Tag: upenn

Q&A at UPenn

We had a wonderful time yesterday at the University of Pennsylvania‘s Van Pelt Library event hosted by Assistant Director of the Center for Global Collections and South Asian Studies Librarian James (Jef) Pierce, PhD.

Abhijit Chowdhury and Jeffrey Stanley

Drexel University‘s Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence Abhijit Chowdhury screened part 1 of his 4-part feature film he’s been editing here, The Strange Life of Dhrubo, with each vignette inspired by a different world-renowned Bengali painter. After the screening, I had a blast moderating a Q&A with Abhijit. What a great turnout!

Abhijit Chowdhury

Ouija Log – 9/15/11

During the final days of the festival BZ:ABOTD has made UPenn’s 34St Magazine’s Must-See list, and that includes the Live Arts shows, which is extremely flattering. You haven’t seen the show yet? Only 2 chances left, and remember tonight is Freemasonry Fridays – the first three ticket holders to discretely wear their Masonic rings or other authentic Masonic logo jewelry and show it to me in secret before the show will secretly be given a $10.00 Starbucks gift certificate. Don’t try to pull a fast one— I know my Masonic jewelry.

The planchette on the Ouija board was flying all over the place last night. I mean it would shoot off the edge of the board sometimes and the volunteers would have to put it back on and reposition their fingers before it took off again like a little sportscar making hairpin turns all across the alphabet. Transcript highlights:

QUESTIONER: How old are you?

SPIRIT (or subconscious ideomotor impulse depending on your beliefs): 5 AND A HALF

QUESTIONER: What’s your name?

SPIRIT: MALA (a Hindu name meaning garland of flowers)

QUESTIONER: When did you die?

(here it just swept a broad ellipse around the board and then swooped into a sideways figure 8 pattern–the symbol for infinity–over and over again in the center of the board)

QUESTIONER: When were you born?

0…1

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Maybe she doesn’t know. She’s only 5 years old.

JEFF: Where are you now?

(infinity pattern in response)

AUDIENCE MEMBER: How did you die?

SPIRIT: MOM

AUDIENCE MEMBER: How did she kill you?

(infinity pattern)

QUESTIONER: Do you resent her for it?

SPIRIT: NO

JEFF: Are you in the room with us?

SPIRIT: YES

JEFF: Where are you standing in relation to me?

SPIRIT: LEFT

JEFF: (indicating with hand) Right here?

(infinity pattern)

QUESTIONER: She’s everywhere in the room.

JEFF: Do you know anyone here?

SPIRIT: NO

JEFF: Do you know what’s taped to the back of the grave photo hanging in the other room?

SPIRIT: YES

JEFF: Okay, what is it?

MNMNMNMN (which we took to mean “mmmm…”, thinking)

JEFF: (to audience) Remember she’s only 5. (to spirit) It’s okay if you don’t know.

SPIRIT: NO

JEFF: Big hand for Mala.

Full details and ticket info.

During the final days of the festival BZ:ABOTD has made the Daily Pennsylvanian’s Must-See list, and that includes the curated Live Arts shows, which is extremely flattering.  You haven’t seen the show yet? Only 2 chances left, and remember tonight is Freemasonry Fridays – the first three ticket holders to discretely wear their Masonic rings or other authentic Masonic logo jewelry and show it to me in secret before the show will secretly be given a $10.00 Starbucks gift certificate.  Don’t try to pull a fast one— I know my Masonic jewelry.

The planchette on the Ouija board was flying all over the place last night. I mean it would shoot off the edge of the board sometimes and the volunteers would have to put it back on and reposition their fingers before it took off again like a little sportscar making hairpin turns all across the alphabet.  Transcript highlights:

QUESTIONER:  How old are you?

SPIRIT (or subconscious ideomotor impulse depending on your beliefs): 5 AND A HALF

QUESTIONER: What’s your name?

SPIRIT: MALA (turns out it’s a Hindu name meaning garland of flowers)

QUESTIONER: When did you die?

(here it swept a broad ellipse around the board and then swooped into a sideways figure 8 pattern — the symbol for infinity — over and over again in the center of the board)

QUESTIONER: When were you born?

SPIRIT:   0…1

JEFF: Maybe she doesn’t know the year.  She’s only 5 years old.  Where are you now?

(infinity pattern in response)

AUDIENCE MEMBER: How did you die?

SPIRIT: MOM MOM MOM MOM

AUDIENCE MEMBER: How did she kill you?

(infinity pattern)

QUESTIONER: Do you resent her for it?

SPIRIT: NO

JEFF: Are you in the room with us?

SPIRIT: YES

JEFF: Where are you standing in relation to me?

SPIRIT: LEFT

JEFF: (indicating with hand) Right here?

(back to the infinity pattern)

QUESTIONER:  She’s everywhere in the room.

JEFF: Do you know anyone here?

SPIRIT: NO

JEFF: Do you live here at the CEC?

SPIRIT: YES

JEFF: Do you know any of the other spirits we’ve talked to throughout the run of the show who also say they live here?

SPIRIT: YES

JEFF: Do you know initials FRA?

SPIRIT: YES

JEFF: Tell FRA I said hi.  Do you know what’s taped to the back of the grave photo hanging in the other room?

SPIRIT: YES

JEFF: Okay, what is it?

