The State Theatre presents their work in progress

Posted by DCA Theater on March 1, 2011 in January-June 2011 Season, INCUBATOR Series: The State Theatre

The State Theatre entertained a crowd of about 60 people in the DCA Studio Theater with excerpts from their play in development, Blood Sun.

The event was presented as a part of INCUBATOR, a series designed to support the creation of new work by emerging Chicago theater companies. Utilizing Chicago DCA Theater space and resources, participants explore new projects, develop and refine styles, and share their process with the public during a special showcase event.

Don’t miss the next INCUBATOR series showcase performance for coming soon in Fall 2011!

The woman behind the myth

Posted by DCA Theater on February 25, 2011 in January-June 2011 Season, INCUBATOR Series: The State Theatre

By Kantara Souffrant, Blood Sun cast member

There is so much to say about Blood Sun. The process has turned out to be more emotionally intense and engaging then I could have imagined. I’m in the company of some incredibly talented artists and visionaries, particularly our hard-working and devoted director Casey Searles, who is *always* present, engaged, and trying to boost the morale of our group. Casey has been invaluable to me as I’ve tried to “find” my character Nongqawuse;  a young woman lost in the annals of time and history. While I have tried my best to render a character who is human (vulnerable, tough, and complicated), I can’t know Nongqawuse without knowing that she has become a myth; not a young woman but a thing created and reproduced in a collective imaginary. Casey has been a great sounding board and resource and I’m grateful for her help (as well as everyone else’s) in finding the woman behind the myth.

Multiple characters

Posted by DCA Theater on February 25, 2011 in January-June 2011 Season, INCUBATOR Series: The State Theatre

By Nathan Randall, Blood Sun cast member

Given the many different characters I’m portraying, I’ve had an interesting time finding my characters’ voices.  The word came quickly from Casey:  no dialects!  The challenge then becomes making each character distinct without becoming overly broad.  My initial thoughts on two of my characters’ voices:  Sir George Grey and Sandile.  Both are leaders, both responsible for the lives of those in their care.  Sandile cares for his people; Grey cares for the resources lying under the people’s land. 

Okay, cool. That opens things up a bit.  Sandile’s tone can be warm and inviting, Grey’s cold and officious.  Sandile actually converses with people; we never see Grey outside of his office. 

And then I read this quote from Cecil Rhodes:  “To be born English is to win first prize in the lottery of life.”

I now say that to myself before every Grey scene. That’s the character, for me.

See if you can hear it!

Deliciously overwhelming

Posted by DCA Theater on February 25, 2011 in January-June 2011 Season, INCUBATOR Series: The State Theatre

By Tim Speicher, State Theatre Artistic Director

18 months ago, Mbo handed me a massive document with only two words on the cover: Blood Sun. I said, “What’s this?” He said, “It’s my proposal for a show about The Prophetess Nongqawuse. It’s a true story, and I want there to be a lot of puppets.” I was skeptical. Puppets? Prophets? Tough to pronounce names? “I don’t know, man.” Mbo looked me in the eye and said, “We will kill 400,000 cows on stage.” With that, I was hooked.

The ideas for this show have been all over the place. At one point, it was an interpretation of Medea. At another, it was a Vietnamese-style water puppet show. At another, the show was entirely constructed from suitcases. It’s been deliciously overwhelming. Casey, Nikki, and Mbo have been a collective goldmine of brilliance on this project, and I can’t wait to see how everything ends in the shuffle.

If all else fails, we’ll just do this:

Thanks, and see you Monday!

King Sarhili

Posted by DCA Theater on February 25, 2011 in January-June 2011 Season, INCUBATOR Series: The State Theatre

By Lindsey Charles, Blood Sun cast member

First of all, I have to get something out of the way: I love the Cultural Center! There’s always some interesting groups coming in and out, and this show has made me come to the Center with more regularity than ever before! Sometimes it’s even hard to just go to the bathroom without being stalled by something pretty or informational on the walls.

In this particular play, I play King Sarhili. Granted, I’m a lady, but I haven’t let that stop me! My voice gets REAL low and regal, and I try my best to stand in a manly stance! It’s interesting to be the only girl in the cast to have to change genders. It’s great, because I not only get to explore the suffering of a woman, but also of a king. When you come right down to it, it ain’t all that diff’rent! :)

I’ve also really been enjoying the puppets we use in the play’s opening scene. I’ve never really had much experience with puppets, but the fabulous Mbongeni N. Mtshali has taught us well. He’s all about keeping the puppet alive. I like to make it talk when I’m operating it, and sometimes it throws up (because it’s in the script!). I certainly won’t be doing that for the actual performance.

Kantara (the lovely lady playing Nongqawuse) is definitely giving it her all, and there’s not even an audience! I can’t wait to see her and Danielle and Marcus have their heavy interactions for the public, who I think will be very affected.

This week is a tiresome one, but I’m crazy-confident that we’re going to have a very moving and powerful show (or should I say ‘INCUBATION’) by Monday!