The Silent One: A Climate Change Street Opera

The Silent One: A Climate Change Street Opera In a great gathering Chaos enters & assures is that Talos, Greek Cyborg, will protect us From Climate Crisis A teen challenges this and sings of Their awakening as a Prophet who warns us as Choas calls La Catrina, Goddess of Death, To lead a dance Prophet calls El Nahual, God of Animals, to join in From their dance The Silent One is born and Receives her Mission

Chapters Opening-The Gathering; Birth of The Silent One • Rhinoceros • Vaquita • George the Loneliest Snail • Brink of Extinction • The Defeat of Talos • Complete Compilation

Special Thanks!

Springhill Suites Downtown

Maria the Mexican, Maria Cuevas

Paola Ramirez Pena

Lawrence Marriott Hotel

Tess Cuevas

Lawrence Earth Day 2020

Judy Chadwick, accordion teacher

Garrett Nordstrom

Douglas County Sustainability

Brent Lind, sound equipment

Sea Shepherds

Ward Lyles

Dalton & Judy Paley,

Les Washington

The Sierra Club

Art Emergency

Richard Sanders

Janet Lhuillier

Charlotte Pemberton,

Katie Gaches

Art Emergency

Jasmin Moore

Director’s Note & Artistic Statement In the Spring of 2019, I was approached by Richard Sanders and Les Washington, Kansas City opera fans who are also environmental activists. The two share a love of opera and had come across the work of Memuco, a self-styled Environmental Warrior. His creation, The Silent One, began to inhabit his paintings as she fulfilled her mission to comfort each Endling of a species and help them breathe their last breath into extinction. Richard and Les wanted someone to create an opera. I was excited by the prospect.

This haunting image of the Silent One led me to reach out to Memuco, who was quickly engaged in the idea of coming to Kansas, painting a mural on the wall of Art Emergency, and helping us convene a gathering of new Environmental Warriors to tell this story.

Like the work, I felt the music and event needed a feel of community, a feel of the streets, of festivals and gatherings. Dalton and Judy Paley provided the space. The Band, Maria the Mexican, quickly gave us support and music, planning to perform in the production. Kirsten Paludan came aboard as per former and co-creator of music, Jeff Stoltz wrote and would perform one of the songs and Dylan Bassett composed and played African Drums on another. Tristian Griffin came aboard as Choreographer. Richard Renner would act on Stilts, and with Justin Harbaugh on Clarinet and Andrew Ramaley singing Talos we would have most of our essential cast. Visual Artists included George Paley, posthumously providing the backdrop and many sculptures, Juniper Tangpuz, creating Talos, Rebekah Abrams, designing makeup, and Landon Noll, creating costumes and acting. All would create a rich festival street opera, filmed by Jason Badgett.

In addition to professional artists, the piece needed community members as youth Environmental Warriors, Choir Members, Dancers, and Actors. Vincent Brack is the Prophet, Julia and Sean Ruddy begin building our choir, and Audrey Senger dances The Silent One. Several other youth began short manifestos for their own endangered animals.

When the pandemic caused us all to move into isolation, the above artists agreed to work from home.

The Silent One digital roll-out has been a wonder ful opportunity for us to explore the material. The digital opera stands on its own, but also maps out our future gathering. In doing so, we hope to make each viewer a part of the process. We look forward to the support and participation of many of you watching this material and joining us in 2021 for the full Street Opera. As we’ve learned from the current crisis, it takes all of us working together - and this time, we’re creating to save the Earth.

Cast

Chaos Richard Renner Talos Andrew Ramalay La Catrina Jeanne Averill El Nahual Tristian Griffin Silent One Audrey Senger Prophet Vincent Brack Accordion Player Ric Averill George the Snail Dave Brenn David Sischo Landon Noll Choir Sean Ruddy Julia Ruddy

ENVIRONMENTAL WARRIORS Greater Prairie Chicken Kylee Chee Gray Wolf Rose Kennedy Black Footed Ferret Tennessee Potter Piping Plover Bella Neuteboom Northern Spotted Owl Sylvia Oparaji Hawk attacks Markus Potter

Production Staff Artistic Director/Composer/ Musician Ric Averill Designer/Artist/Composer Memuco Film Editor Jason Badgett Designer, Artist Juniper Tangpuz

Sculptor George Paley Choreographer Tristian Griffin Hair/Makeup Rebekah Abrams Costumes Landon Noll Composer/Musician Kirsten Paludan Composer/Musician Jeff Stolz

