Issuu

A Gathering of the People

Formerly known as the Mad River Festival, the Baduwa’t Festival is a culmination of performing arts, music, celebration and connectivity, held on the ancestral lands of the Wiyot Tribe. In Soulatluk, the Wiyot language, Baduwa’t is the word for Mad River. The festival name change was approved by Wiyot leaders in Spring 2021 and Dell’Arte is honored to support the work of the Wiyot Tribe to revitalize the language by using the original name of the river for the festival name.

Returning for its 34th season, Dell’Arte International presents the Baduwa’t Festival, its annual summer celebration of theater, family friendly entertainment, music, and performance.

This year the festival features the first Dell’Arte Company main stage show since the pandemic: The Poor of New York, a comic adaptation of a classic American melodrama. Other events include The Prize of Hope Ceremony, a coproduction with the Danish Institute of Popular Theater honoring FIRST VOICE; the Humboldt FolkLife Festival, a jam-packed week of live music presented by Humboldt Folklife Society; the Citizen Joy Project, a nationwide interactive performance; and an alumni guest performance of Forgive Us, Gustavito by Otherland Theater Ensemble. The Festival closes with the return of String & Shadow Puppet Theater and their new show Or So It Would Seam.

Dell'Arte is located on the unceded ancestral homelands of the Wiyot Tribe, which includes the Bear River & Blue Lake Rancheria. In Soulatluk, the language of the Wiyot, the place where we gather today is known as Dadiqhoughuk, meaning 'trail descending' or 'where the it comes down'. As from time memorial, these lands are the gathering place for many surrounding Tribes including the Yurok, Hupa, Karuk, and Tolowa, who along with the Wiyot, continue to play an important role in stewarding the land. Dell’Arte invites all who gather here to consider ways in which we might align and take action that is solidarity with the Wiyot Tribes continued effort towards sovereignty and the indigenization of this place.

Letter from the Dell’Arte Leadership Council

A lot of hard work has gone in to make this year’s Baduwa’t Festival, and we quite literally could not have done it without you. Your support, your encouragement and your labor have kept the creative flame alive over the past months— and made it possible to bring alumni residencies, concerts, community classes, guest artists and professional workshops to our halls.

The 2024 Festival lineup is a wealth of theater, music, and community. It marks the passage of 50 years of Dell’Arte in Blue Lake, which is no small accomplishment. Each part of the festival includes the work of artists who have shaped and been shaped by this place over the decades. Concurrently with the festival we are leading a number of summer intensives in clown, healthcare clowning, physical theater, and mask, ensuring a continuation of that legacy into future generations.

We are proud to be the North American center for the actor-creator, and a destination for the practice, research and application of the art of physical theater. Our upcoming work will continue to explore the role of the artist as entertainer, poet, philosopher and community maker as we bring back students and shows, expand our Prison Arts and Rural Residency programs, and pilot projects in Healthcare Clowning and partnerships with Native communities.

Enjoy the festival! We have done it together.

-Julie Douglas, Tony Fuemmeler, Kimberly Haile

Welcome, welcome, welcome to the 2024 Baduwa't Festival! Words cannot express how happy we are to be bringing you a full-blown Dell'Arte summer show in this, our 50th, year As many of you know, the past several years, and especially the past nine months, have been very difficult for us. Thanks to you, our loyal supporters and sponsors, we are still here and staging important work for the community both here in Blue Lake and through the Prison Arts Theater Program at Pelican Bay

This year's signature show, an adaptation of The Poor of New York, is a perfect return to classic Dell'Arte comedic melodrama that relates universal truths to familiar elements of our world here behind the Redwood Curtain, and it's only been possible through the support of Dell'Artians past and present, our amazing house band, and the inimitable Michael Fields in the director's chair.

There's plenty more to enjoy in this year's festival, too - an opportunity to timetravel through fifty years of Dell'Arte with a panel of standout contributors, this year's Prize of Hope presentation to and performance by Brenda Wong Aoki and Mark Izu of San Francisco, and alumni shows from Bird and Jessie McCracken (Daytime Disco) and from Tushar Mathews, Becca Finney, and Lucius Robinson (Forgive Us, Gustavito). We hope you'll join us for all of these wonderful events as the curtain rises on the next 50 years of Dell'Arte. Who knows where the future will take us, but you can be sure it'll be an entertaining ride!

