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There were several moments during the performance that stopped my heart: I could feel the piece breathe, move, flow and transform of its own accord - it came alive far beyond the sum of its parts.
Delight!
I found myself in rehearsal yesterday saying how important I think it is that artists are able to “plug into each other’s work”. In a time when budgets are tight, rehearsals are limited, and creative demands high, a very practical way to address performance-making is to collaborate with artists whose work, independently, is very strong, interesting, and even seemingly incongruent. The incongruence is the exciting ‘hazard factor’ - the wild card that makes the work compelling and dynamic. Autumn Spectre’s elements include the butoh-inspired dance of Toni Valle; the only-Timothy Evers-can-create-this character of a mourning Englishman; the dreamy sitar playing and atmospheric elemental Wind of Aaron Ray Hermes; Megan Reilly’s multimedia and lighting; and the core of the evening: beautiful contemporary art song mediations on loss, death, regret, longing, and hope. These settings of Dickinson, Jonson, Shakespeare, Whitman, Vachel by master composers anchor the performance. The characters’ archetypal quality provide points of navigation, I can simply get out of the way and allow the audience to connect-the-dots of an open and non-linear narrative, hopefully, in ways I had not even thought of.
October 2 & 3, 8pm
First Cumberland Presbyterian Church (River Oaks)
More info here
Nighttime comes too often here – and will stay far, far too long. Some days never come. Others linger – fighting the darkening sky – holding back the moon –
Photo: David BrownI started Divergence Vocal Theater, named the company*, and launched it by asking a band of cohorts to trust me beyond reason, and participate in my concept for our inaugural season's Ottavia Project. I am the primary mover, shaker, and Chief Catherder. As the indispensable crew assembles, there will be less of me, and more we, but this is not unusual for a burgeoning arts ensemble.
The ensemble process is the nexus of Divergence and the basis of my aspirations for the company. The term collaborative process falls short. Collaborative suggests a possible one-time creative event, but the ensemble process is dedicated to long-term collaboration. I'm interested in creating ongoing creative relationships.
Each ensemble must define, invent, and nurture their working process. Many artists work (or have worked) in this way, including the ground-breaking movement artists of Judson Dance Theater; the experimental theater artist Jerzy Grotowski; The Wooster Group (who recently re-created Cavalli's opera Didone); composer/dancer/theater-maker, Meredith Monk (created an opera, ATLAS, commissioned by HGO); Joe Goode Performance Group; SITI Company and Tectonic Theater Project - and any band or jazz ensemble. There are many, many examples. Any time artists band together over an extended period of time to create work, the ensemble process appears.
- Divergence artists are creator-performers
We are also a project-based ensemble. Although we like to present regular programming (typically in the fall and spring), our larger aspirations do not include building an arts organization, per se. Funding and fundraising efforts directly support the production in process, including remuneration to the artists for their contributions.
Cohort Artists
Toni Valle, a long-time friend and choreographer is has been collaborating with us; Megan M. Reilly, an Austin-based theatrical designer is cookin' up some exciting things for our Oct 2 & 3 Autumn Spectre, and we're scheming on future projects; and James Norman, a dear friend and amazing composer is working on a new piece for Divergence. Stephen W. Jones has served as musical director for our productions so far, and singers Michael Walsh, Alison Greene, and Shelley Auer have been featured performers/contributors, and of course, yours truly.
*I chose Divergence Vocal Theater because I wanted the name to have the capacity to absorb the company's creative transformations over time.
October 3 & 3. 8pm; Autumn Spectre
An ethereal October eve of contemporary art song in English, piano & harp works, with sitar music, film, butoh inspired dance, & shadow play. Music of Dominick Argento, Philip Glass, Meredith Monk, Jake Heggie, Benjamin Britten, and more...