Band Maria the Mexican Clarinet Justin Harbaugh African Drums Dylan Bassett Balloon Art Dave Bren Art Emergency Dalton Paley Judy Paley Charlotte Pemberton

Lawrence Arts Center Artistic Staff Director of Performing Arts Elizabeth Sullivan Artistic Director Emeritus of Performing Arts Ric Averill Associate Director of Performing Arts & Education Amanda Pintore Per forming Arts Production Manager Samaria Fleig School of Dance Artistic Director Hanan Misko School of Dance Coordinator Amy Hope Event Coordinator Jessica Ray Director of Digital Media Marlo Angell Director of Marketing and Communication Design Amy Albright Marketing Assistant Andrea Albright We’d like to thank the following Arts Center staff : Margaret Weisbrod Morris, CEO Stacy Galloway Haywood, COO Ben Ahlvers, Director of Exhibitions Cindy Hart, Development Director Alex Olson, Development Coordinator

Ric Averill ( ARTISTIC DIRECTOR EMERITUS OF PERFORMING ARTS ) is a Theatre Arts Factotum,

with skills ranging from playwriting to composing, acting to music directing, and just about everything in between. Ric’s original epic ballet/drama, The Snow Queen based on H.C. Andersen’s fairy tale, was produced at the Lawrence Arts Center in February. Ric is developing several projects including a full roll out of The Silent One and further exploration of Ghost Art Tours of Lawrence.

Memuco ( ARTIST ) is an environmental warrior who has painted murals all over the world.

Born in the San Diego area, Memuco worked and taught in Bejing, San Diego, around the world, and in his ancestral home in Mexico.

Memuco’s most passionate creation is The Silent One and he places her in many works of art on found objects and walls as she comforts the species rapidly fading from existence. Memuco does regular residencies with students and community Art Projects and currently teaches at the north end of the Sea of Cortes in Mexico, home to the threatened Vaquita.

Jason Badgett ( FILM EDITOR ) is a filmmaker and theatre professional residing in Kansas City. Jason studied Film and Media at the University of Kansas. He has been involved in multiple feature films, television series, and documentaries, working as a production sound mixer and editor. In 2010, Jason joined the Lawrence Arts Center technical staff. As a theatre technician, Jason has served as a lighting designer, sound engineer, projectionist, and stage manager for theatrical productions and events. Jason enjoys working with the variety of productions and artists at the Arts Center and in the Lawrence community.

Juniper Albert Tangpuz a.k.a. T.J. ( ARTIST ) was born in Kansas City, MO. He graduated in 2003 from the University of Kansas with a BFA in Sculpture. During the day, he works at the University of Kansas as a mild mannered Architecture and Design Shop Manager. He enjoys cutting paper, time travel, and long walks along the artistic landscape.

Kirsten Paludan ( SINGER, SONGWRITER, MUSICIAN ) is a Lawrence, KS native and a graduate of KU (1996). The singer/songwriter has two solo full length albums and one EP to her credit, has collaborated as a guest artist on numerous local and national releases, and is a member of four bands. At the Arts Center, Kirsten composed the music for Rethink: I Am a Veteran, a documentary ethno-theater piece, which she also performed in and helped to devise and create. This winter, she composed original music for The Vagina Monologues: Liberated Sisters. Kirsten began her 20 plus year career as an actress, appearing in the films Ride with the Devil (Ang Lee, dir.) and CSA: The Confederate States of America (Kevin Wilmott, dir). A producer/director, Kirsten developed a series of themed cabaret performances at the Lawrence Arts Center, beginning in the fall of 2015, and has toured nationally with her operasinging sister and their ever-evolving sister act.

Music of the Mind featuring the Paludan Sisters premiered at the Lied Center of Kansas in January 2016. Kirsten is also a vocal coach and private music teacher, and is a mentor/coach for River City Rock Camp (youth and adult).

Jeff Stolz ( MUSICIAN ) has been involved in the Lawrence, KS music scene since the mid-1990s.

He spent almost fifteen years in the successful indie-folk duo Drakkar Sauna and six years in the garage rock band The Hips, among others.

He has collaborated with numerous other local musicians on various projects including The Lawrence Songbook, The Myers Hotel Revue, Songs of Hope & Despair, and co-wrote and performed music for past Arts Center productions Pinocchio and Alice in Wonderland.

Jeff is a social worker at Van Go, Inc. and a bartender at the Replay Lounge.

Rebekah Abrams ( HAIR & MAKEUP DESIGN ) began working with hair and makeup in 2015 as a parent volunteer for the Arts Center’s productions of Sleeping Beauty and Annie.

