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Category Archives: PRESS & NEWS
#Right2Recess at #NFF17
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Sojourn Institute Summer 2017
Earlier this month, I spent a glorious week with this group of change-makers at the Sojourn Summer Institute 2017. I learned so much, and I want to share my appreciation for the group – and the collective experience.
I will carry this experience with me always. In an interesting way, the week presented evidence of synchronicity – and taught me a great lesson about “water” and its power and grace. Stay with me on this. I choose “synchronicity” because last week’s Institute felt like being in the right place at the right time. With the right people. Not that perfect or “being right” is the thing. The imagery of water appeared throughout the week. In one of our early activities, a question asked was: “What can we learn from the river?” That struck a chord with me.
Then the PlayBuild teen artists at Goodman Theatre shared their “river” of the history of race in America. A long piece of chart paper with dates, events, thoughts scribed by adolescent minds. Performance research on the page. “Water” appeared again when we did the cup activity. Water is an essential element. How do we take care of the water? of ourselves? of others? of our land? of our communities? What happens if we find ourselves in literal or figurative drought?
As I reflected during the week after the institute, I found myself meditating on the words of Bruce Lee: “Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way around or through it. If nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves. Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.” That’s what we did – all week long – at the Sojourn Institute. We made an effort to be water.
We can all learn from the water. As people, humans, facilitators, artists. Be open to the flow. Be aware. Be flexible. When you enter a community, you become part of the community. When you enter a class culture, you become part of the class culture. When you enter a rehearsal process, you become part of the rehearsal process. The possibilities go on.
During that one glorious week, we formed a community. With the Institute. With Sojourn Theatre. With Center for Performance and Civic Practice. With each other. I left Chicago feeling simultaneously filled up and drained out. Just like the river that flows or the oceans whose tides come and go, I was made aware of the power and grace of water. How it can replenish and renew. If you’ll allow me a moment to be poetic and “on the nose” here, I must say thank you because my cup (of water, as it were) runneth over with gratitude, appreciation and inspiration for the experience and the people. Synchronicity. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
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Call to Arms at UCA
Thank you, thank you, thank you to Professor Adam Dean Frank and the University of Central Arkansas for an enriching, engaging weekend of theater and dialogue. I visited students in Prof. Frank’s Theatre for Social Justice Class and conducted a weekend of workshops and post-show community conversations. The students, in association with the Ozark Living Newspaper, presented a shadow puppetry presentation of my short play, “Call to Arms,” written in remembrance of the nine African Americans killed in Charleston, South Carolina in 2015. We shared a productive career Q&A about working in Performing Arts, Education and Community Engagement. I depart the weekend feeling hopeful and motivated…ready to #dosomething more.
Saturday, March 12, 2016 – Sunday, March 13, 2016
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- I’m coming at you, Arkansas. #redeye #flight2 #theaterlife
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- Eatin’ local. #biscuitsandgravy
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- Community Engagement workshop with student artists at University of Central Arkansas. #humanityplayproject #blacklivesmatter #calltoarms #dosomething #shadowpuppetry #arkansas
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- University of Central Arkansas students setting up shadow puppetry screen for a production of my play “Call to Arms.” #humanityplayproject #dosomething #blacklivesmatter #yesand
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- Farewell, Arkansas! Thanks for the hospitality. #theaterlife #humanityplayproject #arkansas
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- Miles high. Deep in thought. #Revision with #vision. #writersofinstagram #humanityplayproject #performancewithpurpose #theaterlife #calltoarms #dosomething
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Topanga Rose screens in Queens!
Double good news for my short film, Topanga Rose.
Join us Friday, March 18, 2016 at for an 8:00 pm screening at All Saints Episcopalian Church. Our block theme is: Innocence & Resiliency. Our film raises awareness for Cystic Fibrosis, and is dedicated to Tracy Marie Wright (1982-2004).
If you are in the NYC area, hope to see you there! Tickets:
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2494125.
Into social media? Use these hashtags to promote:
#qwff2016
#qwff
#queensworldfilmfestival
Award of Recognition: Children / Family Programming. I am very grateful for the amazing cast and crew who made this possible, including my family and friends. It really does take a village. Thank you.
Find Topanga Rose online:
www.topangarosefilm.com
https://twitter.com/topangarosefilm
https://www.instagram.com/topangarosefilm/
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Video: Road Trip Rage
Julie Brett presents:
Very Bad Adaptations: Road Trip Rage
When a chick catches a ride with her cousins, friends, sister, she gets more adventure then she bargained for…
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Humanity Play Project 1-18-2016
Dear Friends and Community Members:
I am proud to announce the launch of a new arts collective – HUMANITY PLAY PROJECT. For our inaugural event on Mon Jan 18, we explored the aftermath of the Charleston, SC tragedy in a curated evening of dance, poetry, song and theatre. We joined together to honor those who were lost – to question why it happened – and to offer a forum for community dialogue. #BLACKLIVESMATTER
Thank you to the artists: Jane Bacon, Terrence Colby, Perry Daniel, Acquah Dansoh,Rukhmani K. Desai, Tiwana Floyd, Ace Gibson, Tamarra Graham, Yuko Lee,Rani O’Brien, Jevon Reynolds, Nikki Star, Mirage Thrams and Carolyn Marie Wright.
What an evening! Still processing the love, the artistry, the community we shared in West Los Angeles this evening. So grateful for this experience. To behold a multi-generational, multi-racial, multi-gender dialogue was extraordinary. And on MLK Day! I am hopeful. I am inspired. I am ready to #DoSomething.
Thank you to our sponsor: West LA United Methodist Church.
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- “Call to Arms”
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- #blacklivesmatter
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- “Lone”
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California Women’s Film Festival 2016
My first panel. Our first film fest!
Thank you California Women’s Film Festival 2016. 🎬❤😃
#redcarpet #topangarosefilm #cysticfibrosis #awareness #indie #film #womeninfilm
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- Red Carpet
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- Panel of Filmmakers
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- Celebration!
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Thank You 2015!
Thank you 2015 for a year filled with performing, teaching, writing, artistry and community. Feeling grateful for my family, friends, and career. Xo.
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Bad Adaptations Web Series
That’s a wrap! Thank you, Julie & Tasha!
#badadaptations #webseries #episode1 #mobydick#comedy #juliebrett #tashafinken
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Trippingly on the Tongue 2015
Thank you to a fabulous group of actors, crew, and audience members for making the 2015 season of Trippingly on the Tongue awesome. We will be back in 2016 for more “Seriously Funny Shakespeare” and playbook-style improvisation. Huzzah!
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