relative theatrics - Continue the Conversation

relative theatrics

May 16th, 2021

5/16/2021

Where to watch: on YouTube or by following this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZqVUgMR3Xo

Time needed: 15 minutes

What it's about: Emmanuel Acho sits down with comedian & best selling author, Chelsea Handler, to have an uncomfortable conversation about "Karens," cancel culture, and her own white privilege.

Discussion questions:

Were you a fan and/or aware of either Emmanuel Acho or Chelsea Handler before watching this video? What did you know about them? What preconceived notions did you have about them?
Handler says that the best way to have tough conversations between white people about racism in America is to look at the facts. Do you agree? Why or why not? She references the reparations given after slavery to white slave owners instead of the actual slaves. What other facts could you start a conversation with?
Acho and Handler both agree that cancel culture is not a good thing, as it leaves no room for growth or change within those who have caused hurt. Do you agree? Why or why not?
Do you agree with Handler's definition of white privilege in this clip? Why or why not?

Wyoming Humanities Awards Spark Grant to Relative Theatrics

4/14/2021

Wyoming Humanities (WYH) is pleased to present a Spark Grant award to Relative Theatrics in support of “Read, Rant, Relate: Igniting Conversation through Theatre.”

Relative Theatrics will use the funding to continue its free play-reading program. The four-part series, hosted at the UW Art Museum in conjunction with a thematically paired art exhibit, uses actors to activate text by reading a play aloud. Following each play a humanities scholar leads a discussion on the themes of the play and how they relate to our Wyoming communities today.

According to Anne Mason, executive director of Relative Theatrics, the organization will partner each play with a social justice group or event at UW such as the Shepard Symposium, the Wyoming Latina Youth Conference, the MLK Days of Dialogue, and other community organizations. The plays tackle topics such as race relations, diversity, feminism, American values, heteronormativity, politics, culture, social justice, and, ultimately, voices that often go unheard.

This next event is a reading and discussion of “Frozen Fluid” by Fly Jamerson at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 15, and can be accessed here. It will be preceded by a virtual tour of the complementary art museum exhibit and will be followed by a Zoom discussion with Dr. Patrick Konesko.

Future events in this series will continue through 2022.

Spark Grants provide funding to Wyoming communities and nonprofits for programming related to the humanities. Projects are selected based on communities’ needs and programs designed to spark new insights and perspectives. Funding is provided through the Wyoming Department of State Parks and Cultural Resources. Grantees provide equal or greater matching funds and in-kind contributions. WYH grants generate significant social and economic impact five times greater than state funding.

About Wyoming Humanities
Wyoming Humanities is the Wyoming affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities and is one of 55 state humanities councils. Conceived by a group of University of Wyoming leaders in 1970 and approved by the NEH in 1971. Its mission is to use the public humanities to strengthen Wyoming’s democracy, expand the Wyoming narrative, and promote engaged communities. Wyoming Humanities is an independent nonprofit funded by the NEH, a state legislative appropriation, corporate and foundation grants, and private donations.

Social Justice Action Item: April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). Read about the the history of it with this article from the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC)

4/9/2021

Where to read: by going to the NSVRC website or following this link: https://www.nsvrc.org/saam/history
Time needed: 10 minutes
What it's about: The article looks at the history of the movement to end sexual violence, from the civil rights movement to the founding of the first rape crisis centers to national legislation and beyond.

Discussion questions:

How much did you know about SAAM and the NSVRC before reading the article? What was new information for you? Did you learn anything?
The goal of SAAM is to find ways to advocate for awareness and protection. What do you think is lacking in our society today from this lens? What do we need to work on? What steps do you believe you, as an individual, can take?
In recent years, the NSVRC has focused on expanding awareness to those who have a hand in preventing sexual assault. Who are those people in your life? Have you had a conversation about sexual assault prevention with them? Why or why not?

Read, Rant, Relate: Igniting Conversation Through Theatre: FROZEN FLUID by Fly Jamerson

4/9/2021

An Antarctic Gender Non-Conforming Creation Myth

Directed by Justin Montalvo
With technical assistance from Noelia Berkes
Featuring Jaye Cooney, Rory Eggleston, Jared Mohr-Leiva, and Kendall Yoder

Discussion led by Dr. Patrick Konesko and Bailey Patterson

April 15, 2021 - 7pm MST - Zoom Production

A partnership with Relative Theatrics and the University of Wyoming Art Museum, this play is connected to Dr. Melissa N. Morris’ Global Environmental History course exhibition in the Pat Guthrie Teaching Gallery, and is included in this year's Shepard Symposium for Social Justice.