She was lead volunteer for shows such as Carnival of the Animals, Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Lorax, Cinderella, and Thumbelina.

Rebekah’s passion for helping others succeed, creating and communicating standards, and being an effective bridge of communication between entities led her to start a business as a Creative Consultant. Rebekah worked as Hair and Makeup Coordinator for The Nutcracker: A Kansas Ballet in 2018 and 2019.

Landon Noll ( COSTUME DESIGN, ACTOR - DAVID SISCHO ) has been creating at the Lawrence Arts Center since 2015. He is a local Kansan from Jefferson County. After graduating from Emporia State University he has put his craft to the test by designing lights, sets, and costumes for multiple shows at the Lawrence Arts Center, as well as per forming. Landon taught drama classes for the STEAM program, spring break arts camps, costume designed for Summer Youth Theatre, and served as co-director for Play 12 alongside Sadie Barbie and SY T Novice with Leah Towle. Landon left his job as the Audio Visual Technician for Leavenworth High School where he worked as the technical director teaching stagecraft classes and helped students design and build shows. Now, he is back in Lawrence as the Gymnastics Programmer for the City of Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department. Landon is elated to be closer to home in Lawrence and once again working with amazing individuals. He would like to thank Ric Averill, Elizabeth Sullivan, Samaria Fleig, and the rest of the amazing artists he gets to work with. And, lastly, his family, who are always supportive of all the crazy decisions he makes in his life.

Audrey Senger ( DANCER ) joined the Arts Center in 2012, and has danced in five modern/ballet double features, three musicals, four ballets, and a number of showcases. Her training in ballet and modern landed her lead roles in Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters, The Lorax, and as the Hobgoblin Harbinger in The Snow Queen. Audrey trained mostly in ballet and joined the Lawrence Ballet Theatre for a year but later discovered and fell in love with the world of hip hop. She has worked as a dance assistant for hip hop classes and The Kansas Nutcracker, and also volunteers with summer art camps. Her hope is to teach other kids about dance and the history of hip hop after graduating high school.

Actor, Juggler, Orangutan, Poet, and Fool all describe Richard Renner ( ACTOR - CHAOS ) as he performs his special brand of humor. Whether juggling, unicycling, ropewalking, or creating a zany improvisation, Richard performs with unbounded energy and skill. After graduating from the University of Kansas in 1981 with a theatre degree, he spent years and a small fortune studying with such teachers as Marcel Marceau, the French mime master, Yuri Belov, a famous Russian clown, and Avner the Eccentric, the famous New Vaudevillian. Since then he has performed all over the globe and now brings some of the world to Lawrence each year for the Busker Festival.

Andrew Ramaly ( ACTOR - TALOS ) is a father of six, a doctor of nurse anesthesia. He loves singing, acting, woodworking, hiking, and being outside. Andrew can be found most weekends playing bluegrass bass making sawdust. He has been most recently seen as Miss Trunchbull in Matilda, Grandpa in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the Beast in Beauty and the Beast, the evil plant in Little Shop of Horros, Bill Sykes in Oliver! and Robert Kincaid in Bridges of Madison County. Andrew would like to thank his biggest supporter and love, Kimberly, who never misses a show!

Jeanne Averill ( ACTRESS - LA CATRINA ) has been an actress and director in Lawrence and Kansas City for over forty years now. She was the theater director at Lawrence High School for much of that time, and has recently been a Master Class teacher for the Coterie Theater of Kansas City, and an acting teacher at the University of Kansas and the Lawrence Arts Center. She is a member of Actors Equity and the Screen Actors Guild and has an extensive resume in acting, film, and commercial work in the Lawrence and Kansas City area.

Tristian Griffin ( CHOREOGRAPHER ) was born in Kansas City, MO and graduated from Texas Christian University in 2014, receiving his BFA in Ballet. He danced for Garth Fagan Dance Company, the Metropolitan Opera House, the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company, Company E, and Owen/Cox Dance Group. Tristian has been commissioned by Charlotte Street Foundation, ArtKC, Nelson-Atkins Museum, Kansas City Ballet School, and KC Fringe Festival. Gaining momentum, Tristian started his own dance company, Tristian Griffin Dance Company. The company has been commissioned by American Jazz Museum (Kansas City), International Dance Festival (Philadelphia), and WHCDC.

We look forward to the support and participation of many of you watching this material and joining us in 2021 for the full production of The Silent One: A Climate Change Street Opera.