An original stage production about the complexities of womanhood and motherhood
Creative Action Unlimited, a Capital Region theater/film production company dedicated to creating original work about social issues, announces the world premiere of “MA’Space” in the Meader Little Theater at Russell Sage College in Troy, N.Y.
“MA’Space” is a snapshot of motherhood’s complexities, joys and sociopolitical influences. Five women poke, push and shout at the barriers in their lives, challenging our ideas of womanhood and motherhood.
The cast, as well as the directing and stage management team, is comprised entirely of women who are mothers. “MA’Space” was developed through experimental devised theater practices that empowered each member to artistically develop while providing a platform for them to express their thoughts, feelings and ideas about motherhood.
CAST AND CREW: The production is directed by Jae Gayle, stage managed by Kristin Crouch, with an ensemble cast featuring Altranise Harris, Dalina Quiñones, Alisa Smedley, Jeannine Trimboli and Stephanie Weber-Remmert.
PERFORMANCES: “MA’Space” will be performed at the Meader Little Theater, Russell Sage College, 65 1st St., Troy, N.Y., for two consecutive weekends: Feb. 24-25 and March 3-4 at 7:30 pm each evening with additional 2:00 pm matinee performances on Saturdays, Feb. 25 and March 4. Tickets are $15, $12 for students, seniors, Black mothers and single mothers, and may be purchased online in advance at https://MASpace.eventbrite.com or at the door the night of the event.
MORE BACKGROUND ON “MA’SPACE”
Director Jae Gayle’s previous experience includes working with kids at the School of the Arts, an alternative public high school in Rochester, N.Y. “Kids and theater seemed like such a natural fit,” Gayle says. “I started an after-school drama club that read Shakespeare because it wasn’t in their ELA curriculum when I was a history teacher in the South Bronx. This is my first project directing with an ensemble of adults.
“At least once a rehearsal someone comments on how therapeutic this process has been,” she continues. “It is important for my process to engage those most directly impacted by the subject matter. I thoroughly enjoy devised theater with marginalized voices.”
Gayle applied for and received an individual artist MAP Fund grant to help create the piece, identifying Creative Action Unlimited as a community partner organization. She used the grant to fund travel for research, cover her own child care expenses, compensate ensemble members and purchase materials for each member to create artwork related to the project with a family member.
“The grant from MAP Fund has been momentous in terms of research and execution,” says Gayle. “It has allowed ensemble members to develop their own creative thinking and practice within the context of the show.
“One of the most difficult things as a mother is making and maintaining space for myself,” she adds. “I’ve insisted on this from the beginning. The MAP Fund provided resources for me to create more time and space. It’s amazing to me that through the lens of motherhood every other major issue in my life — reproductive rights, sexuality, gender expression, racism, intersectionality — is impacted.”
The Multi-Arts Production (MAP) Fund invests in performing artists and their work as the critical foundation of imagining and co-creating a more equitable and vibrant society. Projects are chosen based on their potential to exemplify its mission of choosing content that advances critical conversations, perceptions or policies; commitment to treating all collaborators with care, respect and awareness of power dynamics; and investigation of and/or experimentation with performance forms.
“MA’Space” was selected from nearly 1,500 applications as one of 85 new live performance pieces to be funded throughout the country.