Tisch Special Programs is proud to support Where the Blue Grass Grows And So…ad infinitum, a unique student theatre production running from November 28 to December 4, 2005 at the Teatro La Tea in the Lower East side. Billing itself as a “Multicultural Theatrical Experience,” the piece features Tisch students from Drama, Film, Photography, Dance, and Dramatic Writing.
Where the Blue Grass Grows is presented by the Slightly Askew Theatre Company, founded by Tisch Drama students Meryl Murman and Jessica Winningham. We recently spoke with Murman (TSOA, Drama 2006) and fellow Slightly Askew member Cori Silberman (TSOA, Drama 2005) to learn more about the performance and its inspiration.
Murman, also the director and choreographer of the performance, was originally inspired to create the piece during her experiences studying in Prague in the Spring of 2005. She further developed the project by tapping into the experiences of fellow NYU students also studying in Europe -- Prague, London, Paris, and Amsterdam.
Taking its inspiration from the underground movements, themes, and texts from Central Europe, the piece explores ideas about identity, shedding identities, growing new identities – in effect, going away and redefining who you are. “The biggest growth we had as individuals was the realization that the world is small. We wanted to come back to New York City and give this new understanding of identity to other people,” says Murman.
Where the Blue Grass Grows And So…ad infinitum is a “dialogue of text in three stages” combining theatre, music, dance, photography, poetry, film and visual art. Utilizing six source texts from Central European literature and fusing them with music and movement, the piece explores themes of metamorphosis and identity, communication, and the breaking of barriers. A common motif of bugs persists throughout the piece as well.
Where the Blue Grass Grows was influenced by the underground social movements in Central Europe, and, according to Murman and Silberman even derives its name from an experience the students shared at the Lennon Peace Wall in Prague -- a site known for its anti-government commentary during the Communist era, and now a popular symbol celebrating freedom of expression. Reacting to the messages on the wall, in particular one asking “Where is Peace,” Murman and a group of students gathered one night and painted “Where the Blue Grass Grows.”
The Slightly Askew Theatre Company was created in May 2004 with the intentions of reacting to the social and political concerns of the upcoming art community as experienced by young artists in New York City. Slightly Askew addresses issues of cultural hybridity through theatre, music, film, dance, photography and other mixed media. The company's goals are to react to the demands of whichever community it should work in -- be it in Central Europe or New York -- using a diverse group of upcoming artists.
A deconstruction of Troilus and Cressida was the first production by the company, held in New York City during the fall of 2004, one week prior to the presidential elections. The production highlighted themes of war and motives for conquest as well as current feminist issues.
Where the Blue Grass Grows And So…ad infinitum
Teatro LA TEA
107 Suffolk St.
2nd Floor
Between Delancey and Rivington
Monday Nov 28th – Sunday Dec 4th
Mon-Sat: 8pm
Sat-Sun: 2pm
Tickets: Wherethebluegrassgrows@gmail.com
