The December Project Publicity Photo by Kellyn Uhl
Today was the closing performance of The December Project, a devised piece conceived and developed by Kellyn Uhl. I worked as the dramaturg on this project. I wanted to share a little bit about it, including the Dramaturgy Notes I wrote for the program, and a sample scene.
Program Notes
Scholars in various fields are theorizing what it means to
be post-human. As we integrate technology into our bodies and lives via
smartphone, Bluetooth, and Fitbit, many contend that we are on the road to
becoming cyborgs. In an outward direction, the term “anthropocene” refers to
changes in geology brought about through human behavior.
The December Project is
a devised work that began with questions and discussion, sharing of short
performances, and grounding in the movement vocabulary known as Viewpoints.
After several workshops in September, our main research question emerged: “What
does it take to break down the separation caused by dehumanization?” Our
efforts to answer this question led to a goal of feeling authentic connection
through art. Eventually the cast developed a group of characters who have come
together to seek that kind of connection.
What you are about to see is a series of ensemble-created
vignettes responding mostly to the role played by technology in our everyday
lives. Developed through writing and improvisation, sculpted through dance, and
incorporating multidisciplinary artistic perspectives, The December Project aims to offer hope in the technological winter
of social media.
Sample Scene
Almost everyone involved with the show did some writing that was staged, with the addition of choreography. Here is a scene idea that I wrote, which was staged in the show in a heavily revised version. At the post-show discussion on Thursday, I said that the scene was "unrecognizable" from what I wrote, but actually the first seven lines were the same.
Characters announce
their facebook profile filters/images with text. The words rearrange and
overlap as in facebook feed. There should be a rhythm to this, and multiple
points of view. The overall effect should include some conflict, but ultimately
these are disparate ideas coexisting.
Rainbow Filter
Black Lives Matter
I Stand with Planned Parenthood
Jesus Saves
Feel the Bern
Please don’t take away our guns
Spartan Selfie
M Go Blue
Thank you for Obamacare
That’s 9 [there were 9 performers in the show; the scene was ultimately done by four]. These could be repeated, or new things added, or
the actors could come up with something completely different.
[In the final version, the 4 performers joined hands and formed a ring, then rotated out of the ring into a straight line. At the end of this vignette, they took a bow. This was all done over a crunchy/hippie musical underscoring.]
Trailer
Finally, here is a short preview video that was created for the show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ne_eFaBaVBI
