a play about house music, that is:
dancing and loving as though your life depends on it
love          groove         magic

THE MAJESTIC
Written by Ana-Maurine Lara
Co-directed by Matt Richardson & Ana-Maurine Lara

Featuring:
Dino Foxx as Mother Majestic

Her Children:
Saray Rosales as Parker
Wura-Natasha Ogunji as Essex
Alix Chapman as Ms Opal
KT Shorb as Flash Gorgeous
Liz Westbrook & Mel Cofer as Thugs

and, of course
DJ Lynnee Denise as The DJ
http://www.myspace.com/djlynneedenise

Meta(physical) production by Sheree Ross. Choreography by Annelize Machado. Dramaturgy by Jennifer Margulies & Surabhi Kukke. Costume Design by Senalka McDonald.

With thanks to ALLGO for their support.

Auditions for:

Workshop Performance of The Majestic
Written by Ana-Maurine Lara
Co-Directed by Matt Richardson & Ana-Maurine Lara
Show Date: July 18, 2009

Inquiries: Ana-Maurine Lara, zorashorse [at] gmail.com

About The Majestic:
What does it mean to be finding yourself in a world where you are not present?  How do you make your way? Follow Parker, Essex, Mother Majestic, The DJ and The Children on their journey to discover their truths, their vulnerabilities and their magic.

Audition Dates:
Tuesday May 26, 2009 – 7pm
Wednesday May 27, 2009 – 7pm

Location: ALLGO – 701 Tillery Street, Austin, TX 78702

The following roles are open:

Parker (aka Golden Son): A butch/boi who’s looking for her/his self. Of color.

Thugs/Police 1 & 2:The Thugs/Police are young white/light-skinned “frat boys/bois” who love their maleness and authority.

The DJ:  DJ who knows how to spin deep soulful house music.  Almost verging on the sacred.  S/he’s taking us to “church”.

Mother Majestic:Mother of the House of Majestic. Trans-sexual Diva: A vain queen with lots of plumage; beautiful, bold, tall, bright.  S/he is in charge of the House.  S/he’s full on.

The Children:

Ms Opal:   Drag Queen: A demure lady performer; big, full-bodied, delicate, bold, beautiful. Of color.

Flash Gorgeous: Drag King: A boi/boy/young trans man with bravado; playful, confident, smooth, direct in body.  Of color.

Essex (aka Aqua Divine): A man who presents with a strong femininity; what we might call a sissy. Of color.

Special Skills/Requirements:
All performers (except the DJ) will dance. Therefore, an ability to dance and/or willingness to learn how to dance is key. Comfort with Queer subject matter and great attitude. All performers will be asked to be off book prior to rehearsal start date.

Rehearsal Schedule
Rehearsals will take place nightly from July 6 – July 10, during the day on Saturday July 11, during the day on Sunday July 12, and nightly July 13 – 17.

Payment
All performers/actors will get a percentage of ticket sales.

March 28, 2009 – 11 AM to 6 PM
Fiesta Gardens, Lady Bird Lake (MAP)

“Piri” is a Japanese onomatopoeia to describe the sharp heat on the tongue when eating spicy food. This performance installation explores that heat. Look for mysterious frozen people and slow walkers. If you’re not paying attention, you might miss us! “Piri!” is directed by kt shorb.

The amazing Sharon Bridgforth wrote the intro for Sunday’s program:

We are in for something special tonight.
A tasty Artistic treat that is herstoric in nature.
An Offering that is evidence that Austin is a great city to live in.
I am honored to say that I know these Artists.
I am ecstatic to be a Witness.

The Artists on program tonight are breaking ground.  They are not only Working in new forms/intersecting disciplines/bursting aesthetic boarders.  These Artists have kicked past the old guard-thinking that keeps Vision marginalized and privileged.  They have created their own opportunities/have re-imagined Collective Spirit/have taken control of their own destiny and Work.  Through a re-shaping of space/tonight’s Artists are creating bold new ways for us all to consider making and showing Work.   In this they are being of Service for us all.

Tonight is a perfect example of how art can be a vehicle of social justice.  Of how community can be self-determining.  Of contemporary movement building through bridging.  Austin with it’s herstory of grassroots global organizing lead by Artists/women/people of color/queers….is the perfect place to nurture and hold what is being Given tonight.

You can give back by spreading the Word about your experience of tonight’s Work.  By joining the Artist’s mailing lists/volunteering/donating.  Through your continued Presence at events.  In each moment/with every decision you make that is informed by courage and Generosity as you move your own Work and Life forward. Together/We are the Answered Prayer.

Ache.
Rock On.
Strap yo wig.
We in flight tonight….
With Joy
Sharon Bridgforth

• Muntu
• The Walls are Alive (with the sound of)
• by a quiet sea
• T.A.G.

Sunday, March 15th at 5:30pm

The Dougherty Arts Center Theater
1110 Barton Springs Road
Austin, TX, 78704

Tickets cost $15 each.  Ticket reservations may be made by emailing: edgeboxoffice@gmail.com

We are on Bill A — *change in dates*

Tuesday, February 10th, 2009 at 8:00pm
Friday, February 13th, 2009 at 8:00 pm

Buy Tickets

The women of Stamp Lab performed “T.A.G.,” an impressionistic montage. A ghost named Nina raves quietly, a strong old woman named Billy rails on social change and gentrification (“I’m a certified Negro,” she says, refusing the label “African-American”), a singing woman chugs across the stage as a train with a 3-foot beehive, and a captivating gay girl waits for the bus, eager to split town. The piece may be baffling, but it is visually arresting.

Stamp Lab: A Performance Group
presents
“T.A.G.”

Written by Stamp Lab
(Cheryl Coward, Ana-Maurine Lara, k. terumi shorb)
Directed by Natalie Goodnow

A story about about shifting family values, restless youth, cranky bulldaggers and the ghost of an afro-future past. The train stops for no one. T.A.G.

“T.A.G.” will be performed January 23 at 8:00 pm, Hyde Park Theatre. “T.A.G.” is part of the 2009 FronteraFest Short Fringe. Admission is $12. [Purchase tickets online]

Friday nights fill up fast, so reserve your ticket now!

“T.A.G.” is a short performance ensemble piece featuring Fran Nalls, Wura Ogunji, Saray Rosales, and k. terumi shorb

This project is funded and supported in part by the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts Division and by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts and an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art.

Open Casting Call:
Auditions:
Wednesday, November 19, 7-10PM, ALLGO (701 Tillery St, STE 4)
Performance Dates:
TBA as part of FronteraFest Short Fringe, Hyde Park Theatre; Jan-Feb 2009

Stamp Lab (Cheryl Coward, Ana-Maurine Lara and k. terumi shorb), an award-winning theater collective, seeks to cast performers for the original short play, T.A.G, directed by Natalie Goodnow.

T.A.G. is part of the 2009 FronteraFest Short Fringe, sponsored by Hyde Park Theatre.

T.A.G. is a short multi-media performance piece questioning the impact of transgression, gentrification and liberalism on marked bodies.

Parts:
Nina- older woman of color, frenetic, possibly a ghost
Billy- older Black butch/bulldagger, calm but anxious
Bus- younger woman of color, queer, wants to leave where she is
Train- female, any race, mostly physical, few lines, an entity unto herself

To schedule an audition, submit a headshot & resume. Performers interested in auditioning should come prepared to read sides from the play cold, to do minimal movement work and to engage in group auditions.

To schedule an audition time, email Stamp Lab at hush [at] stamplab.org  For more information about Stamp Lab, visit our website: stamplab.org