GILGAMESH Photos

GILGAMESH

Circle of Stones Ritual Theatre Ensemble presents Gilgamesh at Allentown Symphony Hall this weekend and next weekend! Go to www.allentownsymphony.org for ticket information!

Check out this article from The Morning Call....

Five thousand years ago, legend says, Gilgamesh, two-thirds god and one-third human, ruled the great city of Uruk on the banks of the Euphrates river in Babylonia. Through harsh rule and fierce ambition, he lost the faith of his people and watched his city's greatness decline. But after an epic quest involving fantastic journeys and superhuman exploits, he regained his wisdom and the city's grace.

A huge stone of lapis lazuli, engraved with an account of the great king's exploits, is said to have stood by the tall cedar gates of the city. Now, the Circle of Stones Ritual Theatre Ensemble will recount the epic drama of Gilgamesh once more, not in cuneiform script on stone, but on the stage of Symphony Hall. And this time, the tale of transformation is about Allentown.

''Gilgamesh,'' on stage this Friday through Sunday and again next weekend, is ''an epic action adventure,'' says ''Gilgamesh'' director Steven Dennis, associate professor of performing and fine arts at De Sales University, artistic associate for the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival and '' Star Trek'' television actor.

An original stage adaptation of the ancient Sumerian legend by the Emmaus-based ensemble, its creation is something of a epic journey itself, the result of three years of research, improvisation and experimentation. The basic draft was completed during summer retreats in 2007 and 2008; the final script written by Circle of Stones producing artistic director Pana Columbus. Funding came from a dozen foundations, churches, organizations and companies.

The production features 40 professional and local actors, dancers, and singers. Its format of drama, music, storytelling, and even comedy is neither play nor musical, opera nor operetta. Nothing quite like it has been done in the area before.

Columbus says ''Gilgamesh'' is ''a personal transformation story,'' but also about ''community transformation.''

''We saw the obvious parallels between this king's transformation and what's happening now in Allentown. It went through its glory days, then into a kind of decline and death phase. Now it's reviving itself into something completely new.''

Past, present and future are intermingled, much like a classic Greek drama. Its two acts are bookended by scenes of a modern-day Allentown city street, where young people interact with a famous figure from the city's past -- philanthropist General Harry Trexler, re-created by George Miller, former artistic director of Allentown's Theatre Outlet and Trexler re-enactor before he moved to Ireland a few years ago. In between these scenes we are transported back to the world of Uruk.

''Harry Trexler serves as this magical person who lives in both worlds. He might be speaking with Latino kids one moment, then dips back into ancient Uruk the next,'' says Columbus. ''He's the bridge between the ancient adventure story and the modern-day transformation. Our invitation to the community is to embrace his bold, courageous, pioneer spirit. We're asking everybody to have that relationship with the city.''

The storytelling involves many classic devices. In one sequence, a voyage by Gilgamesh (ensemble member Tom Byrn) and the wild man Enkidu (DeSales theater instructor Kris Yoder) is depicted as a shadow play, where the characters appear behind a screen illuminated from the rear. The scene is narrated in Greek-chorus style.

Utnapishtim, the Mesopotamian Noah, is played by Shakespeare Festival favorite Wayne Turney. Turney is one of three equity actors in the play.

No ancient epic would be complete without a goddess: Rachael Joffred plays the vengeful Ishtar. Spurned by Gilgamesh, she invokes the wrath of a great beast -- the Bull of Heaven -- to wreck havoc on Uruk.

Ensemble music director Scott Eggert composed the score, a mix of keyboard, electronic instruments, woodwinds, African drums, Asian gongs and singing bowls. The sound is at once new age, jazzy, classical, and Middle Eastern. Sarah Carlson, assistant professor of dance at Muhlenberg College, is choreographer.

Dennis views ''Gilgamesh'' as a catalyst for the revitalization of Symphony Hall as well as Allentown.