Three scientists - enduring the vast tundra, close quarters, and three hundred beached whales on a melting glacier - are faced with questions of gender, biology, identity, climate change, and faith.

TAY, a scientist specializing in Phytoplankton, is a genderfluid person trying to quietly organize and understand their place on the ice while their presence cracks every foundation. HERMAN, a scientist specializing in Glacial Disintegration, builds an arc to get the team off of the melting glacier while struggling to keep his relationships afloat. TERRA, a whale biologist, is overwhelmed by the deconstruction of her faith and her identity as the world threatens to swallow her whole.

Frozen Fluid is a celebration and investigation of the complexity and multiplicity of the self and the struggle and ultimate triumph to find and live as one's true self in mind, body, and spirit in a time of uncertainty in faith and future of the human race - with one another in society, and in our threatened climate on this planet. The play centers Trans and Gender Non-Binary characters and performers.

Register for FROZEN FLUID

Social Justice Action Item: listen to the Modern Minorities podcast episode Let's Talk (about) Asian Violence.

4/5/2021

Where to listen: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, GooglePlay, or by following this link: https://www.modmypod.com/episodes
Time needed: 40 minutes
What it's about: Asian American hosts Sharon Lee Thony and Raman Sehgal sit down with Ryan Joe to have a candid conversation about racism against AAPI and and the increasing violence in this country.

Discussion questions:

Ryan Joe mentions that what is happening now to Asian Americans is akin to how Brown Americans were treated post-9/11, but he argues that the violence is worse now. Do you think this is true? Why or why not?
They argue that the AAPI murders in Atlanta are being downplayed racially, specifically in opposition to George Floyd's murder. Do you agree? If so, why do you think this is?
Sehgal explains a split feeling of 'I don't know my country,' and 'this is my country, and stop being jerks.' How do you view the violence that has been happening? Do you fall in one camp, or do you feel split like Sehgal?
This episode also argues that legislation against hate crimes is in place, but that a lot of that is optics, because nothing is being enforced. How do you think we, as the American public, can demand enforcement of this legislation?

Purchase Your Tickets for TIGHT END By Rachel Bykowski

4/1/2021

Sponsored by the UW Honor's College
April 16 - May 2, 2021 - Streaming Virtually, On-Demand

Directed by Anne Mason; Assistant Directed by Justen Glover and Isa Jackowich; Featuring Sean Coyle, Claire Mason, Jared Mohr-Leiva, and Aubree Tafoya.

Ash (believe me, you do not want to call her “Ashley”) Miller’s dream is to catch the winning touchdown pass for the Westmont High Titans’ Homecoming game. Football is in her blood. In order to make the team, Ash will have to prove she is one of the guys even if that means sacrificing her body for the love of the game.

“Playwright Rachel Bykowski beautifully illustrates the world of small town high school football and its influence on its fans in TIGHT END.” Rachel's play THE BIG F***IN' GIANT was featured in Playwrights Voiced 2018.

TIGHT END is sponsored by the UW Honors College and is supported in part by grants from the Wyoming Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts, Wyoming Humanities, and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Purchase Tickets to TIGHT END

Next Up on the Virtual Stage:THE WASPS by Aristophanes

2/24/2021

THE WASPS by Aristophanes
March 4th, 7pm MST - Zoom Production
Original Music & All Star Cast in One of the World's Greatest Comedies

Relative Theatrics presents THE WASPS by Aristophanes, March 4, 2021 at 7pm MST, via Zoom. This Classic Greek play is adapted by Dr. Laura De Lozier, directed by Noelia Berkes, and features original music composition by Noelia Berkes with musical direction by Francesca Mintowt-Czyz and musical arrangement by Tami Lippstreu.The all-star cast for THE WASPS features Brik Berkes, Madison Blanchard, Chastity Brown, Sheree V. Campbell, Caro Coltman, Lem Grady, Greta Lambert, Caroline McBurney, and Cheri Vanden Heuvel, with virtual stage management by Sarah Kralovec.

