Syracuse University

Syracuse Stage encourages Syracuse University faculty, staff and students to participate in a theatrical production that will explore the changing face of Syracuse through an interview-based theatre work presented in first-hand narratives of local citizens -- both recent arrivals and longtime residents -- who are in some way living outside the dominant culture. The project is seeking five to seven people from a variety of ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds, 16 years of age and older.

A world-renowned theater artist has been invited to create an original production by working with local people who have migrated from another country and settled in Syracuse or have related stories of "otherness." The new production will be presented at Syracuse Stage in the fall, as part of the 2008-09 season. Constructed as a chamber piece of storytelling, the performance features real people telling their personal experiences of creating cultural identity out of rich and complex histories.

Participant schedules must accommodate a paid two- to three-week evening rehearsal period (beginning approximately on Sept. 22) and a paid three-week performance run (Oct. 14-Nov. 2) at Syracuse Stage. No previous experience or memorization is required. All participants chosen for the performances will be paid for their time.

This project does not require that participants have previous performance, dance or singing experience, but they must be willing to share their personal experiences on stage and in public. No memorization is involved in the performance. The script will be read on stage, except for a song and poem in one's own language.

Not all people interviewed will be selected to participate in the final project. For those who are selected, not every experience shared in the interview process will be included in the final production.

Participants must:

• speak and read English, as well as the language of their native culture if English is not their first language (with some exceptions);
  
• be willing to talk openly about their lives, family, culture and customs, and share their thoughts in a public forum;
  
• be willing to talk openly about cultural differences and identity issues, and make critical observations about the culture in which they currently live;
  
• be willing to recite poetry and sing in their native or adopted language (You do not have to be a trained singer.);
  
• be willing to allow others to express contrary opinions or political views;
  
• be willing to talk about what is desirable or undesirable in their culture of origin and what they have found to be desirable or undesirable in their new cultural setting;
  
• be available for an initial interview lasting about two hours;
  
• selected participants must be available for one to two additional interviews lasting about two hours each, plus some hours of research, possibly about their family or the history and culture of their place of origin;
  
• be available for two to three weeks of evening and weekend rehearsals (about three hours per evening, four to five rehearsals per week) in the period leading up to performances; and
  
• be available for all technical rehearsals and performances.
  

If interested, contact Kyle Bass, literary associate at Syracuse Stage, at (315) 443-9847 or
kebass@syr.edu. Interviews are scheduled to begin on April 22.