''We are finding ways of using Symphony Hall as a performance space in a manner that the public has never seen,'' he says. ''The very act of buying a ticket there can be the very beginning of creating a downtown magnet for an entertainment and dinner destination. I've seen this happen across the country; I've done a lot of regional theater. Allentown is ripe to find its new identity.''

Our poster image for the piece.

Post concert celebration with my soloist, Desiree & ensemble dancer (and best friend) Carrie.

Ophelia Photos 2

These photos were taken during a photo shoot to advertise the concert.

Ophelia Photos 1

This is my beautiful soloist, Desiree Cosgrove

(Not) an Addict Photo Shoot

Dancers: Danielle Vallies, Alexandra Feldman, Carrie Moore, Tonya Cooper, Brandy Hill (not included).

(Not) an Addict

Here's the performance video of my piece, (Not) an Addict from Student Dance Works 2009.

Spring Semester Catch Up

Wow...I'm really REALLY bad at this blogging business. Way too hard to manage this while in the midst of total college chaos but now I find I have the time and so I will not sum up the remainder of my kinda sorta senior spring semester. I'll explain the kinda sorta senior business later.

The semester began with our musical, Leader of the Pack which in my opinion (and the opinion of many others) was a complete and udder disaster. I was dance captain for the show and although I had a fairly fun time, the show and the material was by way challenging or impressive. Enough said about that mistake.

As soon as the show closed, we packed our things and left for the American College Dance Festival held at Penn State Main. I was performing in a piece called "When the Theater Doors Close" choreographed by my best friend, Carrie. It was a fun piece where we were dressed as dolls with hot pink wigs and run a muck. The festival itself wasn't as impressive as I had hoped. I have heard that in recent years the whole organization has kind of gone down hill which is a shame. Luckily the college paid for us dancers to attend because otherwise I would not have gone. The whole thing is just too much money.

Literally right after returning from Penn State we went into tech week for our Student Dance Works concert. My piece (Not) an Addict was well received. I'd love to go back to that piece one day and work on it some more and add on to it. I also danced in Carrie's piece again and a Chicago style jazz number which was nice. We had 11 student choreographers this year and it was a great turnout.

And right after that we went into tech week AGAIN but this time for the B.A. Dance Concert. My 25 minute long senior piece, "Ophelia" was featured in the show and I could not believe the amount of great comments I got on the piece. I'm so proud of it and of my soloist, Desiree. She is the most beautiful dancer I have ever danced with or choreographed for and she just blows me away. She embodied the character in a way I didn't think she could. It was truly amazing and a pleasure to watch her dance that part. I also got a A+ on the piece which was nice haha.

The semester ended with our Spring Dance Company Concert where I was in three pieces. It was a pretty nice concert. I liked the pieces I was in and the costumes actually weren't bad this time.

During the fall semester I had decided to change my theatre minor into a major since I wasn't far from completing the requirements for the major but due to that I will be at Cedar Crest all next year to complete the degree which means I will be a SUPER SENIOR!!! I was kinda bummed to not graduate this year but I feel more closer to the girls that are graduating next year so I'm happy to graduate alongside of them. Plus, I will get to down more productions and choreograph. Currently I'm collaborating with Carrie and my Ophelia soloist, Desiree on a winter piece about the lose of our fathers and how it effects us during the holidays. I'm also working on a separate piece for the spring student concert about Alfred Hitchcock. I'd say more about it but I don't want to give away the fun! I am also cast as Madeleine Usher in Carrie's Edgar Allan Poe dance production and I'm dancing in Desiree's senior project and student piece. So, I'll have my hands full.

This summer I'm working on another production with Circle of Stones where I'm a member of their ensemble. I am many things in the show including a dancer, priestess, goddess, some kind of Kabuki looking ghostly thing that travels in the water and tries to steal souls, and I'm sure many more characters to come.

Is This a Test?

Pretty sure I have had the worst two weeks of my life.  Pretty sure things have to get better from here or I will have a COMPLETE mental breakdown.  No lie.

