Latest graduates, together with an island son, create artwork amid pandemic struggles
Performances promise to be protected, family-friendly outside expertise
DEER ISLE — In collaboration with the Attain Performing Arts Heart and in partnership with Island Heritage Belief, ANNA + MARVIN will stage an out of doors manufacturing of “Do Not Transfer Stones” at Stonington’s historic granite quarry with performances on Aug. 27-29..
Latest Harvard graduates Anna Fitzgerald and Marvin Merritt IV are each completed theater-makers, and have labored and skilled throughout the USA and internationally in Canada, Germany, Greece, Poland, Russia and the UK. The COVID-19 pandemic prevented them from pursuing careers with established theater firms, inspiring them to formalize the inventive partnership they developed at Harvard with the founding of ANNA + MARVIN.
“We couldn’t be extra enthusiastic about collaborating with the Attain Performing Arts Heart,” mentioned Merritt. “I’m thrilled to ‘come dwelling’ to this necessary group group which supplied me with my first performing alternatives,” he continued.
RPAC is a neighborhood non-profit devoted to selling lifelong studying within the arts for the varsity and the group, which Merritt described as a drive for group cohesion, schooling, and inventive growth.
“It’s an actual pleasure having the ability to associate with exceptionally proficient artists comparable to Anna and Marvin. The truth that Marvin will not be solely an islander but in addition a Attain alum makes it much more thrilling,” mentioned John Lincoln, director of RPAC. “We’re additionally deeply grateful to have the assist of Island Heritage Belief, which has confirmed particularly necessary to the group throughout the pandemic. The Settlement Quarry Protect will present monumental scale for this mission,” added Lincoln.
ANNA + MARVIN has created works which have up to now ranged from modern dramas to comedic retellings of historical narratives. Do Not Transfer Stones will likely be deeply rooted in its site-specific staging, knowledgeable by Merritt’s island upbringing because the twelfth era of his household on Deer Isle.
Most not too long ago, ANNA + MARVIN collaborated on a charming digital re-staging of Rajiv Joseph’s Ugly Playground Accidents, carried out on a rocky, oceanfront cottage on Deer Isle. The hour-long manufacturing is comprised of eight scenes, every that includes a singular staging set in and across the cottage with Penobscot Bay because the backdrop. The duo utilized know-how comparable to in-ear approach and specialised sound and digicam tools, in addition to a crew comprised of native highschool college students.
“Do Not Transfer Stones” is a retelling of Aeschylus’ The Suppliants, primarily based on Charles Mee’s adaptation of the Greek story. ANNA + MARVIN is placing a brand new spin on a narrative about love, loss and serendipitous connection, incorporating the poetry of Sappho and accompanied by rock music. The play strikes an necessary stability between uproarious comedy and transferring poignancy because it grapples with two questions: what are the social contracts into which we’re born and the way will we reply to these unstated guidelines?
The outside efficiency of “Do Not Transfer Stones” on the Settlement Quarry Protect in Stonington, Maine will likely be held in accordance with probably the most up-to-date well being pointers, as they’re developed for the summer season.
A digital on-demand efficiency will likely be streamed in mid-September for these unable to attend the dwell efficiency.For extra info go to, http://www.marvinmerritt.com/dnms.
