Visions in Motion 20/20, A Key City Public Theatre Co-lab project

The Visions in Motion 20/20 Story:

For over a decade my studio work focused on my visual interpretation of themes from the ballet and music of The Rite of Spring, first performed in 1913. I saw the Pacific Northwest Ballet with Glen Tetley’s innovative choreography in 2005 and was inspired to explore themes of human connection to the environment, renewal and rebirth. Just a few years ago, I became aware that my grandfather’s expressionist play, Roger Bloomer was deeply influenced by The Rite of Spring performance that he saw in 1920. The idea of an exhibition combining The Rite of Spring, art and history began percolating in my mind.

My cousin Nancy Lawson Carcione, and I traveled to the Morris Library in Carbondale, Illinois to study John Howard Lawson's archives of letters, theatre, film and the McCarthy era. I returned, excited about sharing the expressionist play Roger Bloomer and related themes of renewal and freedom of expression, with our community. The wonderful Key City Public Theatre of Port Townsend, Washington invited me to create a Colab art project for 2020.

"Andrea’s painting is a powerful component of the Visions in Motion 2020 efforts to provide insight into the challenges and changes of the artistic and political developments of the past Century. Here Andrea is in her element. Her painting (whether oil; monoprints, or etchings); or her set design and costuming, all convey an active, vibrant, story that communicates movement and action. Her work stresses the themes of nature, rebirth, joy, and renewal as the seeds of life give way to the next generation of life. The dance sequences, depicted in her paintings, are primitive bursts of movement, form and color. Even her monochromatic seed paintings and etchings are filled with detailed diminutive figures incorporating the same movement.

Andrea’s set designs and costumes reflect a similar energy and use of color, with whimsical figures and fantastical animals sketched across the Plays Opening Curtain, drawing the viewer into a celebration of the diversity of life. The fantastic creatures and edgy costumes delight and provoke at the same time."

-Susan Swannuck-Nunn Gallerist

This project was made possible by the hard work and talent of many dancers, actors and community members, Centrum Artist Residency, The Port Townsend Arts Commission and of course Key City Public Theatre and Artistic Director: Denise Winter.

Program Credits:

Visions in Motion 20/20 is presented in loving memory of Rosalind Kirschenbaum Lawson Russell

House Un-American activities Committee: The Interrogation

Full cast

J. Parnell Thomas: Sam Cavallaro

Recorded clip from HUAC Hearing, 1947.

John Howard Lawson Reading: Tristan Riley

Selections from Roger Bloomer A Play in Three Acts

By John Howard Lawson (selected and adapted by Andrea K. Lawson)

Directed by Andrea K. Lawson with help from the cast

Cast:

Narrator, Woman 2, Helen Curry

Roger Bloomer-Tristan Riley

Eugene, Woman 1, Hymn Singer, Veil dancer- Pascale Sanok

Louise- Hanna Frahn

Mr. Rumsey, Judge, Dream Ragged Man, “Respectables”, Prison Attendant- Sam Cavallaro

Recorded Voices: Sam Cavallaro, Helen Curry, Hanna Frahn and Pascale Sanok

Music credits:

Drums: Declan Wescott

The Love Nest, John Steel, 1920

One Step At a Time, 1920’s Jazz, composed and recorded by David Luong, 2015

Poems in Pursuit of a Future

Written and Read by Heather Hamilton

tallroot hum

Choreography: Heather Hamilton

Dancers:

Lauren Ehnebuske

Hanna Frahn

Anna Hansen

Heather Hamilton

Lily O’Shea

Music credits: Rites by Laurence Pike; Holy Spring by Laurence Pike; Dusk to Dawn by Emancipator

Roger Bloomer Curtain Design and Creation: Andrea K. Lawson

Sets and Costume Design: Andrea K. Lawson

Dance costumes and Sets painted by Andrea K. Lawson

Louise Renewal Dress design and concept, Andrea K. Lawson, actualization, Lauretta Frost

Roger Bloomer Actor Costume Consultant, Beverly Michaelson

Seed Concept: Andrea K. Lawson and Heather Hamilton

Prop Design: Andrea K. Lawson, Daphne Hamilton, Lauretta Frost

Prop Creation: Daphne Hamilton, Lauretta Frost, Andrea K. Lawson, Yael Zahavy-Mittelman, Sam Cavallaro, Nancy Frisch

Seamstress, Lauretta Frost

Production Support, Michael Hamilton

A Visual Odyssey: Written and Created by Nancy Lawson Carcione

with assistance from Adrian Carcione (contextual media presentation located in the lobby)

The Seed Project

Thank you Community Seed Makers!

Michelle Marguerite Caron

Lisa Crosby

Farren

Nancy Frisch

Lauretta Frost

Daphne Hamilton

Heather Hamilton

Jeanne Harrington

Debbie Kosman

Emma Levine

Sheila Long

Kyle Marcano

Beverly Michaelson

Gerry Newcomb

Heather Sattva Sky

Johanna Perkins

Brent Wickline

Susan Yadon

Yael Zahavy-Mittelman