Hello all!
I know it's just about time to check out of the world and go into holiday mode, but I wanted to get some info in your hands about the amazing show we are about to get started on in the new year.
SUMMARY/ETHOS OF THE SHOW:
RISE explores what it means to be a woman searching for agency and fighting for change while trying to honour her elders and her past. Xara Choral Theatre Ensemble will be joined by Xara alumnae, several young singers from our Chrysalis Youth Mentorship program, and guest artists Rebecca Thomas, El Jones, and Michelle Raine. Each section of the show will be collaboratively developed with the featured artist and will include a re-imagined Greek myth, slam poetry, and vulnerable monologue.
The three pieces with guest artists will be developed in January - each artist is writing a piece (2-4 mins in length) and a piece of choral theatre of approx 10 mins will be developed in conjunction with their performance pieces. Because these pieces are still in development, the Xara-only portion of the show will be rehearsed exclusively through January and early February and will be at performance-ready by the beginning of March. This section of the show will be about 25 minutes long.
The starting point for our Xara-only piece was the Greek myth of Pyrrha. Pyrrha was the only woman saved from a flood that Zeus sent to destroy humanity’s wickedness. When she and her husband were faced with repopulating the earth, they consulted an oracle that told them to “throw the bones of your mother behind you." This piece will focus on the relationship between generations who struggle to understand when to cast the work and perspectives of their foremothers aside, when to build on them, and when to rest in them. It offers a meditation on the impact of Third Wave Feminism in the relationships between women of different generations. The flood/storm functions as a metaphor for a life experience that throws women deep into contending with misogyny. The “bones” represent the teaching of our “foremothers” in the feminist movement.
Here's a youtube playlist of the music!
And if you want to download mp3s to help you practice, you can find them here:
And if you're not sure about Third Wave Feminism (or other aspects of Feminism), here's a great little article that is really helpful!
You could also have a look at our website (www.xara.ca) for the "public" info about the show. :)
DATES:
First rehearsal: Jan 7 (2:00-5:30)
Show Week rehearsals:
- Apr 25, 6-10 PM
- Apr 26, 6-10 PM
- Apr 27, 6-10 PM
Shows: Apr 28 at 3PM and 8 PM
Rehearsals are every Sunday (mostly 1:15-5:30) except February 19 evening instead of Feb 18 (due to the long weekend) and Apr 2 evening instead of Apr 1 (due to Easter weekend).
A blog post will go up every week on Tuesdays to help you prepare and rehearse!
A NOTE ABOUT GETTING BACK IN THE SWING OF THINGS:
I want to end this post by saying that you were all troupers for a really weird term this fall. Obviously we did lots of great things but it was really strange not having a show to get ready for and no major goals. It will be important to note that once we get started in January you are going to need to reserve regular times to practice between rehearsals in a way that you probably didn't during the fall. Starting the third week of January, a new piece of music will need to be memorized every week (starting with Womanly Song of God!). Prepping a show is really exciting and there's an awesome sense of momentum but it's also more intense that what we had on our plates last this fall.
For now, have an amazing holiday!!! I can't WAIT to get started on RISE with you ... it's going to be such a rewarding show for us!!!
