The power of friendship: UNCOMMON FRIENDSHIPS Event Recap

By Susie Robinson

On Friday, March 29, 2019, First Stage welcomed approximately 80 people aboard a metaphorical raft to share stories, hope, and friendship during our UNCOMMON FRIENDSHIPS event.

This meaningful evening was inspired by First Stage’s 2018/2019 season—specifically our musical production, BIG RIVER: THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN. Based on Mark Twain's timeless classic, this coming-of-age musical celebrates the journey of discovery and uncommon friendship as Huckleberry Finn helps his friend Jim, a slave, escape to freedom and reunite with his family.

The raft is an important element in Mark Twain's Huck Finn and the musical BIG RIVER. As Dominic Inouye sees it, without the shared 12x16 raft space, the differences between Huck and Jim probably would have likely stayed differences. But, crammed onto that raft together, with a common goal, Huck is able to see himself as equal to Jim. Attendees could visualize what the raft was like as its outline was taped onto the floor during the event. 

Highlighting the powerful story of friendship between Huck and Jim, the UNCOMMON FRIENDSHIPS event included activities for families and young people to explore friendship across lines of division and featured guest speakers, Pardeep Kaleka and Arno Michaelis—who shared their own story of uncommon friendship. Pardeep lost his father in the August 5, 2012 Sikh Temple of Wisconsin shooting, and Arno is a former white supremacist who helped to start a gang back in the late 1980s that produced the August 5th shooter. Together, they are now working to build a world that is centered on love rather than hate.

Guest speakers, Arno Michaelis and Pardeep Kaleka

“My children and I thoroughly enjoyed this event and especially enjoyed the opportunity to meet new people. This event was well run and my children walked away very moved by the stories of Pardeep and Arno.” – Event Attendee

Both First Stage’s production of BIG RIVER and the UNCOMMON FRIENDSHIPS event provided a framework to better understand Huck’s journey of transformation from a state of ignorance to a state of love, and to inspire individual reflection and conversations regarding our own ongoing journey toward becoming our best selves.

“This event gave me a chance to hear other people’s stories and the things that they had to overcome. I loved the activities. It was really fun and I got to meet several new people. In the activities we did, we learned a little more about each other.” – Event Attendee

Dominic Inouye, the founder and director of ZIP MKE, facilitated the event and guided attendees through fun and dynamic activities that led to reflection and discovery.

Event attendees participated in the following activities:

Constellations: Inspired by the song Worlds Apart from BIG RIVER, this activity recognized that even though we see the same stars in the sky as everyone else in the world, it’s ok for us to create a different picture from them in our minds. Similar to what we do within our different cultures, stories, religions, the way we prepare food, etc., we see the same types of things and make new things from them for ourselves. Huck and Jim do the same: they know their differences and yet create an uncommon friendship, a true friendship centered on love and caring for each other.

In this activity, every table was given the same set of 10 pieces of paper with stars on them. Attendees were asked to randomly choose a piece of paper and draw a picture by connecting the stars. After sharing their new constellations with their table, their constellations were grouped with the similar star sets from the other tables to show the beauty in seeing things differently.

Purposeful Conversations: This activity demonstrated how like a starry sky, artwork can also be viewed differently.

Attendees were asked to examine the details of an artwork by Joan Miró (pictured right) and in groups of two to discuss what they saw in the painting. The discussion format was as follows: One partner began by saying: “I think” (and expressed what they thought was going on in the painting) “because I see” (and referred back to the artwork to express their perception). Then, the other partner responded by saying: “I hear you, and I ALSO see…because…” OR “I hear you, BUT I see… because…” After discussing in pairs, attendees were given the opportunity to share with the entire group what they saw in the artwork. We’re all looking at the same thing but thinking something different—and that’s ok!

Similes/Metaphors: Highlighting the importance of making connections, this activity was inspired by what Huck says about Jim at the end of Mark Twain’s novel: “I am Jim.”

Each table was given the task to select three random words (provided in a tin can placed on every table) and create a simile or metaphor by comparing friendship to each word.

“Friendship is (like) ____ because _____.”

Attendees used their word to fill in the first blank and provided a short explanation for the second blank. After sharing with their tables, attendees chose a simile/metaphor they wanted to share with the group. Representatives from each table read their chosen simile/metaphor aloud to the entire group. 

They shared the following:

“Friendship is like a box of chocolates because each piece is different and adds variety, and the box is best because of it.”

“Friendship is like daffodils because it brings beauty as it multiplies.”

“Friendship is like a kite because you have to run together to make it fly!”

“Friendship is like a poem because the words come together.”

“Friendship is like a road trip because it passes through so many parts of life as we go.”

“Friendship is like the moon because it shines over all and can light up the dark.”

“Friendship is like a lantern because it requires energy to shine.”

“Friendship is like an exotic food market because they are special and hard to find.”

“Friendship is like pure water because it dilutes the toxins in the world.”

“Friendship is like a constellation because we are all joined together, netted to each other.”

“The activities following the talk were a great way to connect with the other audience members. It was a compelling way to bring the First Stage production into relevance with today's communities.” – Event Attendee

Through BIG RIVER and our community engagement efforts, First Stage reaffirms our commitment to soften hearts and inspire constructive action, in our lives and our community.

Thank you to all who attended, our sponsors Hours Against Hate and 88Nine Radio Milwaukee, our guest speakers Pardeep Singh Kaleka and Arno Arr Michaelis IV, and our facilitator, Dominic Inouye. It truly was an evening of discovery and of coming together! Let us all build our own rafts, each and every day.

We all have something to contribute to this world. If we come together by embracing our differences while also understanding what we have in common, we will be able to build a better and more peaceful world that’s centered on love rather than hate.

Learn more about First Stage’s community engagement efforts at FirstStage.org, or find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.