That is Red Eye Theatre.
An hour later the actors, who hopefully slept more than the writers, showed up to get their scripts, meet with the directors and begin memorizing lines.
Eight & 322/Eight & 27 |
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Red Eye asks that question twice a year, and the answer is a unique theater experience Before 7 p.m. Friday, May 26, 2023 six one act plays did not even exist yet. By 7:30 p.m. the next night they were being performed in front of a live audience. That is Red Eye Theatre. Seven writers gathered for auditions Friday night from which they picked out a cast to write their play around. The theory is the writers don't have a full-blown idea and has not written a single word They sat through 35 auditions, picked the actors they would into their concept, then get some caffeine and commenced to writing an original play. By 7 a.m. on May 27 their script had to be completed and in the hands of the show's producers and organizers Nicholas Hess and Brooke Lawrie. Six scripts were delivered from seven writers (two co-wrote their submission.) An hour later the actors, who hopefully slept more than the writers, showed up to get their scripts, meet with the directors and begin memorizing lines. Some of the actors had no prior stage experience, some of the directors had never directed before and some of the scripts were from first-try writers. This is truly a unique experience. Oh, and no props, set design, lighting, blocking or anything had yet been conceived. Over the next 12 hours everything was to be ready for opening curtain at 7:30 ish. During the day each cast found a different section of the Barrow-Civic Theatre to set-up rehearsal space. They learned lines and began to think about movements on stage. The directors assembled a props list and developed a stage design. The behind-the-scenes crew then went to work finding the props and costumes for the six plays. None of the plays, for logistical purposes, were supposed to have elaborate anything. There isn't the time or crew to have too many scene or costume changes, and the audience imagination is sometimes required to round out the experience. Play themes ranged from a musical Red Riding Hood's revenge to the contemporary societal dilemma of a newspaper closing. This unique experience for actors gives insight into the creation of ideas and for writers, it gives an understanding of strict deadline and the reality of the compromise of "it is as good as it can be for now." Directors and tech learn to think on their feet and fly by the seat of their pants. For props, costumes and design it is an exhausting straight out sprint to get everything together. That's Red Eye." At the end of an intense 24 hours art, that is akin to improvisational jazz, was made - something that cannot be duplicated, nor should it be. This project is a lived-art experience. It is a playground for creatives and a classroom for the young and old to feed off what each brings to the table. Whether it is an experience passed down from the more experienced in the room to the youngsters and first-timers or it is the youthful optimism that reminds the older folks in theater just why they do love it so much, they all learn from each other. Red Eye happens twice a year at the Barrow-Civic Theatre, Memorial Day weekend and again Labor Day weekend. It is the brainchild of Nicholas Hess and has been a consistent workshop experience since 2017. It draws thespians from all around the region with many who delight in returning to test themselves and just have fun creating something completely unique. Below are more photos from the show Saturday night. To view even more photos visit: https://sayerrich.zenfolio.com/p619592849
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Franklin's youth theater production of The Rainbow Fish Musical filled the Barrow-Civic Theatre with song, a lot of color and an overabundance of cuteness.
See even more photos from the show here. Area artists are participating in nationwide happening and it could up your Christmas shopping game11/22/2022 ![]() Artists from Oil City will be taking part in the national "Artist's Sunday" celebration on November 27. According to the Arts Oil City social media post, "It's an art filled day with a range of mediums, affordable gift items, original art for the collector, and a musical concert spread throughout the day and about town." There will be open studios at the National Transit Building from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Other artists to look for in their studios are
There will also be local businesses hosting artists showing their wares.
The local galleries and shops participating include:
As an added bonus, trained opera singer, Jamie Bastello, who is new to Oil City, will perform Arias at 4 locations, starting at 12:30 p.m. on the Oil City Library steps. See flyer below for more times and locations.