Pat Bitton, Board Chair

Board of Directors

Pat Bitton

Kash Boodjeh

Stephen Buescher

Cleo DeOrio

Julie Douglas

Tony Fuemmeler

Kimberly Haile

Alyssa Hughlett

Bird McCracken

Stephanie Witzel

Gurudarshan Khalsa

Director‘s Note

A play is not a flat work of literature, not a description in poetry of another world, but it is in itself another world passing before you in time and space

This was written by Elinor Fuchs, one of our great critics, who passed at the end of May. In creating this work, POOR OF NEW YORK (or PONY as we call it), with these people, in this moment in time, I acknowledge that it is indeed an effort of world creation, of serious play, of ensemble effort, of joy, of belief in the resonance of this work in this moment and its connection to you our community

It is also a moment when Dell’Arte marks 50 years of this effort Personally (and every work is personal to me), I am very grateful to be in this moment, in a place where I have spent much of my creative life And my thanks go to all who came before me and all who worked with me and all who taught me, in what was truly an ensemble effort. And I thank all who are here now, moving it all forward into, what will hopefully be another 50 years Dario Fo, an Italian, playwright and actor, wrote this which I ascribe to:

A theatre, a literature, an artistic expression that does not speak for its own times, has no relevance.

I was in the last group drafted to go to the Vietnam war My lottery was lucky number 5 My resistance to the war radicalized me in several ways and it was that resistance that led me to work in the theatre That era, the late 60's early 70's, were filled with movements from civil rights to an unjust war to environmental conflicts to a class struggle The theatre was often pointedly political, but it was also well crafted with some excellent performers Nixon canceled the draft 2 weeks before my induction Luck But it inevitably shaped me and led me to some beliefs that stay with me

I believe in the seriousness of comedy I believe in the power of the theatrical event to bring people together in the service of a greater whole In this moment of political and world turmoil amidst great economic inequality, I believe that the act of theatre is essential. I believe in you all. And I believe in Dell’Arte. Thank you for your support of this oh so valuable effort And thank you for coming to see PONY!

-Michael Fields

Cast & Crew the Cast

Captain

Gideon Bloodgood

Badger

Mark Livingstone

Puffy

Mrs. Puffy

Dan

Edwards/cop

Alida Bloodgood

Sheriff

Lucy

The Band

The Left Fields

Composer, Music Director, Keyboard

Bass/Saxophone/Flute

Guitar

Drums

Michael Fields

Evan Grande

Julie Douglas

-Everson Ndlovu

Ben Clifton

Tisha Sloan

David Ferney

Tony Cogliati

Shawn Wagner

Tony Fuemmeler

Alyssa Hughlett

- Tim Randles

Marla Joy

-Jeff Kelley

-Mike LaBolle/James Forrest

the Crew

Scenographic Design

Light Design

Technical Director

Sound Engineer

Stage Manager

Master Carpenter

Set Construction

Scenic Painters

Props Assistants

Stitchers-

Lynnie M. Horrigan

Michael Foster

-Tony Cogliati

Brandon Hook

Linnea Conway

Gary Sommers

Lisa Smith

Meeka Day

Amanda Coorey

Cora Dandenau

Stuart Hombre

Sherri Green

Catherine Brown

Ensemble

(In Order of Appearance)

Evan Grande * (GIDEON BLOODGOOD)

Evan is an actor and teacher working in clown, bouffon and Commedia Dell’Arte. He is a graduate of Plymouth State University and DAI. Recently he has performed in St Croix Falls, Wisconsin and across the street at the Logger Bar. Evan has also spent time studying, teaching and performing in Bali, Mexico City, Ireland, and the Czech Republic. When not performing, Evan is a special education as well as mask and clown teacher. He also enjoys the River and petting doggies.

Tony

Cogliati (CLERK,

COP, EDWARDS, & Technical Director)

Tony Cogliati is making his first appearance on the Dell'arte stage. He is an enthusiastic theater volunteer who believes in sweat equity, leaning in and encourages hearty participation in the arts. Make your voice heard. Sing. Laugh! Play. Turn a frown upside down and make a friend for life. In an increasingly autocratic world of narrow paths…reject ugliness. We need more light in the darkness. Be a light.

Julie Douglas *^ (BADGER)

Julie is an actor-creator, teacher and clown. She is excited to return to the Dell’Arte stage having graduated from the MFA in 2010. Julie is also on DAI faculty, Head of Arts Engagement and part of the Leadership Council. She was previously on faculty at A.C.T. and St. Mary’s College in the Bay Area. While there, she performed with We Players, S.F. Shakes, Cutting Ball, Shotgun Players, Idiot String, Impact Theatre, Medical Clown Project and more. Julie has also trained and performed in Chicago, Italy, Russia, Bali and holds a B.A. from UCSC. Julie is a recent graduate of SOMA studios Alexander Technique Teacher Training program. Forward and Up!

