Ruined

RUINED

Vision Statement

With this production of Ruined I would like to shine a light on the constantly shifting alliances and tragic absurdity that marks the ongo­ing war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I would like to tell the story of Mama Nadi and the women that are working for her at her place place. Mama Nadi, the ambitious owner of a Bar/ brothel that serves everything from a cold beer and a warm meal to the company of a woman. Through Mama Nadi we meet the women who work for her and the businessmen, peddlers, government soldiers, rebel fight­ers and miners who frequent her spot. In this portrait of a place and the people that inhabit it, I will give a window into a country that has suffered immeasurable losses since the beginning of a war that has raged there for more than a decade. Even though men are fighting the war; women are the most frequent target of this war. Sophie, a smart young woman who was destined for a university education until she was captured by soldiers, brutalized and left for dead. The title of the play, Ruined, is a terrible euphemism for what happened to Sophie—and what happens to Congolese women every day. Salima, another young woman brutally raped by soldiers for months; returned home only to be disowned by her husband and family. Sadly, this happens to rape survivors throughout the Congo. Mama Nadi, Sophie and Salima; all survivors who refuse to let themselves be destroyed by the brutality around them. It is this spirit of survival and dignity that gives a sense of hope.

 Theatrical Space

I think a revolving stage like this one would give the audience the feel that they are seeing into two different spaces in the bar.










For my productions of ruined, I choose the Houston Texas Arena Theater. The arena theater is one of

the oldest venues in Houston.

Its round revolving stage allows audience members a degree of intimacy with the performers unavailable in a traditional arrangement. The Arena recently received a substantial facelift Upgrades, include new sound and lighting systems. This venue revolving stage will allow the audience to focus on each scene; without other distractions. I think it would give the feeling that you are moving through each space in the bar. 

             Scenic Design     

The design for my production would have the look of bar or brothel in DRC. The look of the set would have shabby walls and shutters; sub par tables and chairs around the room. The other spaces  within  the bar would have to have the grim look of desperation.

Costume Design

The people in this picture are wearing a mixture of traditional clothing and modern clothing. this is the look i would like to have for this production. i think it would bring a natural feel to the production.

The costume design for this production has to have a mix of traditional African attire and modern attire. This design give a real element to each of the characters in the show. I don't think that everyone is wearing African clothing. Their is a mixture of clothing brought in by suppliers and humanitarian aid.

Lighting Design

Set & Lighting Design - "The Country Girl", Beer Sheva Theatre

The lighting in my show would look something like the picture above. I think this type of lighting would put the most focus on the performance. this lighting would be great for giving the feeling of each of the characters in the space. i think it can give the feel of what the space around the performer is like, if their having a sad or happy conversation or in heated situations.

Sound Design

Sound design for this production, would that of the bar and whats going on outside of the bar. i think inside sounds would be that of a small music player of some kind, a low sound of people talking( not so much that it would take attention from the performance), gunfire and trucks coming from the outside. These sounds really set the mood for what is going on in that region of the world.

 SOURCES

http://www.arenahouston.com/events/about/

http://www.precinctreporter.com/community/inland-empire/1607-ruined-war-a-redemption-in-congo
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2010-08-23-Congo-rape_N.htm

http://www.icexcellence.com/prodtxt.asp?id=2

The world of theater Mira Felner and Claudia Orenstein

American Musical

The first musical productions in the American colonies, a was a production of Flora. Flora was a ballad opera from England. The ballad opera stayed relevant in the colonies for many years. After the colonies were united their many genre of the musical, before we got to the American musical we know today. After the ballad opera's their was burlesque. At that time, burlesque consisted of travesties on or parodies of famous plays, performers or dancers done in song, dance, pantomime and dialogue. The accent on female in flimsy attire came later. Their were the  minstrel shows, first done in  1843 was a representation of a attempt through the exploitation of the humor, dance and song of the African American or Negro at the time. The minstrel shows had no plots, characterization or settings. The first American show to have a plot, characterization and setting, was the play The Brook in 1879. Their many versions of the musical, before the ones you may see on a Broadway stage today. 



A highlight of the Spoleto Festival USA is the opera “Flora” at the Dock Street Theater, where it played in 1736. Center, Andriana Chuchman with Tyler Duncan; seated in front, Robert McPherson.

Maurice Hines, left, joins his brother Gregory (now deceased) in the finale of the smash 1981 Broadway musical Sophisticated Ladies

Seeing a musical today would be a lot different than Flora in the 1700's. Today musical theater has the elements of dance, acting, and music. The music usually written for the play by a composer; will usually come together with the dancing and acting. I have never seen musical theater live, but i think their would be great music, dance and dialogue; that would make you feel like you experienced something special. I have seen some popular plays on video and all the elements come together to make a great experience to watch.

This is a Phyllis Hyman in Duke Ellington Musical Sophisticated Ladies

Something i found interesting is that burlesque was originally used to poke fun at popular people and shows and that the first musical production in the us was performed in a courthouse.

Sources

http://www.theatrehistory.com/american/musical030.html
http://www.musicals101.com/
library.brown.edu/exhibits/archive/broadway/
The world of Theatre Mira Felner and Claudia Orenstein