Week #4 (Jan. 26 – 28): The Negro Perkins and the Art of Social Graces
January 26, 2012 - January 28, 2012
7:00pm, James Levin Theatre
$10-$15
Big Box, now in its 10th year, provides local artists with the opportunity to create and produce new work. Over seven weeks, Big Box includes eleven world premiere workshop showings of theatre, dance, music and genre-defying performances. Cleveland Public Theatre is proud to support and foster the work of area artists in this unique program. Artists are given keys to The James Levin Theatre and the freedom to transform the space for the presentation of their work.
The goal of Big Box is to support new work and local artists.
CPT provides:
– The James Levin Theatre
– Basic production staff, stage management, box office support
– Marketing and advertising support
The artists provide the rest!
The writers, directors, actors, and designers selected for Big Box dedicate themselves to creating new and original work, or stretching their artistic powers by working in new disciplines.
Week #4: January 26 – 28 (Double BIll)
THE NEGro Perkins
The Art of Social Graces
The Negro Perkins
Written and Directed by Lisa L. Langford
Featuring Sherrie Tolliver, Neal Hodges, Michael Head, and Anne McEvoy
Set in 1898, this piece looks back on an often ignored time in African-American history during the small pox outbreak. The Negro Perkins follows three quarantined African-Americans who come face to face with what “freedom” really means. This new play seeks to reconsider historical events before they harden into an accepted narrative.
Artist Bio:
Lisa is a graduate of Harvard and an actress and writer. This piece was inspired by Pox: An American History by Michael Willrich
The Art of Social Graces
Choreographed by Jennifer Sandoval
Produced by Marquez Dance Project
Music composed by Michael Bratt
Lighting Design by Julie Ballard
In a world of emails, texting, tweeting and Facebook, intimate personal interaction has diminished. We have become a society that prefers conversing with other individuals through technology rather than in person. This form of communication has become detrimental to how we engage with people.
The Art of Social Graces is an inside look on how proper etiquette has evolved over the years. How do we carry ourselves within society? Have we become cynics to the idea of chance encounters?
Company Bio
Marquez Dance Project examines life’s moments through an artistic scope. The objective behind this contemporary dance company is to recapture moments that are compelling to the human spirit through a theatrical and often surreal interpretation. In developing choreography, it is essential to explore beyond the realm of dance for inspiration. Collaboration from other artistic genres facilitate in creating works that are meaningful and honest.
Artist Bio:
Jennifer Sandoval is a graduate of Kent State University where she earned a B.F.A in performance and composition. Her choreography has been presented nationally in the cities of Cincinnati, Cleveland and Chicago as well as internationally in Avignon, France. She has been blessed with the opportunity to work with a variety of artists including; Nicole Gifford of Nicole Gifford Dance, Michael Bratt, Melissa Mallinson, Sarah Morrison of Morrisondance, Julie Ballard, Kenya Woods and Jeanne Mam Luft of Mam Luft Dance. She was awarded the Community Arts Assistance Program grant through the city of Chicago where she resided from 1999 – 2009. In the fall of 2009 Jennifer moved to Cleveland where she continues to work and perform within the Cleveland dance community. Currently she is on faculty at Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland, Ohio.