Produced by NACL (North American Cultural Laboratory) Conceived and directed by Tannis Kowalchuk, Text by Melissa Bell and Mark Dunau, Original Music by Rima Fand. Assistant Director/Dramaturg Mimi McGurl. Premiere: Governor’s Island, NYC, Sept 22-24, and Apple Pond Farm, Callicoon Center, NY, Aug 18-20, 2017. Developmental workshop production July 22-24, 2016
COURAGE is a site specific immersive theatrical journey. With 25 performers, this play looks at the struggle for equality, compassion, and survival in a dystopian world of fear and war, while warning against those who would attempt to profit from war. The setting is a refugee camp, and the audience goes on a long walk (mirroring a refugee’s journey) with a final resting place inside Central Tent. Along the way they meet a motley crew of survivors: a military stilt regiment, a Greek-style chorus of singing migrants, a religious aid worker, a migrant smuggler, a surly cook. Their stories weave together into a moving tapestry of loss, courage, and resilience.
“Makes a lasting impression” Sullivan County Democrat "Stunning...wildly imaginative" Jonathan Charles Fox, The River Reporter
Peter Walsh and Greek Chorus: Ginny Hack, Tracy Broyles, Annie Hat, Jessica Lopez-Barkl, Nancy Peterman, Melissa Bell, Tracy Broyles, Laylage Courie.
John Roth, top, Gregg Erickson, Brett Hughes, Desmond Oxford McDonald, Jon Jon Thomas
John Roth as General Publik
CREATOR-ACTORS Jessica Lopez Barkl, Jessica Beveridge, Bradley Diuguid, Conrado Falco, Brett Hughes, Oliver King, Tannis Kowalchuk, Simon Kowalchuk-Swartz, Daniel Lendzian, Nick Lopez, Keith McHenry, Brian Ritchie, John Roth, Yurika Sase, Peter Walsh, Sajda Waite, Debra Winger. STILT CORPS: Gregg Erickson, Corinna Grunn, Mark Keoppen, Desmond Oxford McDonald, Adrianne Picciano, John Roth, Jon Jon Thomas, Sunny Thomas, Tyler Young, Michael Chojnicki. CHORUS: Melissa Bell, Tracy Broyles, Laylage Courie, Rebekah Creshkoff, Rocky Davis, Ginny Hack, RaeAnn Handshy, Annie Hat, Nancy Peterman. MUSICIANS: Sarah Alden, Zoe Christiansen, Rima Fand, Doug Rogers, Hannah Temple. Stage Management by Aubrey Ellis and Assistant Stage Manager Brendan Dromazos. Technical Direction by Zoot, and Brett Keyser on Tech/web. Brad Krumholz is the Co-Artistic Director of NACL.
Mark Dunau, Tannis Kowalchuk, Melissa Bell, Honored Finalists Women in the Arts & Media Collaboration Award.