T.H.E.A.T.R.E. our definition

Today, I discussed with another student, what is theatre? It's a topic we theatre grad students still grapple with daily.

At first, he argued that a play (the physical book) is not theatre.

"Arguable," I softly said. He heard me.

Several famous theatre theorists argued that the text of a play, the written word, is enough to qualify as theatre. I don't entirely agree.

To him, he argued, theatre is the performance of written word.

Well, I argued, improvisation is still theatre. Even a dance performance is theatre IF it tells a story. A dance performance without a plot is theatrical, but is not theatre. Theatre originated as a form of passing along a story. That is theatre; theatre is the performance of storytelling.

With that, he agreed.

* * *

I write this because I realized tonight, as I watched Randy work with Joy, that the telling of a story is a very delicate process. Some of the stories Joy tells, true or created, are of a very sensitive subject matter. Sometimes, they are difficult to hear in rehearsal, no matter how many times she retells them. In order to effectively retell these memories, which Joy has a natural-born talent of doing, it requires immense strength and patience. We are still in the rehearsal process, but already, it is wonderful to watch Joy get lost in her stories.

We get lost in her stories every night at rehearsal.

I hope she doesn't feel small on stage all alone, because her words speak volumes and paint beautiful pictures.

PBS Newshour with Joy Harjo

For an introduction to the work of Joy Harjo, watch a 2007 PBS Newshour interview featuring her performing on alto sax with Larry Mitchell. Larry will be accompanying Joy on guitar, drums, and more during Wings of Night Sky, Wings of Morning Light. Also, see a sneak peak of Joy reciting some of her unique and beautiful poems!

Click to watch on YouTube.

The Landscape of Performance

Joy shared this with me. It is a short snippet from an email she wrote to playwright and friend Laura Shamas:

"Performance reminds me of going out into the ocean. No two days are ever the same. The Moon continues to move. Winds, currents, thoughts shift. They can change from one moment to the next. The trick is learning how to surf whatever is there. And if you huli, or flip out of the canoe, you have to know how to get back in. And keep moving."

Eagle Poem

Sing, dance and fly along to the musical version of Joy Harjo's deservedly famous "Eagle Poem." Visit CD Baby to purchase this song, and experience the other powerful tracks that Native People's Magazine described as "brimming with soul and beauty."

Click to watch on YouTube.

Joy's Reflection

Joy refelcted on transitioning from musician to actress.

A note to the actor in me:

You were there before I could speak
You were all the permutations of yes and no
You were the front door, the back door, and the place in the middle where the soul stands naked
You told the truth before it could be spoken
You spoke before there were words
You let me in when I asked you to open the door
I had to first ask
The heart stepped through first
All the rest of me followed: wind, elbows, lips, feet, a pool of sunlight before language, a sky of black peopled by stars, the awkward next to awesome grace
Here we are again
Back to the beginning of the urgent urge, to the first spark
We noticed it, spoke it, and became it.
We are.

Rehearsals AND Dance Parties!

Rehearsing with Joy is so much fun! She is so close to her music, and we often listen to it as we rehearse the songs in the show. It is so much a part of her, I couldn't imagine Joy without her music.

This has been quite a treat for Ally (the stage manager) and me! During breaks, when actors usually relax, Joy puts on music and we all dance! We have become fast friends. The music truly unites us. Randy smiles as all the girls have fun dancing. I am tempted to record us dancing, for fun! But, it is almost sacred.

Subconsciously, as we dance, we recreate the moments and movement in Wings. We stomp dance, we shake, we thrash, we release, we laugh, we follow, we lead, and my favorite... we fly.

Tonight, Joy shared with me that she went flying in her dream last night. I wish I could fly in my dreams as often as she does. She said that it was very similar to the dreams she talks about in the play. You'll have to come to the play to hear about the exciting dreams...!

Check out Joy Harjo's "Reality Show!"

Renowned poet, writer and musician Joy Harjo shares some lyrical moments with the camera in this brief but beautiful documentary. Produced and directed by Lurline Wailana McGregor.

Click to watch on YouTube.