THE WASPS is a Classic Greek comedy by Aristophanes, and is considered by some to be one of the world’s great comedies. It pokes satirical fun at the Athenian demagogue Cleon and his power-base, the law courts, in a story about the old juror Philocleon who is addicted to his jury work and his child Bdelycleon’s ill-fated attempts to reform him. Along with featuring original music, The Relative Theatrics production is gender-bent with women playing the title roles, examining how we treat older people in our society, and the tension between the old and the new.

Following the reading, a Post-Show Discussion will be facilitated by Dr. Laura De Lozier. Dr. Laura De Lozier is the Classics Section Coordinator in the Department of Modern & Classical Languages at the University of Wyoming where she teaches Latin as well as Classics courses about Greek and Roman cultures.

Tickets: Free!

Relative Theatrics strives to present thought-provoking theatre that examines the joining qualities of the human race. We believe that theatre is a forum with the power to illuminate the binding qualities of humanity and reinforce the ideals that as a society we have values that pose as common ground and emotions that relate us to one another. Taking artistic risk, we provide a community gathering place where thoughts can be exchanged about society, culture, and the power of creativity.

Register for THE WASPS

Supported in part by an award from the College of Arts & Sciences at the University of Wyoming, and from the Wyoming Arts Council through funding from the National Endowment for the Arts and by Wyoming Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities. In partnership with Western Nebraska Community College and the UW Classics program.

Meet the All-Star Cast of THE WASPS!
(Appearing in alphabetical order)

Brik Berkes (Xanthias)
Brik is so excited to be working again with Relative Theatrics. Past RT credits include THE (curious case of the) WATSON INTELLIGENCE, along with many of the Drunk Shakespeare readings this past year. Though he is currently based in NYC, he has spent several seasons performing at The Alabama Shakespeare Festival. Additionally, he spent years in Atlanta performing at such theatres as The Alliance, Theatrical Outfit, The Aurora Theatre, among many others. TV/Film credits include KILL THE MESSENGER, GOOD EATS, and THE FOOD THAT BUILT AMERICA (airing this spring). He would like to thank Anne for making this opportunity possible as well as her partner in crime, Noelia, for being his partner in life.

Maddie Blanchard (Ensemble) (she/her)
Maddie is thrilled for her first project with Relative Theatrics! Her most recent credits include A Christmas Carol (Fan/Martha Cratchit) with Struts & Frets Theatre Company, 29 (Sandra), and Asking Strangers About the Meaning of Life (Genius) both with the University of Wyoming - where she is currently pursuing a BFA in Musical Theatre.

Chastity Brown (Ensemble)
Chastity Brown is a first year theatre student at WNCC. She has been in over 10 productions such as, Lady MacBeth in Macbeth (dir. by Francesca Mintowt-Czyz). She started acting in 2008 in the panhandle of Nebraska and continues to act throughout her college education.

Sheree V Campbell (Chorus/Boy)
SHEREE V CAMPBELL @DontForgetTheV is a multidisciplinary artist, actor, stage manager, director, mover, singer and song-writer-of-many-things. Performance: Trojan Women (Cassandra-Great Jones Rep, La MaMa ETC), The Vagina Monologues (Broadway Comedy Club-YouTube), Life Tutorials (from my passive-aggressive roommate) (Film Repertory Group-YouTube), Odyssey Project (Magis Theatre), Living Radio (Co-Op Theatre East, Kraine Theatre), Getting Thru It (Great Jones Rep, La MaMa ETC) and Out of My Skin (SLATensemble-PIT Loft), where she also composed, performed and directed original music. SM: Miracle in Rwanda (Theatre Row, Apollo Theater, United Nations), Golden: Black Boy Joy Conceptualized (Movement Coach, Performer-House of Mark West), the mark project (Magis Theatre), Crushed (WOW Café). Sheree V is founder and creator of @FluxFlowGrow and member of Magis Theatre Company, Co-Op Theatre East, Great Jones Repertory Company of La MaMa ETC, Shot4Shot and The Armory Comedy’s Improv Team (Zoom). Education: LIU Post- MA Theatre, BS Adolescence Education- English

