropic organizations, exciting local food and music scenes, and the general charm of the south.
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ARTISTIC OPPORTUNITY GAP
However, new and native community members are left wanting in terms of artistic opportunities. Many folx in our communities leave town (often to Atlanta or Nashville, both of which are two hours away from Chattanooga) to see professional theatre and art experiences. We provide live entertainment that challenges the expectations and preconceptions of what theatre created on a local level is. We are community-minded, not community theatre.
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COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT
Our work will be artist-driven, ensuring the quality matches those of small professional theaters in larger cities. We create professional work that allows audiences to stay close to home and start a dialogue about what Chattanooga is today and what it can be tomorrow.
Obvious Dad aims to bridge the gap by creating professional work that enables the community to access high-quality entertainment locally, sparking conversations about the potential of Chattanooga.
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LACK OF REPRESENTATION
Chattanooga’s current stages don’t reflect our diverse communities, often because they depend on ticket sales and seeking mass appeal. The shows we select centralize silenced or marginalized voices, providing much-needed representation of differing human expressions/experiences. We provide a space of belonging for artists and audiences, connecting them with local resources and organizations that reflect the themes and issues discussed in our performances.
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IT’S KIND OF WEIRD
Chattanooga has a national profile as one of the trendiest places to move to. We have substantial tourist efforts, an internationally recognized aquarium, an incredible museum of American art, our own symphony and opera, a stunning waterfront and walkable downtown, a burgeoning tech industry, and so much more to offer our citizens and visitors. It’s weird that if we’re that city, why are we one of the few midsize cities not to have a profess- ional theatre?
