FLUSHING (Make Room for Someone Else)
SANDGLASS THEATER & PARRIS-BAILEY ARTS
July 22 & 23, 2022 | Fri. & Sat at 8 p.m. | Sun. July 24 at 4 p.m.
in the Mainstage Theater in Emily Dickinson Hall on the Hampshire College campus.
Conceived and Written by Linda Parris-Bailey and Eric Bass
with original songs by Linda Parris-Bailey and Eric Bass
Performed by Linda Parris-Bailey, Eric Bass and Kirk Murphy
Directed by Kathie deNobriga
Puppets by Ines Zeller Bass
Lighting Design by Sabrina Hamilton
Additional recorded music by Julian Gerstein
Choreographic support by Shoshana Bass
It begins at the Brink, where two theater directors are passing the leadership of their ensembles to the next generation. This moment sparks a reflection on what it means to retire and what it might mean to inherit. For those stepping down, what do we leave and who do we become? And for those stepping up, how do we take what is given and make it our own?
A story told with puppets, with songs, and with a deep personal investigation of how Time brings us all to moments of truth and inevitable change
Post-show discussions with the artists & guest panelists will follow each performance.
KO FEST STORY SLAM 2022
Sunday, July 24 at 8pm – one night only!
This event usually sells out and we’re in a smaller theatre this year, so early reservations are suggested.
You’ve heard of poetry slams – competitive poetry events. This is one is for first person, true stories – told live and without notes.
Stories must be under 5 minutes long and will be on the theme of “Stepping Up/Stepping Back.” Stay tuned to our Ko Festival emails and social media for updates!
There will be some pre-selected ringers, but this might be your opportunity to take your place on the Ko Festival stage alongside KoFest artists & staff. We’ll have a few slots reserved for last minute sign-ups — our very first grand prize winner was someone who decided at the last minute to share a hilarious story about her experiences being fitted for a Playboy Bunny costume at the Playboy Club in NYC. If we have too many sign-ups, we’ll audition the first lines of stories – and audience members will get to vote on which ones should be told in their entirety!
Know a great raconteur? – tell them about the event! Everyone should come prepared to listen, but you may want to come prepared to tell!
We’ll be saving a few slots to be given away on the night – but we’re currently accepting pitches for pre-slotting. To be considered for pre-slotting please email info@kofest.com about your story after July 1, and give us a little biographical background. Or you can call (413) 427-6147.
You may also wish to hone your story by taking Gerard Stropnicky’s FIRST PERSON: Crafting your Story for Performance Workshop which runs from July 18-23, with housing available on the Hampshire College campus for those coming from out of town.
MASK POLICY:
So that we may protect the most vulnerable among us, all audience members must be masked with an N95 or KN95 or equivalent mask, worn so it covers both the nose and mouth. All members of the Artistic Team and Ko Staff have been vaxed, boosted and are tested before performances. We suggest that you test before attending the event, as well.
Ezell: Ballad of a Land Man
CLEAR CREEK CREATIVE
July 29 & 30, 2022 Fri. & Sat with ticket pick-up by 6:15 pm | Sun. July 31 with ticket pickup by 10:15 AM
“G-Rated” – for both adults and family audiences.
Written and Performed by Bob Martin (Clear Creek Creative | Disputanta, KY)
Directed by Nick Slie (Mondo Bizarro | New Orleans, LA)
Produced by Carrie Brunk (Clear Creek Creative | Disputanta, KY)
Designed by Jeff Becker (Catapult Studios | New Orleans, LA)
Music Direction & Performance by Cory Shenk
An environmental, cultural and spiritual parable of domination and resilience Ezell explores the complexities of today’s issues of climate change, indigenous erasure, and environmental extraction (fracking) — and is based on the artists’ lived experience in their rural Appalachian community.
In the play, Ezell, the central character, is faced with a choice when offered a job to buy mineral rights on behalf of the oil & gas industry in anticipation of a fracking boom and the chance to reconnect with the people and land of his raising.
This immersive experience features a contemplative walk through the woods to the performance site with live music, the play, a return walk and a post-show dialogue with the artists and a panel of local experts.
Post-show discussions with the artists & guest experts will follow each performance in the air-conditioned Mainstage in Emily Dickinson Hall.
LOGISTICS:
The production will be presented outdoors for small audiences on land that is part of the Hampshire College Farm Center, and will involve a 10-minute guided walk from the Box Office at Emily Dickinson Hall on the Hampshire College campus.
We will have folding chairs and risers. Some ground seating may be available in front.
We are dedicated to making this performance handicapped accessible. If you have accessibility concerns, please contact us at info@kofest.com so that we may determine the best way for you to access the event.
The play will be presented rain or shine – so bring your umbrellas, ponchos, and appropriate footgear. If there is lightning or a severe downpour slated for one of our performance times, we have a raindate scheduled for Sunday, August 31st at 6:15 PM.
After the show, please join the artistic team and a panel of experts for a post-show discussion in the air-conditioned Mainstage Theater in Emily Dickinson Hall.
As we will be traveling in guided groups to the performance location, it is imperative that you pick up your tickets by the stated pickup time. Tickets not picked up at that point will be released to the waiting list.
So that we may protect the most vulnerable among us, all audience members must be masked with an N-95 or KN-95 mask, worn so it covers both the nose and mouth. All members of the Artistic Team and Ko Staff have been vaxed, boosted and are tested before performances. We suggest that you test before attending the event, as well.