Attendees dancing to live music at the Ordway’s Spring Fête. Photo by Matthew Jenkins.
On April 8, attendees of the Ordway’s Spring Fête were transported back to whimsical childhood years, with versions of favorite kids’ foods, games, and activities.
T. Mychael Rambo: To have a physical space that is so ornate and so lovely and that accommodates so many people makes the Ordway very unique to the Twin Cities. Most theater companies in the city commit themselves primarily to theater, but the Ordway is a breath of music, dance, and performance art, and that’s a great difference.
Armando Gutiérrez G.: I’m a painter and a musician. My wife and I have been affiliated with the Ordway for many years. I’ve been involved not only in their cultural programming but also in their children’s festival, and I’m a Sally Ordway Award winner. It’s a major institution that shares what it brings to St. Paul and to Minnesota in such a great way.
Jan Spencer de Gutiérrez: I work with the Ordway through the St. Paul Public Schools where I’m the district supervisor for the arts. We have more than 400 students that perform on the main stage. The impact is amazing because a lot of kids, especially in the St. Paul public schools, do not get a chance to see real performing arts with artists from around the world as well as with local artists.
Aimee Mairs: It’s our Christmas tradition to come here and see a show. My grandmother takes about 25 of us including grandkids and great grand kids. That’s her Christmas present to all of us.
Jack Driscoll: I’m an old St. Paul family guy, and I think the Ordway has been around for almost as long as I have. It adds a lot to the flavor of downtown St. Paul, and it certainly fills in the cultural ends of the spectrum. Most of the performances here are pretty stellar.
