SUNY Potsdam Presents "Slanguage" and "Shattering the Silence: 3 original one-act plays" on April 26 & 27

Department of Theatre & Dance Kicks Off LoKo Arts Festival with Performances in Black Box Theater

Potsdam, NY (04/12/2019) — SUNY Potsdam's Department of Theatre and Dance and the LoKo Arts Festival will showcase "Slanguage," Developed by Jo Bonney and Universes Ensemble, and "Shattering the Silence: 3 original one-act plays" by theatre majors Ryan J. Hutchins '19, Jenna Clute '19, and Reese Reed '19.

"Slanguage" will be staged in Black Box Theater, located inside the Performing Arts Center on Friday, April 26 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, April 27 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, April 28 at 2 p.m. The play tracks the evolution of New York urban culture from the nursery rhymes of childhood to contemporary spoken word used in the streets. Jump in with artists and travel on a journey with detours, stops, and bops as they let free the cultures locked in the city. "Slanguage" is directed by senior theater major Meikayla Thomany '19 with designs by Grisselle Romero '19, Olivia Mele '22, and Amanda Kimball '19. The cast and stage managers are all SUNY Potsdam students from a variety of majors.

"Shattering the Silence: 3 original one-act plays" will be staged on Friday, April 26 and Saturday, April 27 at 9:30 p.m. in the Black Box Theater, located inside the Performing Arts Center. The three one-act plays include: "Homage to the Unknown Friend/Homenaje a la Compañera Desconocida," "Ode to the beauty of pain," and "Transition." The lighting design is by Grisselle Romero and sound design is by Olivia Mele '19 for all three one-acts.

"Homage to the Unknown Friend/Homenaje a la Compañera Desconocida," is a one-act play written and performed by Hutchins '19, which follows the story of an unknown woman in Santiago, Chile during the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. Experience the ultimate few years of this woman's life as she discusses, through her conversations with God, her life before the dictatorship, what occurs in Chile after the coup d'état, and her last thoughts and prayers while she is held prisoner by the Chilean government.

"Ode to the beauty of pain" is a glimpse into the psychology of one girl, through the combination of music and spoken word pieces. Writer and performer, Clute '19 rummages through past memories, as they come to life on stage. This performance contains materials surrounding mental illness, overcoming life struggles, breaking stigmas, and endlessly striving for a hopeful future.

"Transition" is written and performed by Reese Reed '19. This original spoken word medley takes us on a tour through the journey of self-discovery. Travel through the stoplights, detours, and potholes of a trans-person with gender dysphoria. Buckle up for the laughs, tears, and angry protests as we speed through the roller coaster of emotions and discover what it is to be transgender in today's society.

Admission is free for all performances. Tickets will be available at the door beginning one hour before each show.

The LoKo Arts Festival is made possible by the generosity and artistic vision of Kathryn (Kofoed) '54 and Donald Lougheed (Hon. '54).

From directing, choreographing, acting and dancing, to designing and technical work, theatre and dance are highly collaborative art forms at SUNY Potsdam. Students and professionals engage in creative problem solving, requiring the setting and meeting of long-term goals, and the analysis and understanding of movement and dramatic literature. For more information about SUNY Potsdam's Department of Theatre and Dance, visit www.potsdam.edu/theatre.

Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of only three arts campuses in the entire SUNY system. SUNY Potsdam's arts curriculum offers the full palette: music, theatre, dance, fine arts and creative writing. No matter the discipline, people from all backgrounds can find their creative compass at Potsdam, with myriad arts immersion experiences available for both campus and community.

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