ASU Herberger College School of Theatre and Film announces spring Performance in the Borderlands Project events
TEMPE, Ariz. - The Performance in the Borderlands Project at ASU introduces another exiting and thought-provoking series of screenings, performances and discussions with artists, critics and scholars, on topics related to cross-cultural performing arts. The events will be held Feb. 24 - April 14 and are free, unless otherwise noted.
"One of the most exciting aspects of this series is the focus on conversations with guest artists and performance practitioners who are collaborating with ASU students and faculty," said Ramon Rivera-Servera, assistant professor of theatre and Southwest Borderlands scholar. "The series offers the public a unique opportunity to learn about these artists and preview some of the most interesting work currently being produced in the Southwest United States."
The Performance in the Borderlands Project, part of the Herberger College School of Theatre and Film at ASU, is a research, education and public programming initiative dedicated to the understanding and promotion of cultural performance along the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands. In working to understand the diversity of cultures and artistic traditions in the region, this initiative examines a broad range of performance techniques including theatre, dance, musical practice, ritual, celebrations, and social and folkloric dance.
"Initiatives like Performance in the Borderlands bring our communities intimately closer to the cultural gems of our region," said Rivera-Servera.
At ASU Feb. 24, 8 p.m. , is a film screening of Cornerstone: An Interstate Adventure, in the Architecture Building North, Room 60, ASU Tempe Campus. This documentary film is a humorous and provocative look at three very different Americans and how theatre changed their lives. A post-screening discussion follows with Los Angeles-based Cornerstone Company members Debra Piver and Paula Donnelly.
On March 25, 8 p.m., in the John Paul Theater at Phoenix College, 1202 W. Thomas Road, Teatro Bravo presents El Vagon, by playwright Silvia Gonzalez S. El Vagon is a riveting and tragic tale about four Mexican nationals and a Salvadoran immigrant who get trapped inside a boxcar as they attempt to enter the United States. A post-performance discussion with the playwright and director Guillermo Reyes follows. Tickets are $15 and available by calling Teatro Bravo at 602-258-1800 or e-mailing info@teatrobravo.org.
Another exciting event this season is the screening of Mateo on April 7, 3 p.m., in the Agriculture Building, Room 250, ASU Tempe campus. Mateo is a video-dance project by acclaimed modern dance company Delfos Danza Contemporanea, of Mazatlan, Mexico. The event includes a post-screening discussion with company members, who are currently collaborating with the Herberger College Department of Dance on the concert "Sharing Unimaginable Worlds," presented at ASU April 27-30.
"Our engagement with works like Teatro Bravo's production of El Vagon - a piece that addresses the phenomenon of migration and its often ignored tragedies - and Mateo - an experimental piece that showcases one of the most important dance companies of the past decade - is representative of the breadth of the arts in the Southwest Borderlands region," said Rivera-Servera.
On April 14, 3 p.m., Diana Taylor discusses "Powerful Performatives: From 'American' to Hemispheric Studies" in the ASU Memorial Union, La Paz Room 223, ASU Tempe Campus. Taylor is professor of performance studies and spanish at New York University and executive director of the Hemispheric Institute for Performance and Politics.
For more information, visit http://theatre.asu.edu/community/borderlands.htm or contact Ramon H. Rivera-Servera,ramon.rivera-servera@asu.edu, 480-965-0157.
This series is sponsored by the ASU Office of Pan-American Initiatives, the Herberger College of Fine Arts School of Theatre and Film, ASU Public Events, and the Consulate General of Mexico.
The Herberger College School of Theatre and Film provides a comprehensive range of courses in performance and directing; design and production; new work development; theatre and performance studies; film; and theatre for youth. Its Theatre for Youth program is nationally ranked in the top three and the creative writing/playwriting program is ranked 15th among public institutions by U.S. News & World Report. To learn more about the School of Theatre and Film, visit http://theatre.asu.edu .
Media Contact:
Denise Tanguay
480.965.7144
denise.tanguay@asu.edu