if . . .

 Abandoned: a thousand tongues / A Requiem for the Dead ... extremely challenging to write this post ... process began with July workshops (12 three hour sessions) ... continued with August focused training (14 three hour sessions) ... shifted towards structured production in Sept. (7 three hour sessions) ... performances in mid-late October (9 ensemble sessions including two performances) ... some how ... a generously provided space from 9am - 1pm  ... ... two co-founders of the project, 36 workshop participants resulting in 10 actors to which 4 more theatre workers were added to the creative team ...  ... directors notes:   Welcome.   I should say at the outset we invite you to think of the action you are to witness as a Requiem - an act of remembrance. This years end of October hovers specifically over the torrent of tears from the trauma of Itaewon.  We have approached this trauma first and foremost from the perspective of students. Many have experien...

 Well ... ... Ullaanbaatar, Mongolia was a wonderfully challenging experience ... reaffirmed, if you want to make a difference you have to do things normal people would think are too radical/incomprehensible ... maybe the biggest hurdle to get over ... you think "fungus" ... the word in use now as my partner, a completely fluent english speaker/writer though not her native tongue, uses f--- often in public saying it is a fun word pretty devoid of meaning for her ... makes me uncomfortable ... we agree to use "fungus" as a replacement ... now i too have fun ... it seems a good choice ... ... so fungus ... performance/poem "Untamed" is not going to work/be understood/be accepted or appreciated ... you think fungus ... so just do it  ... it might work ...  note "make a difference" not succeed because then what the fungus does success mean ... seventy years old now ... need to throw caution to the wind ...  photo during performance by Kakumoto Atsu...

(Director Notes for the show not to be.) A still from the archived video from tech rehearsal My sojourn with the present embodiment of Autobiography of Grass Tomb began in 2003 during a first visit to Korea. Fascinated by the rich traditional arts i searched desperately for a Korean play in English translation and successfully downloaded one from a site now long defunct. Grass Tomb by Oh, Tae-sok & Dong Nang Repertory Theatre of Korea was described by the translator Ryu, Yung-kyung as “personified abstractions”. A short read of thirty-five minutes made it ideal for research in university classes. I played with the script for a few years in first year acting classes eventually developing something articulated as soul work .  My partner AeRan Jeong, an incredible performance artist and esteemed academic, introduced me to the Korean Arts - the mask dances, Temple stays, Pansori instruction, Piri lessons and a vast array of Korean theatre from puppets to drumming. ...

Jessica a Ceremony is a reimagined reworking of Jessica by Maria Campbell and Linda Griffiths. The book of Jessica: A Theatrical Transformation documents the collaboration between Maria Campbell, Metis writer, playwright, filmmaker, scholar, teacher, community organizer, activist and elder and Linda Griffiths (1953-2014), a Canadian actress, producer, writer and one of Canada's most lauded modern theatre voices as together they created the award winning play Jessica . To honour the 45th anniversary of Maria Campbells's memoir Halfbreed (1973), regarded as a foundational work of Indigenous literature in Canada, the E.D. Feehan Theatre Guild brings you the story of a young Metis girl struggling to find her voice.  A story that resonates even more today. The cast diligently sourced the original script by improvising around scenes to develop their own path which they wish to share with you. We welcome you to join us on our journey. Elder Vitaline conjures up the spir...