This story is part of the Arts and Culture Reporting Corps, sponsored by the Springfield Regional Arts Council.
When the Golden Globes aired last week, many of the usual things happened: Celebrities dressed up, some jokes didn’t land and agents, managers and mothers were all thanked.
Toward the end of the broadcast, there was something new: Lily Gladstone became the first Indigenous person to win best female actor, for her role in “Killers of the Flower Moon.” Gladstone began her speech in her native Blackfeet language and ended with a dedication:
“This is for every little rez kid, every little urban kid, every little native kid out there who has a dream, who is seeing themselves represented and our stories told — by ourselves, in our own words.”
Watching moments like that can be powerful because it feels like taking a breath, opening a door and expanding the definition of what’s possible.
Springfield's arts community working to expand possibilities
Here in Springfield, people across the arts community are working to expand possibilities. They’re reaching out and engaging with marginalized communities because it’s the right thing to do, but also because it benefits everyone involved — from the artists to the audience, to the whole community.
Organizations such as AcompañARTE Cultural Center, American Indian Center of Springfield and Unite of Southwest Missouri received Springfield Regional Arts Council Arts & Culture Grants in 2023 to support outreach efforts.
Unite of Southwest Missouri has sponsored the Springfield Multicultural Festival for 27 years. This year’s event is noon-4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 15, at the Oasis Hotel & Convention Center (2550 N. Glenstone Ave.).
A festival for all
The Multicultural Festival seeks to promote community, create space for people to celebrate traditions and heritage, and broaden appreciation of the diverse talent, resources and opportunities available in the Springfield area.
The event coincides with Martin Luther King Jr. Day and welcomes all members of the community to an afternoon packed with performances from local groups representing cultures all over the world, along with community exhibitors offering resources in health, education, safety and more.
Longtime community leader Samuel Knox is the festival’s founder and works with a team of volunteers, local government and corporate partners to bring the event to life.
“Attending this year's Multicultural Festival offers an unparalleled chance to be part of a global celebration right in the heart of Springfield,” Knox said. “It's not just a lineup of performances; it's a passport to a world of cultures converging in one place.”
Knox, who was a finalist for Arts Ambassador at this year’s Ozzie Awards, takes seriously the festival’s role in making Springfield a more inclusive and vibrant community.
“The performing arts act as a bridge that connects people across cultures, languages and backgrounds,” Knox said. “When individuals experience performances like music, dance or theater from different cultures, they engage on an emotional level, feeling the rhythms, melodies and movements that carry the heart of those cultures. This immersive experience creates a shared sense of appreciation and understanding.”
Show up where they are
The folks behind Mosaic Arts Collective are working to bring more diversity to local stages in Springfield — in both the people you see onstage and the stories they get the opportunity to tell.
Their next production, in partnership with Springfield Little Theatre, is “In The Heights,” a contemporary musical written by Lin-Manuel Miranda. You may recognize his name from creating “Hamilton: An American Musical” or from writing the music for Disney’s “Encanto.” (Heard of Bruno? We don’t talk about him.) “In The Heights” also won the Tony Award for Best Musical in 2008.
When you watch the show, the Lin-Manuel Miranda vibes are familiar from the very first notes: a mixture of spoken word and singing, rhymes and wordplay. It’s satisfying for a Hamilton fan but also feels entirely different and new — set in 1990s New York City in the neighborhood of Washington Heights.
Directors did outreach months in advance of auditions
Mosaic co-founders Amanda Snead and Nki Calloway are co-directing the show and are eager to share this story of family, community and identity with audiences in Springfield. Snead, who choreographed the show, said people can expect a fusion of Latin rhythms and music, and six styles of dance throughout.
“There’s a little bit of everyone in this show: moms, sisters, cousins, brothers,” Calloway said. “It’s the story of a community evolving. It’s fun! And it’s different from anything people have seen in Springfield.”
The pair started recruiting performers six months ahead of auditions, finding every festival, joining every social media group and following every potential lead in order to reach new talent who might not have imagined themselves on a stage. They got vital help from Yolanda Lorge of Springfield’s Groupo Latinoamericano, who helped Mosaic reach out to and connect with the Hispanic community.
In a Facebook post shortly after the cast was selected, Calloway said, “[Yolanda] graciously sat through hours of callbacks, explaining to us nuances in language, the differences in Spanish between regions and almost handpicked every character by both talent and authenticity. [...] If you have any doubt at all, call on the community.”
Most cast members are performing in their first musical
The work and collaboration has paid off. “In the Heights” boasts a cast of 60, from kids to young adults to abuelas, around 60% of whom had never performed in a musical before.
One of these new cast members is Edgar Ramirez, who is debuting in his first-ever musical alongside his two young sons. The story goes he was at a local festival last September, enjoying live music, when someone from Mosaic approached him and asked, “Do you sing?”
In his Facebook cast bio, Ramirez recalls, “I was just singing along, minding my business, mind you. And now I'm here — part of this amazing cast! They are my familia, and they found me, and the best part is I get to do this with my two sons. I am the luckiest man alive!”
Mosaic’s efforts make for the ultimate testament to “if you build it, they will come,” with an important addition: If you build it, they will come — but sometimes you have to invite them in first. Take a breath and open the door.
“The talent and motivation is there,” Snead said. “We just had to create a safe and inclusive place for people to tell their story.”
Want to go?
Springfield Multicultural Festival
When: noon-4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 15
Where: Oasis Hotel & Convention Center (2550 N. Glenstone Ave.)
Admission: Free for kids 12 and under; $7 for adults
For more information: Find the Springfield Multicultural Festival on Facebook
Springfield Little Theatre and Mosaic Arts Collective's “In the Heights”
When: Jan. 26-Feb. 11
Where: Landers Theatre (311 E. Walnut St.)
Tickets: $22-$42, available on the Springfield Little Theatre website or by calling (417) 869-1334
For more information: Visit the Springfield Little Theatre website or the Mosaic Arts Collective website
