Creative Collaborations

I’m excited to announce that our River Crossing Playback is now crossing into Friday night entertainment territory on June 4 for First Friday in York.  Join us at 8 PM at the York Friends Meetinghouse.

It will be an evening of high drama as our ensemble performs the stories of our neighbors – and maybe even your own!  A beautiful opportunity for gathering our community and hearing its authentic voices.

The original cast of 'Healing York Playback' in April 2008 at the Friends Meetinghouse. York Dispatch - John Pavoncello photo.

Playback Theatre brings to life the stories of its audience through a compelling and suspense-filled improvisational process. One thing is certain; there never was – and never will be – a show like this one.

This special First Friday event is held in the heart of downtown York’s art district on an evening with lots to do. See also http://downtownyorkpa.com and most of all, come see for yourself!

The River Crossing Playback Theatre ensemble was formed in 2007 to build bridges in communities throughout South Central Pennsylvania through the respectful enactment of real life stories. You can invite their unique and powerful performances and workshops to your community, organization, special event or place of worship.  See also: http://rivercrossing.jubileearts.net or contact me.

The event will take place at the York Friends Meetinghouse at 135 W. Philadelphia Street in York, PA.  $10 donation suggested.  More on the event is here at JubileeArts.net.

I am proud to present this video, the work of Courtney Shumway, a brilliant video artist, poet and design student at the Art Institute of York. Courtney is also a member of the River Crossing Playback ensemble and understands that craft well.

Playback Theatre is an improvisational form in which a trained ensemble enacts a conversation of audience stories on the spot. The video dives into the fascinating dynamics of one story in one performance in the Healing York Initiative, started to address racial divisions in the past and present life of York, Pennsylvania. I think you’ll find this video one of the finest descriptions of Playback Theatre on the entire web, telling not just what Playback Theatre IS but also so effectively, what it DOES. Let’s watch!

Click here for more about Playback Theatre.

And sign up at Jubilee Arts to receive updates about Playback Theatre and related offerings.

It’s official.  Ilana Silverstein and I have collaborated to publish IlanaSpace.com this week, a website supporting DC-area dance and mixed media artists.  It’s a WordPress-powered site that I customized extensively from the Clean News 1.1 template.  Ilana will now be able to manage the site herself including blogging,event publicity and registration functionality.  I’m now off to lend my touch to other web spaces.

Thumbnail view of IlanaSpace.com - a site supporting DC-area artists powered by WordPress, customized by Chris Fitz

If you dance or do improv anywhere near Washington, DC, you probably know or know of Ilana.  She’s an excellent organizer who integrates great publicity habits with a warm touch and blooming creativity.  Subscribe to her newsletter to keep up with the many events she puts together.  Or just drop by and check out some of the video and other cool stuff she’s begun collecting and sharing.  Check out: IlanaSpace.com.