This fall has been chock full of new developments! I’ve been in residency at The New Museum since the end of October. They’ve created a pop up repertory company called X-ID Rep in an effort to further explore the theme of their season: persona. More to the point: the company is investigating “cross play” in the theater or playing someone of a different race, gender, sexual orientation, etc. and what the politics of that are. We’re talking stereotypes, appropriation, xenophobia, history, language, privilege and so much more. It’s been a difficult heady tender meta journey to have the talents of eight performers, four writers and four directors meet. But overall, everyone’s skills are so varied and wonderful it’s been a real gift to share this time and space together. We’re essentially an ongoing exhibit at the museum until we have our final showing in January. So anyone can stop by and check out the process during open studio hours. More information including open studio hours (and eventually details regarding the final showing) can be found here. Justine Williams is writing a series of articles about the project for Culturebot that can be found here.
I attended the Audelco awards a few weeks ago as Dancing on Eggshells (a show I was in the world premiere of earlier this year) was nominated for Best Choreography and Best Ensemble. We didn’t win but it was wonderful to be acknowledged and invited. There was a lot of talent in that room.
I just watched a final cut of Masquerade, a period short I’m in that tells the true story of William and Ellen Craft’s escape from slavery (see post below for more info). It’s being submitted to festivals and will premiere in 2016 so I can’t post clips yet but I do have this screen shot to share:
Last month I was in PlayTime at New Dramatists, which is one of their longer developmental workshops (lasting two weeks) for five of their playwrights in residence. What’s amazing is that they take such great care of everyone and go to such pains to make sure that people working on different shows intersect that it feels like a retreat though almost everyone in the company was in the city they call home. There were free meals, yoga classes and writing workshops and the whole thing was totally kumbaya and rejuvenating. I was lucky enough to work with Sibyl Kempson (writer/director) and Graham Reynolds (composer) on The Securely Conferred Vouchsafed Keepsakes of Maery S. Sibyl is endlessly smart and creative and operating on a frequency that resonates in yet undiscovered parts of the psyche. Graham’s music is inspired and hearty and satisfying. Love them. Love the work. So excited to see what else we can make together…
Finally, I’m so excited to announce that I’m in the world premiere of Laura Jacqumin’s Residence directed by Hal Brooks at Humana Festival. Humana is such a hotbed for great new American plays it’s been a goal of mine to be a part of it. I’m really happy I’ll get to go with such a great creative team and more than a relieved to miss the worst of winter in NYC 🙂 More info here.
Amelia Workman 