August Workshop and September Performance about Migration

Saturday August 5, 2017

BORDERLANDS

Boundaries & Intersections

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A one-day workshop

facilitated by Paloma Irizarry 

and Hariprasad Kowtha

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Studio 34 • 4522 Baltimore Ave

* Proceeds from this workshop support free Forum Theatre performances for the Philly Fringe. Shows are on September 8 and 15—More details soon!

Based on Gloria Anzaldzúa's seminal work, Borderland/La Frontera: The New Mestiza, Philadelphia Theatre of the Oppressed is exploring the borderlands between work, home, languages, nation-states, and neighborhoods. Using the tools of Image Theatre—movement and stillness, acting and witnessing, observing and storytelling—participants will dive deeply into a study on personal boundaries and the intersections that lie in between.

Join T.O. Philly in a physical and interactive practice as we play games and create scenes designed to confront where each of us end—and where we begin.

Borderlands, Boundaries & Intersections ran for a full day on Saturday, August 4th, 2017. Those interested in booking a similar workshop can email "tophilly@gmail.com" or call 267-282-1057 to leave us a message.

About the Facilitators:

Paloma Irizarry is a Philly-based theatre artist whose work invites audiences to explore the elements of her identity that confound her the most. Recent creations include I See You See Me, a performance looking at the intersections and contradictions between objectification and sexual empowerment, and an interactive installation for One Way Red with the Medium Theatre Company. Her work for T.O. Philly comprises facilitation and curriculum design for Unpacking Race as well as the co-creation of Borderlands. Paloma will also co-direct our upcoming Forum Theatre project about migration for the Philly Fringe. 

Hariprasad Kowtha has dedicated his life to performance as a vector of identity and resistance. He sang bhajans with the South Asian community in Phoenix, Arizona, practiced Carnatic vocals and performed Bharathanatyam. He began practicing large and small group facilitation skills in early high school through the Unitown/Anytown camp program. He currently teaches yoga, meditation and movement at the Ahimsa House and at the Global Leadership Academy Charter School. He joined T.O. Philly for Image Theatre in 2014 and continued facilitating the Unpacking Race series in 2016.

Monthly Summer Workshops on Saturdays at Studio 34

SUMMER 2017: T.O. Philly hosts workshops one Saturday a month in West Philadelphia. Each session kicks off the morning with a slew of group games that build skills toward the deeper techniques in the afternoon. Proceeds from these workshops will go support our Forum Theatre project on immigration premiering this fall. 

DATES: June 24 • July 15 • August 5

TIMES: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
(includes a one-hour lunch break)

PLACE: Studio 34 • 4522 Baltimore Ave
(the studio is air conditioned)

SIGN UP for one, two, or all three workshops 
TUITION: $15–$45 sliding scale per session
(No one ever turned away for lack of funds.
Worktrade and scholarships available.)
EMAIL "tophilly@gmail.com" to register
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Saturday June 24, 2017 • 10AM–4PM 

RIFTS: A Workshop About
What Divides Us and What Unites Us

Led by Morgan FitzPatrick Andrews

RIFTS is a workshop about social and political differences that cause schisms between individuals and groups. Whether it's ongoing dynamics within a relationship, heated family talk around the dinner table, clashing opinions at work or school, or polarized viewpoints that divide a nation, the roots of these rifts have much in common. In this workshop we'll physicalize our experiences by using the language of theatre to dig up these roots in order to build the world we want.
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Saturday July 15, 2017 • 10AM–4PM 
How Do We Facilitate and Difficultate
A training with Morgan FitzPatrick Andrews

Teachers, trainers, facilitators, organizers and educators of every sort are invited to come to this action-oriented think-tank with three key components: 1. Sharing and playing icebreakers and group games and strategizing how we can use them in what we do. 2. Reenact challenging situations that arise in our work, then use techniques from Theatre of the Oppressed to devise ways to surmount those challenges. 3. Delve into design and flow of whatever we do, be it a workshop, event, ongoing class, or direct action. You will leave this training with useful tools to make group work more productive and fun, as well as handy strategies for turning problems into solutions. 

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Saturday August 5, 2017 • 10AM–4PM
BORDERLANDS: Boundaries & Migrations

Led by Paloma Irizarry and Hariprasad Kowtha

Based on Gloria Anzaldzúa's seminal work, Borderland/La Frontera: The New Mestiza, T.O. Philly explores the borderlands between nation-states, languages, neighborhoods, work and home. Using the tools of Image Theatre—movement and stillness, acting and witnessing, observing and storytelling—participants dive into a study on personal boundaries and the intersections that lie in between. 

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To sign up for one, two, or all three workshops, email "tophilly@gmail.com" or leave a message at 267-282-1057. Each session has a suggested donation on $15 to $45—you can pay more or you can pay less. We also offer worktrade as an alternative to using money. Got questions? Please email of call us!