Caro Coltman (Leader of the Chorus)
Caro Coltman is in Act III of her professional working life. Originally an actor based out of Toronto, Caro worked in regional theatre across eastern Canada, playing title roles in works ranging from Antigone (Stratford Festival) to Rita in Educating Rita (Magnus Theatre). Towards the end of Act I, Caro moved into directing; a directing bursary led to a stint in New York with New York Theatre Workshop and to assistant directing a Caryl Churchill play at the Perry Street Theatre and the premiere of Our Country’s Good at The Nederlander on Broadway. Until recently, Caro taught high school English and dramatic arts full-time. Teaching highlights included a two-year stint as AP English teacher at the American School of Islamabad, Pakistan and a twenty year sojourn as the Head of Arts at an Ottawa school. Since retiring, Caro has appeared in an improv piece, Fake News, two short films, and an online workshop adaptation of the novel Away. Caro is delighted to return to Relative Theatrics, previously appearing in Bound by Stardust. Caro now lives in Stratford, Ontario with her husband, Peter, and a wily terrier-mix named Nellie.

Lem Grady (Sosias, others)
Lemuel Grady began acting at Grand Island Senior High in 2015. He has since been in over 10 productions with his most recent being Dmitry in Night Witches (Dir. Francesca Mintowt-Czyz). Other notable roles he has done were Marcus Lycus in A Funny Thing Happened on The Way to The Forum and Macbeth in Macbeth, both of which were directed by Francesca Mintowt-Czyz at Western Nebraska Community College. Lemuel is projected to get his bachelors in Performing Arts in the year 2023 after completing his AFA at WNCC in Scottsbluff, Nebraska.

Greta Lambert (Philocleon)
Greta Lambert currently serves The Cloverdale Playhouse as Managing Director. This follows 35 years at Alabama Shakespeare Festival, where she played many roles including Ivy Rowe in Fair and Tender Ladies, Emily is Alabama Story, Blanche Dubois in A Streetcar Named Desire, Shirley in Shirley Valentine, to name a few. She also tackled a few of Shakespeare’s women as well: Lady Macbeth, Cleopatra, Rosalind, Hermione, Gertrude, and Titania. Most recently, Greta adapted and performed A Christmas Carol. She has worn many hats in the theatre – teaching artist, Education Director, Director of ASF Fellowship Company, mentor and Associate Artistic Director. She adapted and directed tours of Shakespeare as well as mainstage productions such as Twelfth Night, Relative Values, Proof, and four children’s productions. She has an MFA from the University of Florida.

Carolyn McBurney (Chorus)
Carolyn is pleased to join Relative Theatrics for this production of WASPS and is thrilled to be working on her fourth collaboration with Francesca Mintowt-Czyz! A huge proponent of new works, she has been involved at the ground level of several theatre companies around the country and relishes every opportunity to nurture new artists, new ideas and new adventures. Acting has always been Carolyn’s passion, but she also loves directing and hopes to gain a foothold into playwriting in the not-too-distant future! She lives with her husband in Torrington, WY. When not working on a show, Carolyn enjoys reading, Zooming with her kid and going on walks with her dog, Olive.

Cheri Vanden Heuvel (Bdelycleon)
Cheri won Best Actress in the L.A. Stage Raw Awards for her role as Reda in I Go Somewhere Else at Playwrights Arena L.A. Cheri is also an alumnus of The Second City-Detroit Mainstage where she taught, wrote, and performed sketch comedy. Her Los Angeles credits include Alice in Low Hanging Fruit at the Zephyr Theater and Sophie in Flyin’ West at International City Theatre. Cheri’s classical credits include the Alabama Shakespeare Festival; King Lear, Around the World in 80 Days, To Kill A Mockingbird, Macbeth, Merry Wives of Windsor and The Trojan Women. Cheri has been seen at 16th St. Theatre in Chicago in Fires in the Mirror, Idaho Shakespeare Festival as Titania in A Midsummer’s Night Dream and Adriana in The Comedy of Errors. Cheri has her B.F.A. from The University of Detroit and M.F.A. from The University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Register for THE WASPS

Social Justice Action item: listen to the Modern West podcast episode called Both/Neither.

2/4/2021

Where to listen: via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, on the Modern West website, or by following this link.

