The Rainbow of Desire: Workshop December 12th, 2009

This is a notice about a past event. For information on upcoming events, click here.

The Rainbow of Desire

A Theatre of the Oppressed workshop
facilitated by Jo KentKatz and Morgan Andrews
Saturday, Dec 12th, 2009 • 11am-4pm
at Studio 34 Yoga | Healing | Arts
4522 Baltimore Avenue, West Philadelphia
Suggested tuition $15-$35, sliding scale
—no one turned away for lack of funds.
Pre-register by calling 215-730-0982, or email tophilly@gmail.com

THEATRE OF THE OPPRESSED is used by groups of people to dismantle dynamics of oppression in our world. Unlike other dramatic forms that divide spectator from actor, everyone in Theater of the Oppressed is a "spect-actor" in workshops that serve as rehearsals for the performance of everyday life.

THE RAINBOW OF DESIRE is a genre of Theatre of the Oppressed techniques that take apart our interactions with others and put them back together in different ways. In daily life, these interactions can involve friends, family, lovers or others that we encounter in the places where we work, teach, learn or live; In the workshop, participants play the roles of these characters, dealing with each other in different and creative ways. This transformative 5-hour workshop will begin with games and exercises that build up to putting difficult relationship moments onstage and viewing them through a new lens. With this information the group will work to unearth hidden roots of oppression and break the frustrating cycles that we fall into. No prior theatre experience is required. To pre-register for this workshop, please call 215-730-0982, or email tophilly@gmail.com

Gentrification Forum, Part 2: November 14th

This is a notice about a past event. For information on upcoming events, click here.

IMAGE THEATRE ON GENTRIFICATION
A workshop facilitated by Esteban Kelly and Morgan Andrews
WHEN: Saturday Nov 14, 2009 • 11am-4pm
WHERE: Studio 34 Yoga | Healing | Arts
4522 Baltimore Avenue, West Philadelphia
TUITION: Suggested $15-$35, sliding scale ($10 for co-op members). No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
PRE-REGISTER by calling 215-730-0982, or email tophilly@gmail.com


IMAGE THEATRE is a branch of Theatre of the Oppressed rooted in the language of the human body. By sharpening our ability to "speak" this language, we can collectively communicate things that are too often lost in the language of words alone. Image Theatre workshops use a trust-building group process to tackle tough issues and challenge ourselves while having fun.

IMAGE THEATRE ON GENTRIFICATION will use popular education tools and our first-hand experiences to create pictures, movement, sound and dialogue about gentrification, culminating in action steps that we can take on as a community to move forward without trampling others underfoot. To participate, please pre-register by calling 215-730-0982, or email tophilly@gmail.com. The workshop will start promptly at 11am. Please wear comfortable clothes and bring a lunch.

*This event is co-sponsored by Mariposa Food Co-op's Food Justice and Anti-Racism Working Group. Pre-registration is requested. Call 215-730-0982 or email tophilly@gmail.com to reserve a spot.


**Part 1 of this Gentrification Forum was a screening of Flag Wars, a film documenting what happened when an influx of European-American gay couples began moving into in a mostly African-American neighborhood in Columbus, Ohio. Though we will be touching on some of the issues brought up in Flag Wars, one need not have seen the film to participate in the Image Theatre workshop.

Gentrification: Film Screening and Workshop

This is a notice about a past event. For information on upcoming events, click here.

2 Events • 2 Dates • 2 Spaces












Philadelphia Theatre of the Oppressed and Mariposa Food Co-op present a two-part event about changes in our neighborhoods. The first event is a film screening, the second a Theatre of the Oppressed workshop. These events are open to the public—come to one or both. Pre-registration for the workshop is required.

PART 1: FLAG WARS
Free documentary screening and discussion

Wednesday, November 11th, 7pm
The Rotunda, 4014 Walnut Street, Philadelphia

Shot over a four-year period, Linda Goode Bryant and Laura Poitras’ Flag Wars is a poignant and very personal look at a community in Columbus, Ohio, undergoing gentrification. What happens when an influx of gay white homebuyers move into a working-class black neighborhood? As the new residents restore the beautiful but run-down homes, black homeowners must fight to hold onto their community and heritage. The inevitable clashes expose prejudice and self-interest on both sides, as well as the common dream to have a home to call one's own. Winner of the Jury Award at the South by Southwest Film Festival, Flag Wars is a candid, unvarnished portrait of privilege, poverty and local politics taking place across America.

This screening of Flag Wars will be followed by an open discussion facilitated by Mariposa Food Co-op's Food Justice and Anti-Racism Committee. This event is free and open to the public.