Michael Fields +^ (CAPTAIN MARKY MARK MARK; Director & Adaptor)

A member of Dell’Arte’s performing ensemble for over 40 years and its founding Producing Artistic Director, Michael has been a recipient of San Francisco, San Diego Critics Circle, and Los Angeles Critics awards for Performance and Writing. He has co-authored and performed in over 40 Dell’Arte productions and was past president of International Theatre Institute/USA and a member of the TCG board of directors. He has taught various physical theatre forms and community engagement practices at CalArts, the Dutch National Theatre School, Teater Studion in Stockholm, among many others. He has directed productions around the world, including the National Theatre’s of Denmark, The Netherlands and Sweden. He was also the director of CSSSA (California State Summer School for the Arts). He recently started his own producing group called LONGSHADR (www.longshadr.com). LONGSHADR has produced 3 works in the past 2 years; MADSUMMER, LOGGER LEAR, and LOGGER LOVE STORIES.

[Ensemble Cont.]

Everson Ndlovu * (MARK LIVINGSTONE)

Everson is a physical theatre practitioner advocating for social change and equity through his work. He is passionate about finding new and unconventional methods to tell stories on stage which puts the body at the center of storytelling.

David Ferney *+^ (DAN)

David has had a 35 year history with Dell’Arte as performer, staff and alumni. He has over a dozen Dell’Arte Company shows to his credit with highlights including Tartuffe, Wildcard, Original Instructions, Out Of The Frying Pan, Slapstick and The Bacchae. With his own group Los Payasos Mendigos and Dell’Arte he has performed in 20 different countries on four continents including three trips with the Dell’Arte Bali Study Abroad program. He has come out of retirement as a performer to join the Poor Of New York cast to celebrate 50 incredible years of Dell’Arte International in our community and around the world.

Ben Clifton * (MR. PUFFY)

Ben has called Blue Lake his home for over 20 years, raising 4 kids and a million pets. Over the last 5 years he has performed in many holiday Pantomimes at the Arcata Playhouse, such as "Robin Hood: Knight of the Stars", and "Scouts Honor", as well as recent Longshadr productions "Madsummer", "Logger Lear", and "Logger Love Stories".

Tisha Sloan ^+ (NANCY PUFFY)

Tisha has been exploring theater and the complexities of human behavior for four decades as an actor, manager, producer, and director at organizations such as Berkeley Rep, North Coast Rep, Redwood Curtain, EXIT, and Dell’Arte International with degrees from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and Cal Poly Humboldt. Notable credits include Beth in Hurricane Diane, Nora in A Doll’s House Part 2, Sylvie in The Female Odd Couple, Lydia in Big Love, multiple roles in Cloud 9, Solveig in Big Fat Liar, Scar Tissue in The 30 Show, understudy in The Laramie Project, and The Angel in Angels in America.

Alyssa Hughlett *^ (LUCY)

Alyssa has sustained a multifaceted 23-year career working with community and professional theater companies & ensembles, and performing in regional/ national /international productions, tours, and theatre festivals. This includes: Shakespeare & Company (Lenox, MA), Irina Brook’s Dream Theatre (National Theatre of France, Nice), the Wharton Salon, Philadelphia/Minneapolis Fringe, UpLift Physical Theatre, Ferndale Repertory Theater, Arcata Playhouse, Dell’Arte Company, Longshadr, and Papaya Lounge Productions. Alyssa is a recent 2023 Fellow of the National Endowment of Humanities Institute, “Preserving & Transmitting American Devised Theater” (Pig Iron Theatre). She’s on the Board of the Blue Lake Education Foundation and Dell’Arte International, where she was formerly Executive Director, Faculty, and an Artist in Residence (2015-2024).

Ensemble

Shawn Wagner * (ALIDA

BLOODGOOD)

Shawn is a Dell'arte alumni (Class of 2019-20) she had just started her MFA at Dell'arte when the pandemic hit. Thus cutting her time here short. The Poor of New York has been a healing journey as she got to step back into the space she held so dear. Shawn is a classically trained dancer, singer and actor. Originally from the Los Angeles area she worked in the industry but missed nature, Humboldt called her name! You might have seen her recently in Logger Love Stories and Logger Lear!

Tony Fuemmeler *^ (SHERIFF, Assistant Director & Production Manager)

Tony is a theater artist exploring transformation, expression, and story through puppetry, masks and movement. A graduate of the University of Kansas and DAI, Tony has puppeteered, designed masks, coached actors, and directed shows around the country. His studies and research in mask theater have also led him to Bali, Italy, and India (where he was honored to be the mask maker for Teach For India’s MAYA musical in 2014). Since 2022, Tony has served as Mask Faculty and Head of Training Programs at Dell’Arte.