Sooo first week of classes.  I was fortunate enough to have a spare afternoon with my soloist, Desiree on Monday.  We met, discussed Ophelia.  I walked her through the piece, we watched some clips, I played the music and we even had time to start some choreography which I hadn't planned to do until the weekend.  So, I thought I would actually be ahead of schedule.  Boy, was I wrong.  On Wednesday I had my first ensemble rehearsal of the semester with my other dancers and we review my drug addiction piece which went well and then we began setting choreography to a new piece of music which they weren't too happy about.  I left rehearsal in a horrible mood and then had to go to the second half of Leader of the Pack rehearsals.  Don't EVEN get me started on that show.  I love the dancing, honestly.  The singing is great but the rehearsal process is absolutely ridiculous.  Maybe I'm just used to working with Tim Brown but this is really unorganized and useless.  Most evenings the dancers don't get to do much and it just seems like we shouldn't be called in every night, but again, this guy is no Tim Brown.  

The rest of the week went okay until Sunday.  Sunday I was supposed to have another Ophelia rehearsal but finally getting to put the soloist w/ the ensemble.  We were also supposed to have a costume fitting so I had to take three trips from my house to the car to load everything in and half way on my drive to school I get three phone calls.  Half of my dancers were suddenly hit with this awful virus and could absolutely not dance.  I pulled over to the side of the road, cursed a little bit....okay so I cursed a lot and very calmly had to get back on the phone and call the 3 remaining healthy dancers and tell them not to come.  So, I turned around, unloaded the car and realized that since I wasn't having rehearsal that I now had to go to Leader of the Pack which was rehearsing during the time I'd be doing Ophelia.  Fun.

This week wasn't so bad until Wednesday.  We were hit with a lovely mixture of snow, slush, sleet, and freezing rain.  Oh, joy.  And so the school closed and I was once again, not able to have my rehearsal.  Sooooo tomorrow I will be meeting w/ my soloist for a LONG LONG LONG time to catch up from all the work that we were supposed to do last Sunday and hopefully I can catch the ensemble up in the next week....but I'm not getting my hopes up.  

It just seems like a good thing happens and then a bad thing has to happen right after it.  It makes my week kinda of wishy-washy and I hate it.  It confuses me and I don't know what to think about it all.  I wonder if I am being tested, to see just how much stress and crap I can handle at once because heaven knows that very soon my schedule will be even busier and even more stressful and I almost feel like this is setting me up for that.  I'm trying very hard to hold it all together and put on a good face but really I just want to hide away in my room and come out in a week when the world has decided to be nice to me.

Not only that, but I wish my boyfriend was a little more understanding.  He knows I'm very busy but I don't think he realizes just how stressed I am and its only the second week of classes.  I NEVER get to see him during the week and on the weekends I just want to be with him.  I'm sorry but I'm tired and I typically can only get work done on the weekends so all I want to do is sleep in, be with him, and do as much work as I can and he wants to go to parties or go to Griffo's house.  Don't even get me started on this Griffo kid.  I don't mind the guy but honestly, he sees him every day in class, he works with the guy, and now he wants to go to his house tomorrow night?  I'm sorry but the weekend is OUR time not our time with Griffo.  If he wants to see Griffo that much then maybe he should be in a relationship with him.  I'm not bitter at all.  

I'm very tired and very stressed and I wish he'd open his eyes and see that I just want to be with him and not have to do ANYTHING.

It will get better....

It has to get better...

One Week of Rehearsals Down/First Day of Classes

Last week we started rehearsals for Leader of the Pack.  For the most part the dancers were separated from the singer/actors.  We picked up the choreography very fast and were able to complete 7 dance numbers.  Nicely enough the director wants to showcase the dancers as much as possible so some of the songs turned into complete dance numbers for us which is great and very tiring.  The only problem I have w/ the show/rehearsals so far is the lack of organization.  There is no rehearsal schedule that was given to us so I have no idea what nights I am called to rehearsal.  Being as busy as I am with loads of other rehearsals to schedule, I don't appreciate that too much.  I'm excited to keep learning more however I don't think there is too much left which means the dancers will be doing a lot of sitting around while the actors and singers learn their material and get it blocked.  Guess I better bring a book or homework to do.  

