Department of Performing Arts

In addition to the core productions that make up the 2011-12 Georgetown University Theater and Performance Studies Program’s Nature's Mirror season, there are numerous interdisciplinary collaborations, guest residencies, professional partnerships and student-produced theater throughout the year.
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ARENA STAGE-GEORGETOWN PARTNERSHIP

Now in its sixth year, our unique partnership with Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater highlights our shared commitment to the development of new work, to community engagement, and to deepening dialogue on vital issues in the field through co-productions, festivals, frequent collaborations on developmental workshops and readings, national convenings, residencies, and more. Work developed through the partnership has led to productions such as Moisés Kaufman’s 33 Variations on Broadway. Partnership events in the coming year will include a return residency by playwright Heather Raffo and much more. 

The Arena Stage-Georgetown partnership is made possible thanks to the generosity of Andrew R. Ammerman and the family of H. Max and Josephine F. Ammerman.

READING OF A LIBRETTO
by Heather Raffo
From a new Chamber Opera Commissioned by Vancouver City Opera
Presented by Georgetown University and Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater

This libretto-in-progress by Heather Raffo excavates the human and social effects of the War in Iraq. Based on the life of Christian Ellis, infused with Raffo’s gift for transforming interviews into art, and attuned to traumas experienced by US Marines as well as Iraqis, Raffo’s development with DC actors will culminate in a public reading of the working libretto prior to the Annenberg/Explore Project’s Musical Workshop, produced by Vancouver City Opera in September 2011. Raffo will explore this powerful script-in-development with faculty, student, alumni and guest artists in the Davis Center. Interdisciplinary Q&A with the audience to follow the reading. HEATHER RAFFO is best-known for her solo performance piece 9 Parts of Desire, based on Iraqi women’s lives and hailed by The New Yorker as “art that can remake the world,” which toured nationally and internationally. This event is part of the Arena Stage-Georgetown partnership.

Monday, August 29 at 6 p.m.
DAVIS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, GONDA THEATRE
FREE

Page-to-Stage Festival at the Kennedy Center
TREE HOUSE
Written by Joshua Goode (COL ‘10)
Directed by Joanna Ruf (COL ‘09)
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH WELDERS THEATRE (FOUNDED BY GU THEATER AND PERFORMANCE STUDIES ALUMNI)

A husband and wife steeped in domestic turmoil are shocked to find a budding tree growing between the floorboards in the middle of their bedroom. The Tree grows with reckless abandon and forces the couple to confront the demons of their relationship. Loosely inspired by the writings of philosopher Judith Thompson, Tree House employs magical realism to explore the many questions and emotions surrounding loyalty, trust, and choice. Featuring a cast and creative team of GU alumni, students, and faculty.

Monday, September 5 at 4 p.m.
JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, REHEARSAL ROOM 1
FREE
View more details about the Page-to-Stage Festival 2011.

Ping Chong & Company
CRY FOR PEACE: VOICES FROM THE CONGO

Co-written by acclaimed theater artist Ping Chong and renowned Syracuse playwright Kyle Bass, this riveting new piece of documentary theater is based on interviews with refugees from the ongoing wars in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, now living in Syracuse, NY. There are approximately 200 Congolese in Syracuse, representing 12 different tribes with a violent past hanging between them – victims and perpetrators living in close proximity. Although they’ve escaped the conflict in their homeland, tensions and mistrust remain. Based on their first-hand experiences of fleeing war and their efforts to build community and reconciliation in their adopted community, this work is part of Undesirable Elements, Ping Chong & Company’s ongoing series of more than 40 community-specific oral history theater works. The work Cry for Peace and its continued development are commissioned by Syracuse University.

Monday, September 19
5:30-7:00 p.m. Performance
7:00-7:45 p.m. Lobby reception with food
7:45-8:45 p.m. Panel discussion
DAVIS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, GONDA THEATRE
FREE, BUT TICKETED
Register at http://invite.syr.edu/cryforpeace/

GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY THEATER & PERFORMANCE STUDIES PROGRAM

THE BI(G) LIFE: Two Solo Performances
Ambiguous Infatuation

Theater & Performance Studies Thesis Projects
Written & Performed by Jeremy Guyton (COL ‘12)
and Allie Villarreal (COL ‘12)
Advised by Professors Natsu Onoda Power and
Maya E. Roth, Thesis Advisers

Riffing on memoir, savvy in their cultural critique, and laced with humor, these two thirty-minute original solo thesis performances together comprise THE BI(G) LIFE. What does it mean to be standing “in the middle”? Using performance to debunk myths of the bisexual lifestyle, Jeremy Guyton’s solo work explores unique intersections of race, gender and sexuality while questioning the sustainability of bisexual lifestyles in a society focused on monogamous heterosexuality. Allie Villarreal’s solo work, in turn, invites the audience to step into the very big shoes of an array of engaging characters all sharing the common experience of living with fat--and taking it in stride. 

Friday, February 3 at 8 p.m.
Saturday, February 4 at 8 p.m.
Sunday, February 5 at 2 p.m.
DAVIS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, DEVINE STUDIO THEATRE
$5 GENERAL