Time needed: 20 minutes

What it's about: The U.S. government only allows Native Americans to register with one tribe. But what happens when two tribes share one reservation for over a century? Reporter Taylar Stagnar talks with two women who grapple with how that affected their identity growing up.

Discussion questions:

What did you know about Native languages and culture before listening to this episode? What did you learn?
We learn in the episode that the US Government never made good on a promise to the Arapho people. Can you think of other examples where the government has broken promises to Native people?
The women interviewed say they feel pulled by two different cultures since they are part of two tribes but can only claim one. How do you feel about this? Do you think they should be allowed to claim more than one tribe? Why or why not?
Sarah claims that through the Arapaho language, she is able to communicate with birds. If you watch the video, what do you make of this? What can this tell us about Native peoples' relationship with the natural world?

Social Justice Action Item: read the article Reflections on a Terrible Year and Hope for 2021 Redemption by John Casey.

1/5/2021

Where to read: via Advocate.com, or by following this link.
Time needed: 10 minutes.
What it's about: Actor John Casey reflects on the last year from an LGBTQIA perspective, and looks forward to what's to come this year.

Discussion questions:

Casey compares Covid-19 to the AIDS crisis in the 80's, with the term 'testing positive' being a death sentence then, and a potentially lethal phrase now. Do you see any other comparisons between the two epidemics? How are they they same, and how are they different?
The article asserts that how this year plays out will determine whether 2020 actually 'beat us' or not. What are your hopes for the year on a personal, community, and national level? How will you determine whether 2020 'beat you'?
What lessons do you hope we learned from 2020 from an equality perspective?
Casey ends with the quote 'A bad performance haunts the audience like a nightmare for days and days, and the memory of it is only erased by a good performance.' Do you think we have the capacity to change 2021 into a 'good performance'? Why or why not?

Relative Theatrics’ Presents a Fun and Free Virtual Reading of: STAR WARS: A CHRISTMAS CAROL PARODY, December 17, 7pm, Facebook Live

12/9/2020

Join Relative Theatrics for a fun and free virtual reading of Star Wars: A Christmas Carol Parody! The real story of "A Christmas Carol'' happened a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. A parody of the timeless holiday classic told with the characters from the universe you know and love. “May the Force be with you, everyone!”

This Facebook Live production is directed by Christopher Lemieux and features: John Henry Carter, Isa Jackowich, Kayla Eisenberg, James Bowen, Parke Fech, Justen Glover, Chris Lemieux, Jared Mohr-leiva, Alex Soto, Noelia Berkes, Brik Berkes, Michael Quattrone, and Alice Sherman.

The program can be viewed live on Relative Theatrics’ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/RelativeTheatrics

Although the programming is free, Relative Theatrics encourages making a donation at relativetheatrics.com/support.

Relative Theatrics strives to present thought-provoking theatre that examines the joining qualities of the human race. We believe that theatre is a forum with the power to illuminate the binding qualities of humanity and reinforce the ideals that as a society we have values that pose as common ground and emotions that relate us to one another. Taking artistic risk, we provide a community gathering place where thoughts can be exchanged about society, culture, and the power of creativity.

All 2020/21 Programming by Relative Theatrics is supported in part by grants from the Wyoming Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts, Wyoming Humanities, and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

STAR WARS: A CHRISTMAS CAROL PARODY - Fact Sheet

CAST
P30 - John Henry Carter
R’doo-B’boo/Rey - Isa Jackowich
Paddy-Mae - Kayla Eisenberg
Zota - James Bowen
Dark Lord Nader - Parke Fech
Star-Trooper Bob/T0P3R - Justen Glover
Emperor / Blabba the Blob / Lewie - Chris Lemieux
Old Man Ken / Kenenobi - Jared Mohr-leiva
Larkin / JJ-8BRAMS - Alex Soto
Princess Two Buns - Noelia Berkes
Franz Polo / Doda Flett / Pilot Joe - Brik Berkes
Danakin / Duke / Cry-Baby Ren - Michael Quattrone
Kiwi-Jon-Ginn / Captain Fanta - Alice Sherman

PRODUCTION TEAM
Director: Christopher Lemieux
Sound Effects & Stage Directions - Kendall Yoder

LOCATION
https://www.facebook.com/RelativeTheatrics

TICKET PRICES
Free
Donations can be made at RelativeTheatrics.com/support