![]() Artist DP Warner has had a long varied career in the visual and performing arts. A drummer with a passion for “Little Feat,” he’s played in a number of ensembles in recent years. His early visual arts included large scale social commentary pieces incorporating acrylic paints and building materials. Installations, found objects were often paired with more traditional painting and drawing. His work had quirk. Often he had purposeful tongue-in-cheek jokes intermingling with real societal investigations, climate change and humanity’s connection to place. In recent years, the retired professor of painting and design at Edinboro University, has been quietly exploring the world of plein air landscape painting, a style of painting involving being outside on site and painting from direct observation, usually in one session. He is also in a small studio space where he elaborates on these observed scenes and other places to make slightly larger paintings based on places he has been and photographed. “I’m in a different mode these days,” Warner said. “I think my studio work is starting to evolve into a spiritual quest of some sort.” His work, now done in oil paints primarily, explores many scenes from his travels around local and regional back roads, as well as some scenes from overseas. He works daily, when life doesn’t intervene, working out new paintings. “Time will tell, but I’m kind of interested in where (these recent studio paintings) are going,” Warner said. “Not totally sure about it all, but the big pieces seem to be about presence. They definitely are different than my plain air stuff.” Though his work may seem quite different from his early work, they still explore humanity’s connection to place. Warner’s work over the last few years will be featured in a show at the Meadville Council on the Arts on the second floor of historic Market House in Meadville. An opening reception will kick off the month-long exhibition on November 4 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. The show, titled “Here and There” runs through December 3. Editor’s note: Warner is a former professor of this article’s writer. They have been friends for over 25 years and currently share studio space. DP was our Featured artist of the month in July 2020. Here are the series of articles we did that month
http://www.8and322.com/eight--322/featured-artist-of-the-july-dp-warner http://www.8and322.com/eight--322/artist-of-the-month-of-july-dp-warner-sound-check-two http://www.8and322.com/eight--322/artist-of-july-week-three-dp-warner http://www.8and322.com/eight--322/artist-of-july-dps-abstractions-of-nature-bridged-old-and-new-work http://www.8and322.com/eight--322/artist-of-july-what-is-dp-warner-doing-now ![]()
"Klee and I are still at it," wrote Rafi Perez. The two artists have been showing an extensive collection of their work in Oil City's Graffiti gallery in August, but with no one filling in the September slot they asked to stay for another month to put on even more events and continue showing off their work..
"We have taken over Graffiti Gallery and we are not ready to let it go! That’s right! We are extending our show through September in Oil City." Their work includes paintings, jewelry, sculptures, books, music, and more. They welcome discussions with "creatives and forward thinkers" at all times. "Come hang out and talk about life, listen to music, look at some art, and have a blast. The show runs through the month of September on Fridays from 4-7 and Saturdays from 11am-2pm. The gallery will also be open for private appointments, contact Rafi and Klee to schedule your private tour. Below is a snippet from one of their original songs earlier in August. To see when they are singing or cracking open a bottle of wine this month visit: https://rafiandklee.com/hi-were-still-here-you-cant-get-rid-of-us/ Here is the Eight & 322 post from August to learn more about these artist's and show. http://www.8and322.com/arts/new-kids-on-the-block I did not know in 1997 that the body of work I completed for my grad school thesis was actually about 2022. This drawing, which at one point was also a painting that I believe no longer exists (I had a bit of a burn cleanse a few years ago of pieces that didn't work that also had been over come from neglectful storage) has been on my mind a lot lately.
My thesis show was called "Issues of Gender" which was horrible title. I was barely intellectually equipped to even know what I was talking about. But that has always been my work - I push into the murky unknown things I don't understand trusting that what I have to say has words somewhere. That the inner dialogue I think makes sense will eventually be deciphered and luminous. I have been looking at this work since the Supreme Court ruling to overturn the federal protection of women's autonomy was taken away back in May was leaked. This work, though it lacked what I was striving for so many years ago has stayed in my piles of work for a very good reason, because they hadn't yet been truly about what they are, indeed, about. They, sadly were made for this time in history that I wish had never come. I considered doing new work, and have been slowly transforming some old pieces into new works that directly relate to this time. But some I don't think I can do anything to up-date them - like this one. I will rename this though: "Supreme Court Justice Samual Alito comes to call."
Now the artists, who are prolific social media posters and internet creators with videos and music showcasing their crazy takes on life living as perpetual creators.
Next Friday they will give the area a full introduction to their work in an exhibition opening at the Graffiti Gallery in Oil City. They claim it will “knock your socks off.” They are planning a bit of a retrospective with some work they have never shown before as well. Klee’s jewelry will be displayed with Rafi’s paintings and sculpture pieces. They will also be showing fresh work, some done right in the gallery itself.
The show runs through August featuring a few happenings, art creations, giveaways and several streaming opportunities to join them from afar. They are packing a lot into the month beginning with the opening reception from 6 to 8 p.m. on August 5 featuring music, food and drink.
The following day they will welcome visitors to the gallery from noon to 6 p.m. to watch them create their work as well as their music. They promise to be available for engaging. “Enjoy conversations about their travels, art, and why they moved to this amazing area,” they said in a press release. If you can’t attend this event they will live stream from 1 to 2 p.m.
“This laid back concert will be like hanging out with two friends while they sing and play guitar,” they said. The music too will be live streamed.
The following day Rafi will read from his books and be around to sell and sign copies. The gallery will be open from noon to 6 p.m. with readings from 4 to 5 p.m. The readings will also be live streamed. The following week, August 19 and 20 they are hoping Bridgefest, a two-day music festival in Oil City, will bring many more visitors to the gallery. August 27 the doors will be open from noon to 6 p.m. for the show’s final day. “We will be hanging out talking about art, life, and anywhere else the conversations take us” they said. “We will also be doing some giveaways that day as a big thank you to everyone that came to our exhibition.” More information: Visit their website at https://rafiandklee.com/hi-were-new-here-rafi-and-klee-exhibition/ There is nothing more poetic than the world inside a droplet of water.
What bad poetry do you keep around?
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