PRODUCED Rorschach Theatre, January 2004
Ethan Brooks, an American academic and a skeptic, returns to South East Asia, where he grew up, to study the dying art form of Malay shadow puppetry. Questions emerge surrounding the disappearance of one of the few remaining puppet masters, and Brooks sets off to find answers in the remote villages of Malaysia. The fables of the old puppeteer begin to mingle with Brooks’ story as he searches and begins to reconcile his own shadows.
In alternating scenes an actual shadow puppet play intersects with the modern narrative. Based loosely on the Hindu epic The Ramayana, it tells of a great battle that will bring either the birth of a hero or the death of a legend.
DEVELOPMENT AND AWARDS HISTORY
Developed by Rorschach Theatre with several in-house workshops. The 2004 PRODUCTION was directed by Jeremy Skidmore and James Hart and featured actors Anne Bowles, Frank Britton, Franklin Dam, Jennifer Knight, Jason Lott, Scott McCormick, Josh Skidmore, Meg Taintor, Al Twanmo and Paul MacWhorter. It was designed by John Burkland (Lighting Design), David McKeever (Sound Design/Composer), Matt Soule (Set Design), Debra Kim Sivigny (Costume Design/Puppet Design) and Frank Labovitz (Asst. Costume Design).
DC Commission on the Arts: Young Artist Project Grant
PUBLIC READING Kennedy Center (Page to Stage Festival 2003)
Click here for the Washington Post feature article
Mingling Glances 