The House of Ash: June 2010

The Word Wall

"I imagine that one of the reasons people cling to their hate so stubbornly is because they may sense, once hate is gone, they will be forced to deal with pain." - James A. Baldwin

"Hope is when you look out the window and you go, 'It doesn't look good at all, but I'm going to go beyond what I see to give people visions of what could be.'"- Anna Deavere Smith

"I paint my own reality." - Frida Kahlo

"Have the courage to be happy!" - Augusto Boal

"You can swim all day in the Sea of Knowledge and never get wet." - The Phantom Tollbooth

"Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned." -Buddha

"Repression forces your mind to be more deeply entrenched in those things from which you are trying to escape." - Vimala McClure.

"The truth is, you and I are the stuff that great leaders are made of. We don't have to wait for a distinguished man on a horse or a politician wealthy enough to win office in a multimillion dollar campaign to usher in justice and equality. The ranks of rebellions and revolutions that have shaped human history have been made up of people like you and me. (…) The people who make a difference are those who fight for freedom – not because they're guaranteed to succeed – but because it's the right thing to do. And that's the kind of fighters that history demands today. Not those who worship the accomplished fact. Not those who can only believe in what is visible today. But instead, people of conscience who dedicate their lives to what needs to be won and what can be won." -Leslie Feinberg

"The happiness you feel is in direct proportion to the love you give." -Oprah

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God.Your playing small does not serve the world.There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.We are all meant to shine.We were born to make manifest the glory that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." -Mariane Williamson

"I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather. I possess tremendous power to make life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration, I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis is escalated or de-escalated, and a person is humanized or de-humanized. If we treat people as they are, we make them worse. If we treat people as they ought to be, we help them become what they are capable of becoming."- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

"I don't believe an accident of birth makes people sisters or brothers. It makes them siblings, gives them mutuality of parentage. Sisterhood and brotherhood is a condition people have to work at." -Maya Angelou

"You can go a month without food, you can live three days without water, but you can't go more then sixty seconds without HOPE." -Sean Swarner

"If you really want to help the American theater, don't be an actress, dahling. Be an audience."- Talullah Bankhead

"The worst stab wound is the one to the heart. Sure, most people survive it, but the heart is never quite the same. There's always a scar, which is meant, I guess, to remind you that even for a little while, someone made your heart beat faster. And that's a scar you can live with, proudly, all the days of your life". -Oz

New Art

9:26 PM / Posted by Ashley / comments (0)

Finally had some time today just to chill out. I worked in the garden for a bit (it's looking great... pictures soon!) and finished these collages that have been sitting around for awhile. It was fabulous to finally have the chance to finish these up. My next adventure will be figuring out a way to hang them up (they're kind of heavy).

Labels: collages, random musings

Decadent Acts Review

2:54 PM / Posted by Ashley / comments (0)

Decadent Acts received a nice review from Erik Haagensen of Backstage magazine (http://www.backstage.com/bso/reviews-ny-theatre-off-off-broadway/decadent-acts-1004099237.story). Overall, it's very fair and I'm very appreciative for both the criticism and positive feedback. It's a great place to start (and end, this round). Haagensen has provided me with a valuable set of critiques which I can't wait to hopefully work on and change for not only the next phase of Decadent Acts but future plays.

I'm thankful Backstage had the chance to check it out and hope that they will come back to see GirlPower: Survival of the Fittest in the NY International Fringe Festival this summer. I would LOVE to receive such thoughtful criticism and feedback such as this for PGPC because it's a wonderful way to think about how to frame work int he future (especially with a project like GirlPower that's ongoing). So, thank you Erik/Backstage and I hope to see you again in August back at the Robert Moss Theatre (dates TBA!)

Labels: COTE, decadent acts, reviews

My Painting!

9:32 PM / Posted by Ashley / comments (0)

I got to fill in on one of my favorite programs today at work (no, not bird watching...), Adult Art. Like all of the programs in Battery Park, it's one that reminds me how fortunate I am to work at such a fantastic place. Since we're encouraged to participate in programs, I put together this little watercolor masterpiece. haha. I'm planning on adding to it. I want to make it a mixed media collage. This is phase 1 ... phase 2 will start as soon as I get a free moment ...

Labels: bpcpc, random musings, work

Decadent Acts @ The Planet Connections Theatre Festivity

11:02 PM / Posted by Ashley / comments (0)

decadent acts.

written and directed by Ashley Marinaccio.
original score by Kaze Patricio Chan.
assistant directed by Casey Cleverly.
design by Robert Gonyo. Lynn Spencer. Theresa Christine.