SPIRIT:  MNMNMNMN (which I took to mean “mmmm…”, thinking; remember we’re dealing with a 5 year old)

JEFF: It’s okay if you don’t know.

SPIRIT:  NO

JEFF: Okay, no worries.  Big hand for Mala.

Full details and ticket info.

BZABOTD Makes The Daily Pennsylvanian’s “Must See” and “Worst Marketing” Lists Simultaneously

—– Original Message —–
From: Jeffrey Stanley
To: Sandra Rubinchik
Cc: UTB Edz
Sent: Thursday, September 15, 2011 3:25 PM
Subject: Re: Ouija Log – 9/14/11

A simple “please remove” would have sufficed but I appreciate your enthusiasm and professionalism for guerrilla theatre. You have redefined “spam” as it pertains to promoting a fringe show. Your message is loud and clear and has been incorporated into my publicity. Many thanks for informing me that I had been included in 34st’s Must See list. No one informed me and it didn’t show up in Google searches for my show and it didn’t come through in my Google Alerts, so we truly had no clue until your email.

Now how about coming to see the show? There’ll be a comp ticket waiting for you at the door tonight (seriously).

Many thanks,

Jeff

—– Original Message —–
From: Sandra Rubinchik
To: Jeffrey Stanley
Cc: UTB Edz
Sent: Thursday, September 15, 2011 2:48 PM
Subject: Re: Ouija Log – 9/14/11

Dear Jeffrey,
We get it. In fact, we get it so much that UTB’s counterpart publication, 34th Street Magazine, has already included your show in one of its published articles. (http://34st.com/2011/09/top-5-must-sees-at-live-arts-philly-fringe/) Congratulations. Do you spam your ghosts long enough until they are finally moved to respond, too? It must be working. Have a great final 3 shows and please stop emailing us unless you have something new to say.

Thanks,
Sandra Rubinchik

—– Original Message —–

From: Jeffrey Stanley
To: Sandra Rubinchik
Cc: UTB Edz
Sent: Thursday, September 15, 2011 3:25 PM
Subject: Re: Ouija Log – 9/14/11

A simple “please remove” would have sufficed but I appreciate your enthusiasm and professionalism for guerrilla theatre.  You have redefined “spam” as it pertains to promoting a fringe show.  Your message is loud and clear and has been incorporated into my publicity.  Many thanks for informing me that  I had been included in 34st’s Must See list.  No one informed me and it didn’t show up in Google searches for my show and it didn’t come through in our Google Alerts,  so we truly had no clue until your email.

Now how about  coming to see the show? There’ll be a comp ticket waiting for you at the door tonight (seriously).

Many thanks,

Jeff

—– Original Message —–

From: Sandra Rubinchik
To: Jeffrey Stanley
Cc: UTB Edz
Sent: Thursday, September 15, 2011 2:48 PM
Subject: Re: Ouija Log – 9/14/11

Dear Jeffrey,

We get it. In fact, we get it so much that UTB’s counterpart publication, 34th Street Magazine, has already included your show in one of its published articles. (http://34st.com/2011/09/top-5-must-sees-at-live-arts-philly-fringe/) Congratulations. Do you spam your ghosts long enough until they are finally moved to respond, too? It must be working. Have a great final 3 shows and please stop emailing us unless you have something new to say.
Thanks,
Sandra Rubinchik

A Performance in the 6th Borough

WHAT:  Material v. Memory, A Walk Through 11 Perishable Events 

WHEN: Tuesday 9/28/10 at 6:34pm sharp (early start due to loss of sunlight; this is an outdoor event)

WHERE:  UPenn’s Kelly Writers House in the Arts Cafe; 3805 Locust Walk, Philadelphia,  PA 

COST:  This event is free and open to the public; no reservations

WHAT:  Material v. Memory, A Walk Through 11 Perishable Events

WHEN: Tuesday 9/28/10 at 6:34pm sharp (early start due to loss of sunlight; this is an outdoor event)

WHERE:  UPenn’s Kelly Writers House in the Arts Cafe; 3805 Locust Walk, Philadelphia,  PA

COST:  This event is free and open to the public; no reservations required

You will be taken on a short and lovely evening walk across UPenn’s beautiful campus, stopping along the way to see site-specific performances 3-5 minutes long. I have written and will be performing “Dream Me Up a Bartender” in an old trolley car, a darkly comic monologue about fear, fathers, drinking and the meaning of nightmares.   In keeping with the event’s theme all pieces will be performed one time and one time only, then they’re gone forever with the sinking sun.

 *
Co-produced by the University of Pennsylvania’s Kelly Writers House and the Philadelphia Dramatists Center, and curated by playwright and former ArtsEdge Resident Greg Romero, Material v. Memory is a guided walk through eleven perishable writing events, all designed to be experienced by a traveling audience for three to five minutes, and then to disappear forever. Projects explore questions of space, place, loss, and our infinite/intimate relationship with memory. Also featuring MIKE AGRESTA, BRIGHT LIGHT THEATRE COMPANY, PAULA DIEHL, NICOLE GARMAN, BRIAN GRACE-DUFF and WALLY ZIALCITA, CLIFFORD HALL, SHANE HANSON and ALICIA RODRIGUEZ, GREG ROMERO, and MICHELLE TARANSKY.