On December 10, 2020, we’re excited to host a virtual conversation to mark the culmination of our collaboration with For You on Artists & Elders: A Bridge, A Gift. After Court Theatre’s production of The Lady from the Sea closed due to COVID-19, Court teamed up with the Experimental Performance Initiative, Lady from the Sea choreographer Erika Chong Shuch and her colleagues from For You to connect ten artists with ten elders in Chicago. Drawing on dramaturgy from director Shana Cooper’s vision for the play, these artists looked for beacons of hope in their connections with strangers. As a form of creative mutual aid, this project offered artists and elders the chance to connect while sheltering in place, create an artistic exchange in the spirit of gift-giving and inspire new forms of distant socializing.
Speakers at the online event will offer insight and stories from their time collaborating on Artists & Elders. Featured speakers and topics include Resident Artist Ron OJ Parson discussing his work expanding community engagement at Court; Sarah Curran on the Experimental Performance Initiative at University of Chicago; Ryan Tacata and Rowena Richie from For You; Shana Cooper on how artists are shifting roles to meet the current moment; and several participants reflecting on their creative process.
For You
Erika Chong Shuch, Rowena Richie, & Ryan Tacata
Court Theatre
Shana Cooper, Director, The Lady from the Sea
Angel Ysaguirre, Executive Director
Charlie Newell, Artistic Director
Aaron Mays, Community Programs Manager
Kelcie Beene, Associate Production Manager
Becca McCracken, Casting Director
Ron OJ Parson, Resident Artist
Brent Ervin-Eickhoff, Associate Director of Marketing for Content Creation
University of Chicago Experimental Performance Initiative
Sarah Curran, Curator
Hyde Park Art Center
Gregory Smith, Director of Partnerships
Participants
Sheldon D. Brown
Brenda Butler
Melissa DuPrey
Gina Freed
Benjamin Lamar Gay
Delia Gray
Karen Hirsch
Vanissa James
Mark Jeffrey
Emily Hooper Lansana
Sarah Lauzen
Efé McWorter
Michael Pogue
Kelvin Roston Jr.
Darling Shear
Kelli Simpkins
Shaila Small
Christopher Mad Dog Thomas
Sophia Watson
Larry Wolf