MAY/JUNE 2008
Beginning in early May 2008, 651 ARTS will present a series of concerts, performances, symposia, workshops and film screenings examining the influence that the Mississippi Delta has had on culture throughout the United States. The emphasis of the project will be an examination of the roots of Delta Blues in West African traditional music as well as how the Delta Blues has influenced and continues to influence contemporary blues, gospel, rock and jazz. This project will benefit greater New York area audiences, musicians and students, as well as the musicians of the Mississippi Delta. Because of 651’s commitment to reflecting contemporary culture of the Diaspora, we have also included three commissioned dance/theater works related to or by artists from the Delta, which will premiere during our season. 651’s Delta Heritage Project is born out of the desire to preserve a very particular and special part of American culture, as well as to illuminate its important influences. Details on upcoming shows coming soon!
February 27th, 2008
651 ARTS and Ping Chong & Company
seek NYC participants for new interview-based theater production
Ping Chong & Company, in collaboration with 651 ARTS, is seeking participants for a theatrical production exploring the histories of people living in New York City whose roots lie in the Mississippi Delta. Directors Ping Chong and Talvin Wilks are seeking 5 men and women, of various ages and backgrounds who have migrated from the Delta, or whose family histories include a migration from the Delta to another part of the United States. This production is being produced as part of a larger Mississippi Delta Heritage project which is exploring the historical and cultural impact of the Delta on the rest of the United States. We are looking for people over 18 years of age, with schedules that will accommodate approximately three to four weeks of rehearsal and two days of performance (approximately 12-15 hours per week). No previous performance experience is required. No memorization is required. All participants will be paid.
The production will be developed, rehearsed and performed in
New York City . Potential candidates will be selected through an interview process. Selected participants will perform from a script based on their interviews. All performers will be telling their own stories and participating in the stories of other participants. Participation will require a multi-week commitment (primarily evenings) in
New York in April and May 2008. Evening rehearsals will take place during April and May, approximately 3 weeks total, 12-15 hours per week. Participants must be available for an evening performance in
Brooklyn on May 28th, and day and evening performances on May 29th.
The deadline for inquiries is March 15th.
This production is part of Ping Chong’s ongoing series of oral-history theater works known as the Undesirable Elements project, exploring issues of race, culture, identity, and “otherness” in America. Each production is made in a specific community, with local participants testifying to their real lives and experiences. Their stories are interwoven into a script, which is performed by the participants themselves, not actors. Since 1992, Ping Chong & Company has made over 30 works in this series, in communities around the
United States and abroad. The series is designed to help communities confront and overcome cultural insularity by encouraging dialogue and giving voice to individuals whose stories frequently go unheard. Ping Chong is a world-renowned theater director, choreographer, and visual installation artist. He founded Ping Chong & Company in 1975, which has since created over 50 productions that have been presented at major venues around the world. Talvin Wilks is an award-winning director and dramaturg. He has collaborated with Ping Chong on seven Undesirable Elements productions. For more background, please visit www.undesirableelements.org.
FOR INQUIRIES, OR TO REQUEST APPLICATION MATERIALS (DEADLINE MARCH 15, 2008) : email deltaheritage@651arts.org, or call (718) 230 - 2527.
February 27th, 2008
In October 2007, 651 Executive Director, Georgiana Pickett, and Managing Director, Anna Glass, traveled to Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania and met with artists of all disciplines. Check out the slideshow below for a glimpse of some of the people and places they met.
February 27th, 2008
