Ok, so I'm not what you'd call prolific. Perhaps I just don't like to blog unless I have something to say. But I admit, I have kind of dropped the ball on doing any kind of final, wrap up for the tour blog post. I think I was in deep chilax space, and didn't want to admit that I was feeling fried.
The tour was a dream come true. I feel like we had amazing luck, with reviews, sell-out shows, the communities of people we met, the billet we stayed with (THANK YOU TAMMI, FRED, AND GIN MAY!) I am truly grateful for the summer we had. The fact that Betty, the RV made it the entire way without a single breakdown....we had some serious angel protection. Universe lined up. And we had some challenges for sure (the blackout, the Laugh Shop postage-stamp stage, the angry mother of a 12 year old boy who heard us sing "My Vagina is 8-MILES WIDE" Thank you STORM LARGE) but nothing that didn't add to our treasure of awesome memories...
The opening parade in Edmonton
However, on returning home I felt a deep need to go within. The tour was enormously social, which is som
ething I can only take in set amounts. To be on, for so long, was draining. To be responsible, aware, in charge, interesting....while super worthwhile, took a lot of energy. And I am a person who dearly loves my downtime. Alone time. And so when I got back to Portland I just did a 180. Didn't want to see anyone. Cut my hair short and dyed it dark. Went on tons of walks alone in the forest. There's been a serious upswing in the mediation/journal writing/personal exploration departments.I've been thinking a lot about Dance Naked productions. Expanding the mission statement. I've saw dozens of shows this summer, over 70, and there are a few I really want to import. I am still committed to creating shows that explore sexuality, but as a producer, I am open to bringing in shows that don't necessarily focus on sexuality, but that excite me on another level. I want to produce theatre that celebrates human evolution. Theater that causes shift, encourages joy, advocates a sense of oneness and connectedness. I believe in the power of theatre to create hope (thank you Michael Rohd), to inspire action, to increase love. I've always struggled with the genre of theatre and entertainment that - to me- celebrates the dark underbelly of humanity. I have a hard time with watching how awful people can be to each other. Sam Shepard, Tracy Letts, David Mamet - I'm left depressed. I get that they are brilliant writers, but I want to feel uplifted when I walk out of the theatre - like I know more, understand better,be reminded of the wonder of the universe.
When I first named the company Dance Naked, it was because that image to me was one of complete vulnerability coupled with joy. That's the kind of theater I want to produce. I want authenticity, risk, openness, non-judgement, growth, humor, and courage. I want to hear the truth spoken. I want to feel challenged. And I very much want to be entertained.
There were a handful of shows I saw at the fringe in Canada that I feel like very much fit in with that description. I am so pleased to announce that I have convinced one of my favorite performers to bring his one-man show to Portland. The play is call DrunkenF**ker, and it is memorable.
Sean Bowie, who wrote and performs Drunken F**ker, " is from Calgary. When I saw the title in the fringe program, I thought "That's ballsy." But I wasn't particularly compelled to see the show. I thought - eh, rant about alcohol. Probably finds AA and gets sober. Boring. Next. And then I met Sean, and he seemed like such an affable guy, I decided to take a chance. After all, fringe shows are generally only an hour. I was electrified. The show is beautiful. And exactly what I thought it would be. But SO well done. Though the story line didn't surprise me, it was Sean's telling of the story that made it so compelling. The love affair with alcohol is so alluring, so funny, the stories, the people, the camaraderie - so seductive. And when the cracks start to appear, you want so badly to go back to how it was in the beginning, and as the stories get worse and worse, you want to stop listening, you want them not to be true. The show made me think, made me laugh, and made me want everyone I knew to see it. Because of the sense of hope, of growth that is possible in every one of us.
Someone very close to me was a heroin addict for many years. I attempted to get her in treatment repeatedly. I eventually couldn't take it and stopped trying. Every time I saw her, I thought it would be the last time. She was so close to not being. And then, finally, the desire to live caught hold. She pulled in. She went on methadone and completely changed her life. Now she's a mom, with a job and an amazing child. I am always slightly amazed and humbled when I see her, humbled that I had lost faith in her ability to change.
Three of four of my grandparents were alcoholics. I didn't know them. They died or disappeared, or were beyond knowing when I was born. I tend to not think about them, because they weren't a part of my life. Recently I had the opportunity to reflect on my ancestors, and I realized that alcohol played a critical role in keeping all those relationships from happening. Alcohol can be so destructive to families and relationships, and I think that's another reason I feel driven to produce this show in Portland.
My maternal grandfather, Van Heflin, was a stage and movie actor. A longtime alcoholic, he died the year before I was born.
I believe Drunken F**ker is a gift. A play about healing and hope, but one that doesn't shy away from darkness and heartbreak. Plus, it's really f**kin' funny.
I will post info about dates and getting tickets in a separate post.
I also want to ALERT THE MEDIA that we are going to revive Inviting Desire: Canada Tour 2009
for 2 NIGHTS ONLY December 11 and 12th. We are going to follow each other those with an open mic, so if you are reading this and want to participate, email me at eleanor@eleanorbrien.com. If you do a piece at the open mic, you get to see the show for free (wee!).
Why revive the show? Well, I do think there are a fair amount of people who wanted to see it but didn't get a chance. And I like the idea of a swan song. But more than anything else, I want to use that as a springboard to launch a January workshop (writing, non-performance based), and announce the spring version (Inviting Desire: Spring is Sprung or whathaveyou -TBD).
I'm so excited by the idea of creating this workshop. I think the part of creating Inviting Desire I most enjoyed, even more than performing, was the rehearsal process, particularly the weeks we spent improving and playing games and doing writing assignments. That's what I want to do with this workshop - give a group of women the experience we had as a cast, without the pressure of creating a show. Yes, we'll have an evening for invited guests, where the participants can share their pieces if they like, but nothing for the public.
For the public, we will have a brand spankin' new version of Inviting Desire premiere sometime in May. There will be some familiar faces, and some newcomers, and a whole fresh batch of fantasies. If you miss the show in May, we will also be performing as part of Eros Fest NW, which is tentatively scheduled for August of 2010.
And that, my dears, is what I have been thinking about. I will be in better touch the next few weeks, keeping you posted with the details of where, when, how much, and how can YOU get involved. Yay.