Tim Randles (Composer & Music Director; Keyboard, THE LEFT FIELDS)

At Sacramento State College, Tim had a double major in music and theatre. He collaborated on a Fantasy Rock Opera (Teot’s Waring) with published novelist Heather Gladney. He also composed music within the independent theater scene in Sacramento. Once moving to Humboldt, Tim got involved with a kids theatre company (ATYA), composing and performing for their shows.From there, he was picked up by Dell’Arte International, and was the house keyboardist and composer for 15 years; he also was musical director for two of their shows. One of the shows, in which he was musical director and composer, became a film (Mary Jane the Musical Potumentary) and won best musical at the Oregon Independent Film Festival. He has also been musical director at Humboldt State University. After Michael Fields left Dell’Arte International, Tim joined his theatre company (Longshadr), and became musical director for their shows.

Jeff Kelley (Guitar, THE LEFT FIELDS)

Jeff’s first season with Dell’Arte was 2015 for Mary Jane, and he has remained in the band ever since. He adds to shows as a musician, writer, actor, and sound technician. When he’s not working for others, or playing in bands, you can catch him doing his one person show, Origins of Ordinary.

Marla Joy (Flute, Sax, THE LEFT FIELDS)

Marla Joy has been blessed to be part of the Dell Arte Company for over 20 years, she considers herself to be lucky to have another endorphin laced summer with Poor of New York cast, crew, and her fellow band-mates. Currently she teaches Zumba and is is a few bands such as: The Bayou Swamis, The Vanishing Pints, Barking Dogma, Bandemonium, Marla Joy & Db, and The So Hum Girls.

Mike LaBolle (Drums, THE LEFT FIELDS) Weeks 2-3

James Forrest (Drums, THE LEFT FIELDS) Week 1

James is a Blue Lake local and has been playing drums for 20 years. You may have seen him tapping staccato rhythms with various jazz cats or thundering with his local rock band Jacki & the Jollies. He grew up running around the halls of Dell’Arte so you may also recognize him by his last name (yes, that Forrest). When he’s not drumming he likes writing music, working on carpentry, reading sci-fi, traveling, and enjoying nature with his dog. He hasn’t been in a Dell’Arte play since he was about this tall (inquire for visual reference).

Michael Foster +^ (Lighting)

In second grade, I played three French hens. In third, a mad scientist (I'd made an immense, foil-covered saw). Since then I have lit stages in 26 states, 17 countries, 4 continents, and both hemispheres, mostly with Dell’Arte. Other companies/directors include: First Voice, in San Francisco; Jeff Raz from Alameda, CA; Big Sky, from Hartley Bay, BC; and Synapsis, from Eureka, CA. When asked what has been my best play/production/whatever, I invariably reply: the next one.

Lynnie Horrigan * (Scenography)

Lynnie is an award-winning scenographer who has designed multiple productions for Dell'Arte International and Longshadr productions. She is the owner and founder of Victory Signs & Design and a leader of the Veterans Transition Training Alliance. She received a California state grant to launch Victory Signs, and won a Sign Smith Rotary Grant in 2017 to expand her business. Lynnie is a former performer with Cirque du Soliel. Lynnie has a MFA in Scenographic Design from Humboldt State University, and is a past president and proud member of the Soroptimist International of Arcata.

Brandon Hook (Sound Engineer)

Brandon is returning to the theater after 20ish years away. He spent his middle and high school years working over 60 shows at the Oak Ridge (Tennessee) Community Playhouse, both acting and involved in tech. He was awarded a Knoxville area Theater Coalition award for sound design in 2002. He studied audio engineering in college at MTSU, runs a home studio (Sunroom Recording), and is Technical Director at Outer Space Arcata.

Linnea Conway (Stage Manager)

Linnea is delighted to be making her debut with Dell’Arte Theatre Company. Favorite credits include THE PACT, a play in progress with Carlene Cogliati. Directed THE TEMPEST, and TWELFTH NIGHT with NCRT. She has been involved in Children’s Theatre for many years. She has a MASTER DEGREE from OHIO UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF THEATRE in PROFESSIONAL DIRECTING and has worked at London’s YOUNG VIC THEATRE and THE GLOBE THEATRE in San Diego.

We our Sponsors

July 7th 4 PM

An event that is truly international and not to be missed! This year’s Prize of Hope is awarded to Brenda Wong Aoki and Mark Izu of San Francisco. Tickets include the Ceremony in the Carlo Theater, a short performance from Soul of the City, drinks, dinner, and Humboldt Taiko Drumming performance!