Speak of homework, today was the first day of classes.  Well, I should say class...that didn't happen.  On Mondays I only have one class...at 8am I might add.  And the teacher was away at an event sooooo we were given our syllabus and were dismissed.  I was a little upset for having to get up so early for nothing but oh well.  

At noon, I FINALLY got to meet w/ my soloist for Ophelia who was in Disney all last semester.  We talked about the piece, I gave her all the production dates, we watched DVD clips of Hamlet, I talked her through the music and then we began choreography!  We got through half of the opening number which is great!  I was expecting to do any choreography w/ her until Sunday.  Watching her dance, I remember why I chose her as my soloist.  She picks things up so quickly and she actually moves very similar to me which is great for me because I can choreograph in front of the mirror and if something looks stupid on me it will more than likely look stupid on her hahaha.  I feel so much less stressed now that I was able to get started.  I can't wait until Sunday!!!!  

New Thoughts for a New Year

In the midst of all the Holiday cheer and festivities we are sometimes reminded of what is most important to us.  And seeing as though we just began a new year, I feel as though it is important to share this with all of you.

On December 23rd 2008, tragedy struck my small community.  A young boy I went to high school with passed away.  Sean graduated from Salisbury High School in 2007.  He was only 19 years old.  I cannot say that I knew Sean very well.  He was only in 10th grade when I graduated but he played basketball with my boyfriend and was dating a friend of ours.  The scariest part of Sean's passing is that we don't know why he died.  There was no evidence of suicide.  He just died.  I think we always want to know what causes a person to die because it scares us to think that at any moment we could just die.  But with that in mind it is important to take advantage of every moment we have on this earth.  To love is the most important thing we can do as humans and it was clear at Sean's viewing that he was loved.  

I just keep thinking about his parents and how I'm sure most of his presents were wrapped and under the tree.  He'll never open them.  If that were my child, I don't even know how I could bring myself to go home and look at those presents under the tree.  The holiday season will never be the same for them and I'm sure it will take a long time before they can look at the Christmas season and smile.  

It is always so sad when a young person dies but it helps to remind us all to be safe and not careless and to live as though each day were our last.  Sean's passing reminds us all of other young people who have died in our community.  Just a few short years ago, Randy died in a car accident.  He was engaged to a friend of mine and I have never seen such sadness.  She held on to me for hours as she cried for him.  Randy was reckless that day that he died.  Driving to fast in the rain.  Up until that day my boyfriend rarely wore his seat belt unless I told him to.  Now, he wears his everyday because of Randy.  

When I was in 10th grade two seniors died.  Chris Gore and Sean Cieri.  Going to school and seeing everyone's pain was very hard.  Salisbury is a small school so everyone knows each other.  There was not one person who was not affected by Chris and Sean's passing.  I remember going to the spot where they had died along the road.  It was just a few weeks before graduation.  

Death happens for a reason.  I believe that God was trying to remind us with Chris & Sean's passing that even though being a senior and being able to go on senior trips and parties is exciting and memorable, it can also be dangerous.  Chris and Sean were not careful that night.  Randy's death reminds us to cherish those that we love.  And that we live not only for ourself but for those that we love.  Every time we get in a car we remember Randy and how because of one bad decision, his fiancee was left all alone.  Sean's death this year reminds us to be thankful for the time that we have with our family and friends during the holiday season and not to take it for granted.  

I didn't want to start the New Year off with a sad note but sometimes you have to and sometimes it is for the best.  We cannot let the death of these boys be forgotten.  We must remember and learn from them in hopes of making our own lives better.  New thoughts for a new year.

Sean Aungst RIP 12/23/08