The Memory War Theater Project presents
work created under compulsion
Monday September 1st, 6:30PM appearing as part of the
Bumbershoot festival TPS Stage 2008
at the Center House Theatre
FREE with Bumbershoot entrance
Wednesday September 3rd-Saturday Sep 6th, 8:00PM,
Saturday September 6th at 2:00PM at the Center House Theatre
Tickets at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/39482
The Seattle PI says "Tikka Sears' work created under compulsion is a powerful exploration" of the struggles of people forced to create in order to survive. Connection and alienation drive this bold visually stunning theater piece first presented at the 2007 NW New Works Festival. This multimedia theater production features innovative movement and projection. Audience members are encouraged to contribute stories by visiting www.memorywartheaterproject.com
$15-$30 Sliding Scale
$10 for Seniors, Students and TPS Members
work created under compulsion is inspired by characters and individuals throughout history who have been forced to create/work in order to stay alive. This piece juxtaposes and interlaces the stories of border crossers, Scheherazade, a Holocaust survivor and a veteran of the Iraq War.
Conceived and Directed: Tikka Sears
Writer and video design: Manuel Castro
Performed by: Precious Butiu, Brynna Jourden, Andy Justus, Kate Kraay and Haley Wolfe
Set Design: Otong Iron
Lighting Design: Melinda Short
Costume Designer: Owen Wolf
Stage Manager: Chris Scofield
PR Director and Outreach: Lauren Kronmiller
Production Assistant: Jennifer Perry
Photography and Design: Nicole DeMent
Metal work builder: April Mae Clifford
Musical selections by composers: Eyvind Kang and Jessika Kenney
Creation of this work was made possible in part by an Artist Trust/Washington State Arts Commission Fellowship and Gap Grant, City Artist Funding from the Mayor's Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs, 4Culture. Additional support provided by the Southeast Asia Center of the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies. The Memory War Theater Project is a partner artist project of the Shunpike
About The Shunpike
The Shunpike is a 501c3 non-profit art service organization, whose mission is to strengthen the Seattle arts community by partnering with small and mid-size arts groups to develop the business tools they need to succeed. It was founded in 2001 to support a vibrant and diverse local arts community where arts groups of all sizes could thrive. Working in close partnership with these groups, the Shunpike helps solve problems quickly and impart vital skills in finance, organizational management and arts administration. Since inception, they have supported work by more than 2,000 artists in live performance, film, literary arts, visual arts, and arts education.
work created under compulsion workshop
Conceived and Directed: Tikka Sears
Writer and video design: Manuel Castro
Performed by: Tikka Sears, Jessika Kenney and Eyvind Kang
Musicians and composers: Eyvind Kang and Jessika Kenney
Set Design: Manuel Castro and Otong Durahim
Lighting Design: Otong Durahim
Mechanical Design and Builder: April Mae Clifford
Dramaturgy: Laurie J. Sears
Work created under compulsion is inspired by characters and individuals throughout history who have been forced to create/work in order to stay alive. This piece juxtaposes and interlaces the stories of Scheherazade, a Holocaust survivor and a veteran of the Iraq War. Research was drawn from newspaper articles and NPR interview with Dina Babbitt, Internet blogs of U.S. soldiers in Iraq and the Persian tales from One Thousand and One Nights. Musical Sources include Shushtan and Bayat-e Shirãz from the repertoire of Classical Persian music, and the Persian poetry of Hãfez.
Creation of this work was made possible in part by an Artist Trust/Washington State Arts Commission Fellowship and Gap Grant. Additional support provided by the Southeast Asia Center of the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies.
Tikka Sears is an actor, director and multimedia theater artist. She was a Fulbright Artist-in-Residence in Indonesia for two years and has toured her solo performance of Marsinah Accuses to six U.S. cities. She co-created and directed Choice and the Hunter's Machine with the Black Umbrella Theater in Indonesia. Sears has received grants from Artist Trust, the American-Indonesian Exchange Foundation, JakArt International Festival, Mayors Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs, 4Culture and the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta. www.memorywartheaterproject.com
Manuel Castro has been collaborating on multimedia theater projects with director Tikka Sears since 2002. Castro served as videographer and writer for Choice and the Hunter’s Machine which toured various cities in Indonesia. Manuel Castro is a glass artist whose work has been exhibited at Pratt Fine Arts Center, Corridor Gallery, Senso Unico, Art By Fire, the Vision Gallery, Fabrik Gallery (Indonesia) and his work can also be seen at www.mecastro.com He has been part of the Lino Tagliapietra glass team since 2001 and works at Manifesto Glass studio.
Eyvind Kang has released seven original CDs and has performed and recorded with Bill Frisell, Blonde Redhead, Yungchen Lhamo, Laura Veirs, Alvarius B, Secret Chiefs 3, Laurie Anderson, and many others. In 2004 he composed and orchestrated Cruel Reflections, Narrow Gardens for a performance with the Orchestra Teatro Communale di Bologna conducted by Aldo Sisillo.
Jessika Kenney has brought her impressive vocal skills to the music of Gamelan Pacifica, and to the vocal music written specifically for her voice, by composer Jarrad Powell. Her work in the last three years has revolved around the study of the vocal radif of Classical Persian Music with Dr. Hossein Omoumi, master of ney (reed flute). In recent years she has performed in Seattle, Iceland, Italy, Spain, New York City, Irvine and Spokane.
Otong Iron has been the set designer and technical director for the Black Umbrella Theater since 1997 in addition to designing for many of Indonesia’s experimental theater groups. Durahim has toured productions to the Laokoon festival in Germany, to Australia and to over five Dutch cities and outdoor theater festivals. He is a graduate of the Peforming Arts Institute in Bandung, Indonesia.
April Mae Clifford is an Seattle artist who specializes in metal fabrication and glass. Since receiving her bachelors degree in fine art from Alfred University in 2001, April has been recognized as a Pilchuck scholarship recipient as well as the winner of an educational scholarship at Pratt Fine Art Center on behalf of the Seattle Metals Guild. Currently April works in Seattle as a welder and free lance designer and builder.
Special Thanks: On the Boards NWNW staff, Rachman Sabur and the Black Umbrella Theater, Dr. Hossein ‘Omoumi, Goenawan Mohamad, Clifford Sears, Maureen Dolan, Jane Dolan, Margie Lobell, Sara Van Fleet, Marjorie McKinley, Clifford Sears, Judith Shahn, Noriko Arnstein, Joy Beatty, Sachiko Glass, Linda Knickerbocker, Wolfgang and Mischa Linser, Holly Johnson, Marianne Carle, Tashiro Kaplan Artist Lofts, ArtsLaunch, Sherri Brown, Christy Fisher, Brian Barber and Vegan Mike.
