Theater has long been used as a catalyst for social change, inspiring audiences to action through its strong emotional portrayals and messaging.

Frank Theatre is committed to challenging both its artists and its audiences by staging productions that explore ideas and issues of social, political and cultural concern.

“You don’t go to a Frank production if you just want to be entertained. You go if you want to leave with more questions than you came in with,” said Gale Sharpe, a longtime member of the Twin Cities arts community, whose charitable donations have helped the theater expand its season from two plays a year to three for the upcoming 2010-2011 season.

“I was very interested in their innovation, their point of view and what they do with the artists,” Sharpe said. “They’re all about shining the light on new truths in our social and political world, the issues of the times.”

Sharpe brought her passion for Frank Theatre and desire to support the company to Dan Berg at The Minneapolis Foundation, who had worked in the past with her father and family to convert their family foundation into a Signature Fund.

“Dan was just so sensitive to us as a family because the way we are using our funds is a little different,” Sharpe said. Her family divides a collective charitable giving allowance evenly among the four family members. Each person then donates their share to the organizations of their choosing.

“I think more and more families are trying to do that, to let each of us make up our own mind about where we want to put those dollars, ” Sharpe said. “Frank Theatre is at the top of my list.”