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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 21, 2000)
Collaboration enhances theater performances By Jason Hardy Staff writer From a stage, it’s hard to see the faces of a packed auditorium. But one theater company is working to break down the barrier between die people on stage and the people in the seats. Tonight and tomorrow night the Lied Center for Performing Arts is presenting “Promise of a Love Song,” a new theater piece created and per formed by the Exchange Project. As the name suggests, the Exchange Project is a collaborative effort of three theater companies - Junebug Productions of New Orleans, the Pregones Theater of the Bronx, N. Y., and Roadside Theater of Whitesburg, Ky. “Promise of a Love Song” is the result of a four-year exchange between the companies to explore the similarities and differences between theater companies and people in gen eral around the United States. John O’Neal, a member of the Exchange Project and Junebug Productions, said it was the interac tion between the Exchange Project and its audiences that set it apart. “The audience brings as much, if not more, than the artist does. It’s an exchange that goes on - it’s not one way,” O’Neal said. “It provokes us further to have long-term relation ships with people, it’s not just wham bam, thank-you-ma’am.” As part of the Exchange Project’s attempt to lessen the gap between the performance and the audience, its members have been meeting with various groups of people in the towns where they are performing. Thursday they met with a group of University of Nebraska-Lincoln students for a story circle and Kim Neal Cole, a member of the Exchange Program and Roadside Theater, said it was die perfect way to get in touch with an audience. “I feel supported and encouraged when I get to be in a place before I have to walk on stage,” she said. “We try to figure out how to get the most from and for our audiences, so the ” The audience brings as much, if not more, than the artist does. It’s an exchange that goes on.” John O’Neal member of the Exchange Project story circle evolved from that idea.” ' O’Neal agreed with Cole and added that the connection they made with audience members added to the overall performance. “If you know who you are talking to, you can do it better,” he said. “You’re not just speaking to the void.” The events that took place in Thursday’s story circle aren’t very far removed from the events that will take place tonight in the Johnny Carson Theater. Just as the story circle was a col lection of stories told by different people from different perspectives, “Promise of a Love Song” is a collec tion of three different stories, each involving a different culture. The stories are told in segments throughout the play, incorporating the styles of the three theater compa nies involved in the Exchange Project. One story takes place in the Appalachian Mountains, one in the African-American communities of the South and one in the Puerto Rican neighborhoods of New York City. Sol Damela Rivera, a member of the Exchange Project and the Pregones Theater, said the play was more than just a collaboration of three different theater companies, it was a collaboration of the life experi ences of everyone involved. “Everybody has had something to say about the different stories to be jPromise of a Love Song WHERE: Lied Center for Performing Arts, 301 N. 12th St. WHEN: Jan. 10-11 COST: $20 THE SKINNY: Cultural differences celebrated in mim “Love Song.” included,” she said. “It’s delicate and challenging, but in that process, you find the differences and similarities. Some problems won’t be solved, but that’s what the exchange program is all about.” O’Neal said the Exchange Project and “Promise of a Love Song” .was a way for everyone to learn a little more about the people around them. “We all know that at base we all need the same things,” he said. “We won’t get to the end without taking the first small steps.” 3 Thefollowing is a brief list of events this weekend. For more information, call the venue. CONCERTS: Duffy s Tavern, 1412 O St. (402) 474-3543 Sunday: Squidboy, Hi Fi 90 Duggan s Pub, 440 S.llth St. (402) 477-3513 Friday: Blackberry Winter Saturday: Stinky Jones Knickerbocker’s, 901 OSt. (402) 476-6865 Friday: The Formula, Lune Saturday: Full Devil Jacket, Black Light Sunshine, Trizomy, Thulium Royal Grove, 340 W. Comhusker Highway (402) 474-2332 Friday and Saturday: Bosch The Zoo Bar, 136 N. 14th St. (402) 435-8754 Friday: Nine Live Cats Saturday: Smokin’ Joe Kubek featuring B’nois King THEATER: Johnny Carson Theater, 301 N. 12™ St. (402) 472-4747 Friday and Saturday: Junebug Productions, Roadside Theater, Pregones Theatre > • tL* . ■ v't Lincoln Community Playhouse, 2500 S. 56th St. (402) 489-7529 All weekend: “Flyin’ West” Mary Riepma Ross Film Theater, 12th and R streets (402) 472-2461 All weekend: “All About My Mother” Star City Dinner Theatre, Eighth and Q streets (402) 477-8277 All weekend: “Songs and Scenes from Stage and Screen” \ . r ± — GALLERIES: Burkholder Project, 719 P St. (402) 477-3305 All weekend: 12th Annual Artists Choosing Artists Exhibit Gallery 9,124 S. Ninth St. (402) 477-2822 All weekend: Contemporary Quilts Haydon Gallery, 335 N. Eighth St. (402)475-5421 All weekend: John Spence Noyes Gallery, 119 S. Ninth St. (402) 475-1061 All weekend: Susan Barnes, Vic Schoonover Robert Hillestad Textiles Gallery, Home Economics Building, Rm. 231, East Campus (402) 472-2911 All weekend: “East Meets West,” an apparel collection by Hong-Youn Kim The Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery, 12th and R streets (402) 472-2461 All weekend: “Judy Burton: Visual Nuances,” “Eugene Atget’s View of Paris,” UNL MFA Faculty Biennial -- There is a limited supply of yearbooks left. Be sure to order yours for only $40 at 334 Nebraska City Union or call 472-6248. <s Seniors. This is your last chance for a senior portrait sitting. Come be a part of something of BIG. (Think of your average textbook, but cheaper.) When: Thursday: noon to 7:30 p.m. Friday: 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Where: Nebraska City Union in the Georgian B Suite. Bring: $25 refundable proof deposit. Cornhusker Yearbook Preserving your college memories.