Hey there,
Welcome to the beginning of Year 4 for DC PAL. To those who've been here and have joined since the beginning, thank you. And if you've joined in the past month and this is your first bulletin, welcome. :-)
This month's highlights:
*DC PAL of the Month
*Graduation Kudos
*Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra
*Source Festival 2010
*Potential Happenings
*Present Happenings
*Ephemeral Happenings
*Future Happenings
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DC PAL of the Month:
Where: "I was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. But, if you mean my heritage--that ever-present question: Where are you really from?--my mom is from Rangoon, Burma and my dad is from Pittsburgh, PA." In the area: " It will be 10 years next year. I arrived in DC in '01."
What: "I studied Dance and French Language & Literature at the University of Maryland (Bachelor's) and am currently studying Arts Management at American University (Masters)."
Why: "In the last few weeks alone, I was really inspired by the grace and commitment to authenticity of Christopher K. Morgan, a CityDance Ensemble member, in his choreographic retrospective. Also, I was so moved by the sheer brilliance of Paige Hernandez in the Hegira's "Paige in Full," a 60-minute autobiographical work of hip-hop theatre with Hernandez and her brother, DJ Nick tha 1da, performing side-by-side in perfect harmony. But, if I'm honest with myself, a lot of my own creative work comes from an obsession with sensuality and sexuality and what drives those things within us (emotionally, physically, mentally, spiritually). Both my dance and literary work is deeply connected to sex and sexuality, although I still haven't figured out exactly why that's true. I just have finally come to terms with the fact that it's at the crux of my work."
When: Since November, I've mostly worked on Sulu DC, which is a monthly showcase of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans (http://www.tinyurl.com/suludc). The last full-length performance I was in was a show with the Dutch choreographer, Nita Liem, of the company Don't Hit Mama. I was fortunate enough to work with Nita, Holly Bass, and the Beat Ya Feet Kings for a production during Hip-Hop Theater Festival last summer (2009). I am currently working on a special edition of Sulu DC for this year's Smithsonian Folklife Festival (summer 2010), whose theme this year is Asian Pacific Americans: Local Lives, Global Ties. Our July 3rd show at the festival will feature The Pinstriped Rebel (DJ), Yoko K., iLL-Literacy, Sulu DC (Simone Jacobson, Gowri K., Alex Cena, and Jenny Lares), Kilusan Bautista, Lily Bee and SNRG. Regie Cabico and Jen Kwok will host. It will be much like our monthly showcases, except it will be family-friendly, feature a four-way collaboration between some Sulu DC-ers and will be on the Mall for thousands of people! More on Folklife here: http://www.festival.si.edu/2010/asian_pacific_americans.aspx
Random Fact: "I used to surf when I was a kid. Pretty damn well, too! :) "
Affiliations:
* managing editor for Words. Beats. Life: The Global Journal of Hip-Hop Culture (www.wblinc.org).
* chair of the dance and poetry committees at Artomatic (www.artomatic.org).
* project manager for an event on June 12th at the National Harbor called "Out to Launch" for these amazing ladies: www.biribelle.com and http://www.reverbnation.com/CMalachi
* consultant for Albus Cavus (www.albuscav.us)
* manage this artist: www.hollybass.com
* run Sulu DC: http://www.tinyurl.com/suludc
* run a monthly Smart Chicks Brunch (by invitation only)
* forming a collective with five other women called "clutch"
* In the fall, will be the project manager for the Kennedy Center's hip-hop dance initiative: http://www.kennedy-center.org/education/state/cultural/description.cfm#dance
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Graduation Kudos:
Congrats to the following DC PALs on graduating:
Alexandra Garcia Guyker from the MFA program at FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training - Welcome back to the area!!
Joanna Miller from Walter Johnson High - Have fun at Michigan!!
Did you just graduate as well? Send me a message to be included in the next bulletin.
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DC PAL Charles Phaneuf is a member of the BCJO.
"The new Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra is a 16 piece big band co-founded by baritone saxophonist Brad Linde, trumpeter Joe Herrera and club owner Omrao Brown. Since April 19, 2010, the BCJO has presented a variety of music from big band literature and feature some of the District's best musicians on Monday nights at the historic Bohemian Caverns. Music from Ellington, Basie, Strayhorn, Thad Jones, Oliver Nelson, Maria Schneider and originals by band members will embrace and challenge the tradition of big band repertoire. "
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"For over two decades, Source Theatre Company's Washington Theatre Festival was an incubator and a catalyst for virtually every major theatre artist working in DC today. It was a place for new voices to be heard and for actors, playwrights and directors to collaborate and network. Whether any given piece was successful or not, there were two undeniable traits: artists from all walks of life were working together and taking creative risks."
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Potential Happenings:
Reefer Madness STROyKA Theater - Choreographer, Pianist, Stage Manager
Small stipends will be offered for each position. Please send your resume to JGusso@stroykatheater.com. Audition and performance schedule is available
on the website.
Chicago, Fall '10, & The Sorcerer, Spring '11 (The Georgetown Gilbert & Sullivan Society) - Directors and Music Directors -
For more details about the Georgetown Gilbert & Sullivan Society please visit the website at
www.ggssonline.com, or email ggss.hiring@gmail.com with any questions
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Present Happenings:
Evil Dead: The Musical (Taking Flight Theatre Company) - May 28 to Jun 12 / DC PAL: Natalie V Safley
Naked Boys Singing!!! (Ganymede Arts) - May 8 to Jun 13 / DC PAL: Aaron Alexander, Matt Gillette, Chaz Starkey
Courage (dog & pony dc @ Capitol Hill Arts Workshop) - Jun 2 to 26 / DC PAL: Wyckham Avery, Colin Hovde, Neil McFadden, Alex Perez, Jon Reynolds
Hairspray (Toby's Dinner Theatre) - Mar 4 to Aug 1 / DC PAL: Celia Blitzer
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Ephemeral Happenings:
Darwin's Cousin - A Modern Scribes Reading (Artists' Bloc @ Woolly Mammoth) - Jun 2
Freud Meets Girl - A Modern Scribes Reading (Artists' Bloc @ Woolly Mammoth) - Jun 3
Divas (Gay Men's Chorus of Washington @ Lisner Auditorium) - Jun 5 & 6 / DC PAL: John-Paul Hayworth
In Pursuit of Me - A Special Presentation (Artists' Bloc @ Woolly Mammoth) - Jun 6
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Future Happenings:
Mrs. Warren's Profession (Shakespeare Theatre Company) - Jun 6 to Jul 11 / DC PAL: Michael Grew
A Man of No Importance (Keegan Theatre) - Jun 12 to Jul 11 / DC PAL: Christina Coakley
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That's it for now. Keep in touch with regards to whatever you're up to, and message me if you see something listed that you're involved with, but your name isn't there.
Until next time,
JR
