Silk Road Jams! at Looptopia
A Late Night Kick-Off Celebration and Open Rehearsal
Friday, May 11, 2007, 11pm-2am
An Exploration of Week 27 of 365 Days/365 Plays by Suzan-Lori Parks
On Friday, May 11, 2007, from 11:00pm until 2:00am the following morning, Silk Road Theatre Project presented an eclectic late-night celebration of music, dance, painting, poetry and theatre, as part of the Chicago Loop Alliance's all night party, LOOPTOPIA.. Visitors were invited to join in as we read, discussed and explored seven brief, brilliant and irreverent plays written by Suzan-Lori Parks, observed and engaged visual artist, Joel Maxime Jr., as he painted "live" responses to the plays, and danced with the actors as Indian-American choreographer Alka Nayyar taught the crowd a Punjabi folk dance called Bhangra. The event was free and open to the public.
Choreographer Alka NayyarCurated by Stuart Carden
with assistance from Allie Herryman, Lavina Jadhwani & Isaac SernoffskyLive Painting by Joel Maxime Jr.
Choreography by Alka NayyarFeaturing: Byron Abalos, Adam Bute, Melissa Canciller, Anita Chandwaney, Gordon Chow, David Chrzanowski, Neal Dandade, Don DiGiulio, Tressa Glover, L'Oreal Jackson, Lavina Jadhwani, Anish Jethmalani, Carol Karaguez, Jennifer Liu, Vincent P. Mahler, John Morrison, Tinuade Oyelowo, Amira Sabbagh, Ruibo Qian, Bethany Thomas, and Tiffany Villarin
Silk Road Jams! at LOOPTOPIA
Included:
11pm-12am:
Live painting by Joel Maxime Jr., along with music, poetry writing and refreshments
12am-1am:
A public reading, exploration and discussion of the seven thrilling plays written by Suzan-Lori Parks
1am-2am:
A Punjabi dance led by choreographer Alka Nayyar
Silk Road Jams! at LOOPTOPIA was held in Pierce Hall at The Historic Chicago Temple Building
Artwork by Joel Maxime, Jr.
WHAT IS LOOPTOPIA?
Premiering May 11, 2007, LOOPTOPIA was America's first dusk-to-dawn cultural and artistic spectacle showcasing the vibrancy and excitement of Chicago's historic Loop neighborhood through musical and theatrical performances, unique shopping and dining opportunities, indoor programs, outdoor exhibitions, architectural tours, artistic installations and mesmerizing light displays.
WHAT IS 365 DAYS/365 PLAYS?
365 Days/365 Plays started in November 2002 when Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks committed to writing a play a day for the next 365 days. From Nov 13, 2006- Nov 12, 2007 the 365 Days/365 Plays National Festival presented the work simultaneously across the country, creating the largest collaboration in the history of American theatre.
The plays are brief, brilliant, tragic and hilarious explorations of what it means to be American, all through the lens of one of our must exciting theatrical voices.
