'Thirty-Six Dramatic Situations' in Art Show and Performance Set for Today at The Ware Center

In 1895, French author Georges Polti wrote a book so well-respected that it would be translated into English in the 1920's and is still being published today. The Thirty-Six Dramatic Situations is a treatise that suggests that all fictional and dramatic stories are variations and adaptations of only thirty-six basic plots. Popular local artist Gail Gray decided to visualize through her abstract artwork some of these 36 situations and her interpretations will be on display at the Ware Center beginning First Friday, November 1 from 6 - 8 PM. Gray will be on hand to meet art-enthusiasts. Her exhibit continues at the Ware Center through the month of November. The artwork on the left is Gray's interpretation of Polti's "Revolt."

Not content with just the visual arts, Gray met with nationally-known, but locally-based playwright Barry Kornhauser to discuss how -- together -- they could surround her show with performance art as well. Out of those conversations is a unique, one-night-only show titled, "The 36 DRAMATIC SITUATIONS - Part I," which will be presented at the Ware Center on Friday, November 1st at 7:00 PM. Admission to both the show and the art exhibit are FREE, but tickets are required to see the show.

"36 Dramatic Situations - Part I" features a dozen different local performing artists and arts companies, representing a variety of genres, such as theater, dance, music, spoken word, puppetry, etc. Each artist has been tasked with creating a 5-minute performance piece based on one of Gail's paintings, which in turn illustrate 12 of the 36 plot devices. The result is an incredibly varied and wildly surprising one-hour production that transcends all sorts of boundaries. (Twelve more will be tackled next year in Part 2, and the last 12 the following year in Part 3.) There may be no new plots, but here's something entirely new - the first time many different Lancaster performing arts institutions - established and emerging - have come together to create a novel and innovative shared evening of entertainment!

Participating artists include the following (in order of Polti's "Situations"):

· Latino performing artist Angelique Arroyo presents a solo spoken-word piece, her interpretation of Dramatic Situation #3: "Crime Pursued by Vengeance."

· Theatre for Transformation intertwines music, excerpts from Mary Oliver's poem entitled Wild Geese, an original monologue by artistic director Amanda Kemp, and yoga asanas to pursue Dramatic Situation #5: "Pursuit."

· Heads-Up will bring its urban arts sensibilities to Dramatic Situation #8: "Revolt" with a mix of junkyard drumming, street beats, and break dancing.

· OperaLancaster will present a bravado duet from Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro with live accompaniment to convey Dramatic Situation #9: "Daring Enterprise."

· Motion Picture is an exciting theatrical company new to Lancaster that will provide a comical examination of Dramatic Situation #10: "Abduction" through a "puppet" show unlike any you've ever seen.

· Joining forces for Dramatic Situation #11: "The Enigma" will be Mimi Shapiro and The Cobalt Dance Company. 10 dancers, choreographed by Marie Rothhacker, will move to the music of Duke Ellington and an original poem written and recited by Shapiro.

· The People's Shakespeare Company delves into Dramatic Situation #16: "Madness" with three intertwined monologues by three of the Bard's most famous female characters - Lady Macbeth, Ophelia, and Katherina.

· Renowned Jazz bassist Keith Mohler, along with fellow musicians Tom Witmer (guitar) and Chris Heslop (woodwinds), will give their own inimitable musical spin to Dramatic Situation #17: "Fatal Imprudence."

· Creative Works Lancaster explores Dramatic Situation #22: "All Sacrificed for a Passion" with a playful little piece that includes a cast of live actors and the company's signature sock puppets.

· Touring indie rock band, Jake Lewis and the Clergy, will perform an original composition based on Dramatic Situation #28: "Obstacles to Love."

· Ukulele Uprising performs a traditional Hawaiian song Kaulana na Pua (written in 1893 to protest the annexation of Hawaii) for this unique band's interpretation of Dramatic Situation #31: "Conflict with a God." The performance comes complete with a bevy of authentic hula dancers!

· The Grant Street Dance Company tackles Dramatic Situation #34: "Remorse," with Kim Jureckson choreographing an original piece for 14 dancers, directly reflecting artist Gray's abstract rendition of the topic, which is shown to the left.

This performance is free, but tickets are required. Tickets can be obtained in advance by calling 717-872-3811 or 717-871-2308 or on-line at artsmu.com. Or at the Ware Center Box Office (42 North Prince Street, Lancaster, PA) or the SMC Building on Millersville University Campus. Box Office hours are 8:30 AM to 4 PM Mon-Fri or one hour prior to the show.