PART 2: IMAGE THEATER ON GENTRIFICATION
A workshop facilitated by Esteban Kelly and Morgan Andrews
Saturday, November 14th, 11am-4pm
Studio 34 Yoga | Healing | Arts
4522 Baltimore Avenue, West Philadelphia
Suggested tuition: $15-$35, sliding scale ($10 for Mariposa members). No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
**Pre-register by calling 215-730-0982, or email tophilly@gmail.com


IMAGE THEATRE is a branch of Theatre of the Oppressed rooted in the language of the human body. By sharpening our ability to "speak" this language, we can collectively communicate things that are too often lost in the language of words alone. Image Theatre workshops use a trust-building group process to tackle tough issues and challenge ourselves while having fun.

IMAGE THEATRE ON GENTRIFICATION will use themes from Flag Wars and our first-hand experiences to build movement, sound and dialogue about gentrification, culminating in action steps that we can take on as a community to move forward without trampling others underfoot. To participate, please pre-register by calling 215-730-0982, or email tophilly@gmail.com. The workshop will start promptly at 11am. Please wear comfortable clothes and bring a lunch.


Pre-registration for this workshop was required. Call 215-730-0982 or email tophilly@gmail.com for info.

Upcoming Monthly Workshop Series at Studio 34

This is a notice about past events. For information on upcoming events, click here.


Philadelphia Theatre of the Oppressed offered three Saturday workshops in the fall of 2009. Using the language of theatre, each of these sessions focused on a particular technique or theme aimed at dismantling dynamics of oppression in our world, our communities, and our selves. As a series, each workshop built on the skills used in the one before it, but every workshop also stood on its own. People came to one, two or all three regardless of prior theatre experience. The schedule was:

• October 24th, 2009: Games for Actors and Non-Actors, 11am-2pm
• November 14th, 2009: Image Theatre on Gentrification, 11am-4pm
• December 12th, 2009: The Rainbow of Desire, 11am-4pm

Location: Studio 34 Yoga | Healing | Arts
4522 Baltimore Avenue, West Philadelphia
Tuition: Suggested $5-$35 per session, sliding scale donation
(No one turned away for lack of funds. Work-trade also available.)
Pre-register: Call 215-730-0982, or email tophilly[at]gmail[dot]com
Please bring: Comfortable clothes and a bag lunch

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS:

Games for Actors and Non-Actors
Facilitated by Jess Levy, Jo Kent+Katz and Morgan Andrews
Saturday, October 24th, NEW TIMES: 11am-2pm
Studio 34 Yoga | Healing | Arts
4522 Baltimore Avenue, West Philadelphia
NEW TUITION: $5-$15, sliding scale
Pre-register by calling 215-730-0982, or email tophilly[at]gmail[dot]com
GAMES FOR ACTORS & NON-ACTORS are the ever-growing collection of theatrical games that make up the foundation of Theatre of the Oppressed. These games loosen the boundaries of our senses and work to get us thinking and moving outside of our usual routines. The games are a useful tool for performers, as well as teachers, organizers, activists and anyone who works with groups. In this 3-hour workshop we will play more than 20 of these games and come up with strategies on how they can be utilized in the work that we do.
Due to the rescheduling of Spiral Q Puppet Theater's annual PEOPLEHOOD Parade and Pageant, this workshop has been packed into a three-hour session. Join us at 11am for Games, then at 2pm for a walk down to Clark Park to see the Parade arrive and the Pageant performance!

Image Theatre on Gentrification
(Co-presented by Mariposa Food Co-op**)
Facilitated by Esteban Kelly and Morgan Andrews
Saturday, November 14th, 11am-4pm
Studio 34 Yoga | Healing | Arts
4522 Baltimore Avenue, West Philadelphia
Tuition $15-$35, sliding scale ($10 for Mariposa members)
Pre-register by calling 215-730-0982, or email tophilly[at]gmail[dot]com
IMAGE THEATRE is a branch of Theatre of the Oppressed rooted in the language of the human body. By sharpening our ability to "speak" this language, we can collectively communicate things that are too often lost in the language of words alone. This 5-hour workshop will use a group process to build movement, sound and dialogue about gentrification, culminating in action steps on what we can take on as a community to move forward without trampling others underfoot.
**This event is cosponsored by Mariposa Food Co-op's Food Justice and Anti-Racism working group. The workshop is a follow-up to the screening of the film Flag Wars on November 11th at the Rotunda, 4014 Walnut Street, West Philadelphia. Admission to the film is free. The workshop is open to all.

Facilitated by Jo Kent+Katz and Morgan Andrews
Saturday, December 12th, 11am-4pm
Studio 34 Yoga | Healing | Arts
4522 Baltimore Avenue, West Philadelphia
Tuition $15-$35, sliding scale
Pre-register by calling 215-730-0982, or email tophilly[at]gmail[dot]com


THE RAINBOW OF DESIRE is a family of Theatre of the Oppressed techniques aimed at disarming our most intimate oppressors: those inside our own heads. In this transformative 5-hour workshop, we will take some of these oppressors out of our heads and put them onstage where the whole group can tackle them together.


