Lost and Found (to be continued)
Friday, November 30, 2018
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
Elyse, Ntozake, Maria
Three Giant Women of theater have passed away in the space of just a few days.
An influential director.
A playwright of African American women and expanded territories, opening her arms to inclusion of multiple communities. (For Black Girls who have Considered Suicide when the Rainbow is Enuf, a Choreopoem)
A playwright of Hispanic women, opening the theater walls to audiences to Fefu and her Friends. Staging was nontraditional, taking people beyond a stage to different areas -seeing scenes in various order.
The world is better for them all.
An influential director.
A playwright of African American women and expanded territories, opening her arms to inclusion of multiple communities. (For Black Girls who have Considered Suicide when the Rainbow is Enuf, a Choreopoem)
A playwright of Hispanic women, opening the theater walls to audiences to Fefu and her Friends. Staging was nontraditional, taking people beyond a stage to different areas -seeing scenes in various order.
The world is better for them all.
Ntozake Shange at the Dodge Poetry Festival, Sunday, October 21, 2018
Sunday, September 30, 2018
Cheating on Thoreau with Twain
This weekend, there is a Writer's Conference in Hartford, CT at the Mark Twain House and Museum. 2 days of authors, talks, workshops, discussions and just plain "trouble starting" (apparently in the Twain world, that's a regular in-joke)
https://marktwainhouse.org/event/writers-weekend/
I've already THOREAU-LY enjoyed one day of it (half) and am making note of a few things so far:
A) The sessions are wonderful, but the weekend seems especially small-like the size of a decent first-year attempt, but I believe this is not their first rodeo. Personally, I LOVE that it is so small, bc I feel that I can get to know each participant, and there are not too many overlapping sessions. However, I'd rather make contact with MORE people and attend as many sessions as possible-noting the possibility of sneaking out of a dull one and into something better (the grass is always greener on the other side of the classroom wall-especially when you can hear them laughing!)
B) The vast majority of the attendees/presenters are female and 50+. SO much so, that I would encourage the organizers to rethink their focus for next year. It's not a matter of Mark Twain representation-he only registers as a host in the mental conversation.
C) There were a few (2?) young African American women-but no corresponding African American women presenting. Hartford has a decent population of African Americans and none/very few(?) were in representation within the sold-out Twain house tours. Personally, I would LOVE to be taught by people coming from different experiences and especially the locals.
D) The Harriet Beecher Stowe house is right next door, but my friends and I had to wander over ourselves and take a tour during lunch (We had given up our lunch hour on the first day to tour the Twain house)
https://marktwainhouse.org/event/writers-weekend/
I've already THOREAU-LY enjoyed one day of it (half) and am making note of a few things so far:
A) The sessions are wonderful, but the weekend seems especially small-like the size of a decent first-year attempt, but I believe this is not their first rodeo. Personally, I LOVE that it is so small, bc I feel that I can get to know each participant, and there are not too many overlapping sessions. However, I'd rather make contact with MORE people and attend as many sessions as possible-noting the possibility of sneaking out of a dull one and into something better (the grass is always greener on the other side of the classroom wall-especially when you can hear them laughing!)
B) The vast majority of the attendees/presenters are female and 50+. SO much so, that I would encourage the organizers to rethink their focus for next year. It's not a matter of Mark Twain representation-he only registers as a host in the mental conversation.
C) There were a few (2?) young African American women-but no corresponding African American women presenting. Hartford has a decent population of African Americans and none/very few(?) were in representation within the sold-out Twain house tours. Personally, I would LOVE to be taught by people coming from different experiences and especially the locals.
D) The Harriet Beecher Stowe house is right next door, but my friends and I had to wander over ourselves and take a tour during lunch (We had given up our lunch hour on the first day to tour the Twain house)
Friday, August 31, 2018
Tuesday, July 31, 2018
Love made Visible
Invisible Magic IS Love.
And "Love made visible" is the deeper mission of the Barter Theater. When farmers couldn't offer money, they could offer things to pay for tickets. And then the actors got fed.
A way of living as close to the bone as you can, and being happy, truly happy, in a circle of friends who are in the same situation.
Much like the Fringe Theater, or all theater.
And "Love made visible" is the deeper mission of the Barter Theater. When farmers couldn't offer money, they could offer things to pay for tickets. And then the actors got fed.
A way of living as close to the bone as you can, and being happy, truly happy, in a circle of friends who are in the same situation.
Much like the Fringe Theater, or all theater.
Saturday, June 30, 2018
Mutual Admiration Society
The BEST situations are around Mutual Admiration Societies.
It might not always be equitable, but it is important to come from a place of respect and enjoyment of the other person's talents. Winning an award, one should always be gracious and effusive in thanks.
Winning and maintaining friendships, it is important to determine comfort levels of communication, how to ensure that you've made a secure bond and how to keep it going.
Thursday, May 31, 2018
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