Sunday, October 19, 2008

SATURDAY AT AQLF!!!!!!!
What a richly rewarding, healing, FUN day/night!
The morning began with no folks lined up for the acting class I had planned to give, but that's okay, because it freed me up to take a breath, and attend a couple of wonderful workshops! The first, a Prose Workshop given by Judy Doenges, had us discussing character, and the way setting can influence, and inform that character.
Collin Kelley, when asked about his "Conquering Venus", detailed how viewing Wim Wenders' "Until The End Of The World" and especially, lovely actress Jeanne Moreau, literally created one of the characters in his novel."She became what I imagine Jeanne Moreau--the person--to be."
Ms. Doenges and Kate("For The May Queen") Evans were surprised by this revelation(as was I), and this fueled more discussion.
Ms. Doenges gave us a hand-out which featured a short story by Peter Cameron, a favorite of hers.
The second workshop was with Kate Bornstein. Her views on gender/race/class identity are legendary, but it's still amazing to see and hear her, in-person.
She detailed a heirarchy that rivals the one created by Eric Maslow(Maslow's Heirarchy of Human Needs)--the one all us college kids became familiar with. The difference being, this heirarchy is one that defines methodologies that attempt to control, and/or repress us.
Despite her claims of being a completely depressed, pessimistic person most of the time, her bright light shone through. I daresay if she didn't carry some hope in her heart, she would not bother to teach the rest of us. "Hello Cruel World" is her fantastic book. Get it, read it, follow the survival tips. Her main rule? "Don't Be Mean."
It was nearly 2:00 P.M., so Robin Kemp and I headed to Landmark Diner, just down from the Forsyth Street Library, for a quick bite that turned into a rather leisurely lunch(Her--Dolmades; me--Moussakka, Greek salad, french fries, mozzarella sticks). We tried to get caught up with one another--I seldom get to see Robin(the woman works continually!), and we discussed current events.The political acumen and tremendous care she exhibits for this country was humbling. I think Robin ought to run for office!
After this, I headed back to the Library, and was treated to bookmarks, "book-thongs", and candy.
I took the train to Brookhaven, where Hansoo fetched me, and we headed off to browse at Phipps Plaza(even in this upscale mall--with boutiques like Versace, and Jimmy Choo, I saw NO ONE with purchases. Everyone, even old-money-wealthy, was simply browsing). We trundled down to Candler Park by car, to hear some pre-show poetry from Yolo, and Lakara Foster.
Lakara wowed me with her takes on relationships, women-love, bad men, and body-image(by day, she's a counselor for young women). You go, woman!
Yolo is a favorite of mine--his "We Are Not The Boys We Want" is an anthem to a sometimes-hyocritical gay mens' community."Fags Are Not Responsible", a searing indictment of the bigotry and homophobia all LGBT are familiar with.
"Skin Deep", the play that won the Larry Corse Prize for Playwrighting, a $1,000.00 award, and received its' premiere as part of AQLF was fun...lots of broad comedy, and a drag queen diva, to boot!
Sunday: 3:00 P.M.--Reginald T. Jackson will direct a show he wrote, "69", just after I give "The Woman Who Called Herself Vincent" a debut. Both are "staged readings", which means they are not-quite-polished.
I'm planning to ask for feedback, as it will help me to "shape" my telling of Vincent's life.
Then Sunday night, at Eyedrum Gallery, a big night of music and craziness, to cap off the fun five days/nights we've all had!
Peace, kids.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sounds like you had a blast on Saturday with all of those artists. Good luck today with your debut. I hope it's a hit.

Lisa Nanette Allender said...

First, clandestine samurai--THANK YOU!!
I feel good about "The Woman Who Called Herself Vincent"--in terms of what I need to do, acting-wise, I think I need a hundred hours or so of rehearsal(to memorize, be-in-her-skin, etc.). The big thing I discovered is that I want very much to flesh out other areas of her life(I focused more on her family of origin, and her husband, Eugen). We'll see!

Anonymous said...

What was the title of the Peter Cameron story? I love his work. Thanks.

Lisa Nanette Allender said...

Anonymous:I'll have to find the hand-out, to see the title. It was a short story that involves a young man who refuses to speak anymore, at home(his mother has remarried). The lad speaks at school, but not at home.

nolapoet said...

You're too kind...

I just came from the Troy Davis rally, which I had to leave early anyway because I have class tonight--but did you know that the Capitol Police first diverted traffic AWAY from the front steps (including onto I-75 south), then told demonstrators who were silently standing at that intersection with signs that they had to move because they had to be in the "permitted area?" I asked politely whether it was not legal for me to stand on the sidewalk and exercise my First Amendment rights. The officer said "I'm only gonna tell you one time." So I said, again politely, "Well, then, I guess I'll go exercise my First Amendment rights on the sidewalk across the street," and crossed. Duh, I forgot to get his badge or nameplate and couldn't even tell you if he was wearing either one.

Here's the deal. First of all, I know nothing about any permit saying "Capitol steps only." The application makes the person in charge agree to follow the directions of the Capitol cops in the area. It *doesn't* say that the Capitol cops have the right to shift boundaries and cut off demonstrators from the public arbitrarily, i.e., for the sole purpose of blocking peaceful protestors from public view. See http://gba.georgia.gov/vgn/images/portal/cit_1210/48/32/75591940Assembly%20Form2-07.pdf for the application (I guess ordering the actual permit will be an FOIA thing).

Second, Georgia code IS written to give the Capitol police control of the sidewalks "surrounding" the area (kinda vague...the Capitol block? the church sidewalk? down the street?)--BUT in 2002 a federal appeals court struck down as unconstitutional a similar case in New York. Last time I checked, federal law trumps state law. The National Lawyers Guild says this is perfectly legal (see http://www.nlg-la.org/free_speech_rights.pdf ).

Anyhow, I crossed the street and stood with two other people there. About five minutes later, they sent a younger cop over. I asked him whether I was not allowed to stand on the sidewalk and exercise my First Amendment rights by holding a sign. He sighed and said, "They just told me to come get y'all." So I continued to exercise my First Amendment rights all the way back up the street to GSU, ensuring that far more people saw the slogan FREE TROY DAVIS than would have had the cops not blocked the street.

Lisa Nanette Allender said...

Hi Nola Poet, I hope you're wel!
I'm SO PROUD OF YOU, FOR THE GREAT WORK YOU ARE DOING, Robin!
Hope we all have an easier time of it, if we have to continue protesting to save the LIFE of Troy Davis!