If you have questions or you'd like to pre-register for any future  workshops, please call 215-730-0982, or email tophilly[at]gmail[dot]com

Augusto Boal, 1931–2009


Augusto Boal, founder of Theatre of the Oppressed, passed away in his home city of Rio de Janeiro on May 1st, 2009. He had been ill for quite some time yet continued to write books and lead workshops that carried on the grand experiment of Theatre of the Oppressed. He was always playing and constantly came up with new ideas that were full of life and energy. His theories on art and theatre danced with a sharp social and political critique that sprang into action via his work as a director, an author, a politician and a person. Now this work is, as was meant to be, in the hands of others to continue.

Our friends from the Theatre of the Oppressed Laboratory (TOPLAB) in New York sent along the following short essay, read by Augusto Boal as the featured presenter at the United Nations' annual World Theater Day in Geneva, Switzerland a few months before his death. On May 26th, 2009 TOPLAB also celebrated the life of Augusto Boal with an evening of Forum Theatre led by his son, Julian Boal, at Riverside Church in West Harlem.
World Theater Day Message
by Augusto Boal, March 27th, 2009

All human societies are "spectacular" in their daily life and produce "spectacles" at special moments. They are "spectacular" as a form of social organization and produce "spectacles" like the one you have come to see.

Even if one is unaware of it, human relationships are structured in a theatrical way. The use of space, body language, choice of words and voice modulation, the confrontation of ideas and passions, everything that we demonstrate on the stage, we live in our lives. We are theater!

Weddings and funerals are "spectacles", but so, also, are daily rituals so familiar that we are not conscious of this. Occasions of pomp and circumstance, but also the morning coffee, the exchanged good-mornings, timid love and storms of passion, a senate session or a diplomatic meeting --all is theater.

One of the main functions of our art is to make people sensitive to the "spectacles" of daily life in which the actors are their own spectators, performances in which the stage and the stalls coincide. We are all artists. By doing theater, we learn to see what is obvious but what we usually can't see because we are only used to looking at it. What is familiar to us becomes unseen: doing theater throws light on the stage of daily life.

Last September, we were surprised by a theatrical revelation: we, who thought that we were living in a safe world, despite wars, genocide, slaughter and torture which certainly exist, but far from us in remote and wild places. We, who were living in security with our money invested in some respectable bank or in some honest trader's hands in the stock exchange were told that this money did not exist, that it was virtual, a fictitious invention by some economists who were not fictitious at all and neither reliable nor respectable. Everything was just bad theater, a dark plot in which a few people won a lot and many people lost all. Some politicians from rich countries held secret meetings in which they found some magic solutions. And we, the victims of their decisions, have remained spectators in the last row of the balcony.

Twenty years ago, I staged Racine's Phèdre in Rio de Janeiro. The stage setting was poor: cow hides on the ground surrounded by bamboo stalks. Before each presentation, I used to say to my actors: "The fiction we created day by day is over. When you cross those stalks of bamboo, none of you will have the right to lie. Theater is the Hidden Truth".

When we look beyond appearances, we see oppressors and oppressed people, in all societies, ethnic groups, genders, social classes and casts; we see an unfair and cruel world. We have to create another world because we know it is possible. But it is up to us to build this other world with our hands and by acting on the stage and in our own life.

Participate in the "spectacle" which is about to begin and once you are back home, with your friends act your own plays and look at what you were never able to see: that which is obvious. Theater is not just an event; it is a way of life!

We are all actors: being a citizen is not living in society, it is changing it.
There is a space to leave your condolences online at www.theatreoftheoppresed.org. You can take a look at Esteban Kelly's blog post about Augusto Boal at Black Maps, and also watch Democracy Now's interview with Augusto Boal:

Cop in the Head Workshop: May 2nd

This is a notice about a past event. For information on upcoming events, click here.

Philadelphia Theatre of the Oppressed presents
COP IN THE HEAD: A One-Day Workshop
facilitated by Kate Wand and Morgan Andrews
Saturday May 2nd, 2009 • 10am to 4pm
at Studio 34 • 4522 Baltimore Ave, Philadelphia
Suggested tuition: $15-$30.
No one turned away for lack of funds.



THEATRE OF THE OPPRESSED is used by groups of people to address dynamics of oppression in our world. Counter to traditional dramatic forms where there is a division between spectator and actor, everyone in Theater of the Oppressed is a "spect-actor" in workshops that serve as rehearsals for the performance of everyday life.

COP IN THE HEAD is a Theatre of the Oppressed technique that deals with internalized oppression. Whenever we stop ourselves from doing what want to do or saying what we need to say, there may be discouraging voices and experiences from our past that hinder our actions. In this workshop, we’ll take these “cops” out of our heads and deal with them one by one, with the aim of disarming them altogether. No prior theatre experience required.

FOR INFO AND TO PRE-REGISTER please call 215-730-0982 or send an email totophilly[at]gmail[dot]com



Take a look at Esteban Kelly's blog post about this workshop and about Theatre of the Oppressed founder Augusto Boal, at Black Maps.