Part of the Planet Connections Theatre Festivity.

featuring:

Anna Savant, Hannah Rose Barfoot, Beatrice Miller, Mike Callahan, Joanie Fritz Zosike, Alex Herrald, C. Rose Kearns, Michelle Sims, Alionka Polanco and David Roberts

TUESDAY 6/15 at 4:00pm FRIDAY 6/18 at 4:00pm SATURDAY 6/19 at 1:30pm SUNDAY 6/20 at 8:30pm WEDNESDAY 6/23 at 8:30pm THURSDAY 6/24 at 6:30pm

The Robert Moss Theater
440 Lafayette Street, 3rd Floor

Proceeds of Decadent Acts will go to Democracy Now.

Set in late 1980s New York City, Decadent Acts chronicles the story of a lesbian couple struggling against legislated discrimination. When television personality Farah White falls fatally ill, her partner, professor Jolene Shatila, along with their daughter Nicole, are faced with unexpected challenges that will change their lives forever. From child custody laws, to hospital visitation rights, Decadent Acts spotlights the harsh reality of discriminatory regulations against same-sex partners, plunging emotional and political depths with grace and searing honesty. At a time when the push for full equality is finally building real momentum across the country, this play couldn’t be timelier.

The show stars Anna Savant as Dr. Jolene Shatila, Hannah Rose Barfoot as Farah White and Beatrice Miller as their young daughter, Nicole. The ensemble is comprised of Mike Callahan, Joanie Fritz Zosike, Alex Herrald, C. Rose Kearns, Michelle Sims, Alionka Polanco, and David Roberts. Decadent Acts is written and directed by Ashley Marinaccio.

About Planet Connections Theatre Festivity:

The Planet Connections Theatre Festivity is New York's premiere eco-friendly theatre festival. Fostering a diverse cross-section of performances, the festival seeks to inspire artists and audiences both creatively and fundamentally, in a festive atmosphere. At the heart of the festivity are like-minded individuals striving to create professional, meaningful theatre, while supporting organizations, which give back to the community at large. http://www.planetconnectionsfestivity.com/shows/decadent-acts

About Co-Op Theatre East:
Founded in April of 2008, Co-Op Theatre East (COTE) believes in the power of art to foster a dialogue for social change. COTE provides an entertaining performance forum in which to ask evocative, challenging questions of artists and audiences on our way to creating collaborative answers. www.cooptheatreeast.org.

Meet the cast of Decadent Acts: http://www.theateronline.com/pb.xzc?PK=24495

*** The photos you see here are from today's tech rehearsal. More to come...

Labels: COTE, decadent acts, planet connections theatre festivity

Diversity in Indie Theatre Discussion - This Friday!

9:41 PM / Posted by Ashley / comments (0)

I have been invited to speak on a panel this Friday that will be exploring diversity in the independent theatre world. It's part of the Planet Connections Theatre Festivity (in which COTE is currently producing "Decadent Acts"). The festival has been a wonderful experience for us so far. If you haven't had the chance to, you should check out some of the exciting work being done. Of course, you should check out Decadent Acts too. We've made quite a lot of changes since our April production and are in great shape. Looking forward to an exciting run.

For more information on the panel, check out Martin's blog. I have copied and pasted the information from there, below. http://nytheatre.wordpress.com/2010/06/09/talking-about-diversity-in-indie-theater/

***

On Friday, June 18 at 2:00pm, at the Robert Moss Theatre, I will be hosting a panel on diversity in Indie theater. The panel is part of the Planet Connections Theatre Festivity, of which nytheatre.com is a media sponsor.

I’ve put together a really interesting lineup to join me on the panel:

LEAH BONVISUTTO is the director of Felipe Ossa’s Cake at Planet Connections
ROI “BUBI” ESCUDERO is the creator/director/designer of 11 Seconds of Ecstasy at Planet Connections
ASHLEY MARINACCIO is the author/director of Decadent Acts at Planet Connections
MONTSERRAT MENDEZ is a playwright, director, actor, and a reviewer for nytheatre.com

We’ll be talking about the breadth and depth of diversity in the indie theater community–which is certainly exemplified by the panel, which includes three women who direct and two who write plays; one of our panelists is from Argentina and another from Puerto Rico. Diversity will be defined very broadly in this discussion–not just in terms of gender or ethnicity, but also in terms of subject matter, theme, genre, and form. Why is indie theater the platform for so much more exploration in these areas than elsewhere in the NYC theatre world?

We’re also going to be talking about why diversity is important–not just for the various groups/ideas that are represented, but more significantly for the audience. Why should theatregoers of every stripe stretch themselves and move out of their comfort zones to experience diverse kinds of theatre?

I expect a fascinating and lively discussion, and I hope you will join us! It’s free. Post your thoughts here and I will bring them to the panel!

Labels: activism, COTE, decadent acts, planet connections theatre festivity

We've got OWLS!

8:09 PM / Posted by Ashley / comments (0)

An owl family has moved into the tree outside my window. I have taken the liberty to name them. Marlena and Fred are the adults and the little ones are Dewie, Lewie and Stewie.