Abby Nadeau
Community Editor

Forest Lake native Brooke Bushman always dreamed of going to New York to pursue an acting career.

She always dreamed of being in movies and making ìit bigî on Broadway.

Bushman never dreamed that she would be a part of a small group of women, working to keep the small Black Box theatres alive in the city where Broadway was born.

The Big Apple

Bushman, who graduated from Forest Lake High School in 1999, has spent the last seven years in New York pursuing a life in theatre.

However, Bushman got her start in acting, back here in Minnesota. She was involved with several different theatre productions at Forest Lakeís own Masquers Theatre.

At the age of 17 Bushman was on the set of New Line Cinemaís film ìDrop Dead Gorgeous.î

Bushman played the part of Tammy Curry, a pageant contest who is killed off by another pageant contestantís mom Kirstie Alley.

Starting in the fall of 1999, Bushman attended the College of New Rochelle where she graduated with a degree in drama and broadcast journalism mass communications.

After graduation Bushman studied acting at Bruce Ornsteinís Acting Workshop where she met Kara Tyler, Amy Witting and Kerry Fitzgibbons.

Groove Mama Ink

Together the four women created Groove Mama Ink LLC with the intention of keeping Black Box Theatreís alive.

ìAll the small theatres are being shut down,î Bushman said. ìHowever, many artists use them [Black Box Theatres] as a vehicle to ëmake it bigí.î

The group took over a small theatre in Greenich Village called the Gene Frankel theatre where they are updating and making the theatre their own.

According to the web site, at www.groovemamaink.com, ìGroove Mama Ink LLC is a production company dedicated to the process of nurturing original art, and designing innovative ways to use drama as a therapeutic learning tool.î

The group has signed a two year lease on the theatre, is managing it and trying to make the theatre ìwork.î

ìItís a business,î Bushman said, who has been named director of Finance for Groove Mama Ink.

Because New York is full of ìstarving artists,î trying to fund a Black Box theatre is not easy. Therefore, the group has gone through the process to become a not-for-profit organization.

ìAll the legalities were overwhelming, but we got our 5013C in July so all our donations are tax deductible,î Bushman said.

Currently the group is fund raising to help with costs of fixing up the theatre, helping new artists, and several other charities and organizations-.

On Saturday, Sept. 9 Groove Mama Ink will host a ìComing out in Styleî gala with a silent auction.

Some auction items include a date with the four ìGroove Mamas,î Clara Casavina Vintage handbag, Luca Luca Evening Gown, dinner at Cafe Cito, Noir Jewelry, Broadway tickets and several other items.

ìWe want to save the Black Box theatres,î Bushman said. ìBy pushing them [the theatres] down to Brooklyn it handicaps starving artists. Itís a really sad thing.î

To donate to Groove Mama Ink checks can be sent to:

Groove Mama Ink LLC

c/o Brooke Bushman

240 E. 90th St. Apt. 1C

New York, NY 10128

For more information about Groove Mama Ink visit their web site at www.groovemamaink.com.

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