Artist Lab: Beyond the Surface - SNOW WHITE ROSE RED
Devising Artists:
Join us in getting to know the devising artists for Artist Lab: Beyond the Surface - SNOW WHITE ROSE RED
Lesley Berkowitz
|
Lesley Berkowitz is a local physical theatre artist, mama, and sort of circus artist. She is thrilled to be working with ReVamp again after directing Burn the Witch in the Brief (Political) Encounters, their 10-min play festival and reading Queen Charlotte in The Subject Project. Both of those were during the 2016/2017 season. Past devised works include: Animal Farm to Table (Renegade Company), Dare the Gabler (Theatre Drapeu Rose), Really You Should Use Bullets (White Flag Performance Group), A Wapsi Odyssey (an afternoon long canoe trip and retelling of the story of Odysseus as part of the Wapsipinicon Theatre Festival for The Grand Salto Theatre). Traditional acting roles include: Nathaniel in Love's Labours Lost (Revolution Shakespeare), Hattie/Katrin Puppeteer in the Last Plot in Revenge (Brat Productions), Andi in Gender Comedy (Curio Theatre Company.)
All of my love to my little and big gas bags. |
|
Cat Ramirez
|
Cat Ramirez is a Philadelphia-based director and producer. She recently finished her tenure as National New Play Network Producer-In-Residence with InterAct Theatre Company and currently serves as the Associate Producer for Philadelphia Asian Performing Artists (PAPA) as well as the Fall Events Producer for Asian Arts Initiative. As a director, Cat has worked with People’s Light and Theatre, Orbiter 3, and Philadelphia Women’s Theatre Festival, among others. Cat earned a B.A. in Drama from Vassar College. Next up: Cat will be producing PAPA’s Inaugural Production – TIGER STYLE! by Mike Lew – this January! |
Interview with the Devising Artists:
ReVamp: What drew you to this project?
Lesley Berkowitz: I was excited to have the chance to collaborate with someone new. It is always exciting to be introduced to new perspectives and ideas. I also just love to create devised work.
Cat Ramirez: I thought the concept of pairing different artists together sounded fun and super beneficial as I continue to grow as an artist.
ReVamp: What vision are you bringing to the stage in your devised piece based off the source material of Grimm's fairy tale "Snow-White and Rose-Red"?
Cat Ramirez: When Lesley and I first touched base we quickly realized that we harbored competing interpretations of the original fairy tale Snow White and Rose Red. Lesley’s interpretation focused on the friendship and bond between the sisters and the male authorial gaze, while mine saw the sisters as an embodiment of privilege due to isolation. We were excited by this clash and wondered about creative ways to show two perspectives in the piece that we're creating.
ReVamp: What relationship do you have to fairy tales?
Lesley Berkowitz: I love fairy tales. I have always been a little obsessed with faerie stories and folk lore from around the world. I like to believe that there is some magic in the world. Faerie stories are also fascinating to dissect, what is the morality of the story? what is this supposed to teach us about life? I get pretty wrapped up in that stuff.
Cat Ramirez: Honestly, my interest in fairy tales as a kid was pretty overshadowed by my interest in the Power Rangers, but when I was in college, I devised a piece that explored misogynistic themes throughout fairy tales and it was a pretty transformative experience.
ReVamp: If your life was a Grimm fairy tale, what would the title be?
Cat Ramirez: The Lost Breakfast Sandwich
ReVamp: How is this story still relevant today?
Cat Ramirez: I'm interested in Snow-White and Rose-Red as a depiction of the relationship between privilege and growing up in a closed off environment. The sisters have spent their entire life in this small cabin in the woods. When they venture out and into the woods, they don't really seem to listen to any of the creatures around them.
Lesley Berkowitz: One of the many things that I love about folklore, fairy tales, faerie stories and mythology is that they have the ability to fit whatever lens you view them with. They have a malleability so that we can find the lessons that we need at any given time within them.
ReVamp: What is your goal as an artist?
Lesley Berkowitz: To make work that is fun, accessible, and able to make people think and feel about the subject matter. Also to highlight under represented groups whenever possible.
Cat Ramirez: Right now, it's to start refining my artistic voice. I've spent the last few years supporting the work of others and, while that's been incredibly valuable, I'm trying to get back to making my own shit.
Lesley Berkowitz: I was excited to have the chance to collaborate with someone new. It is always exciting to be introduced to new perspectives and ideas. I also just love to create devised work.
Cat Ramirez: I thought the concept of pairing different artists together sounded fun and super beneficial as I continue to grow as an artist.
ReVamp: What vision are you bringing to the stage in your devised piece based off the source material of Grimm's fairy tale "Snow-White and Rose-Red"?
Cat Ramirez: When Lesley and I first touched base we quickly realized that we harbored competing interpretations of the original fairy tale Snow White and Rose Red. Lesley’s interpretation focused on the friendship and bond between the sisters and the male authorial gaze, while mine saw the sisters as an embodiment of privilege due to isolation. We were excited by this clash and wondered about creative ways to show two perspectives in the piece that we're creating.
ReVamp: What relationship do you have to fairy tales?
Lesley Berkowitz: I love fairy tales. I have always been a little obsessed with faerie stories and folk lore from around the world. I like to believe that there is some magic in the world. Faerie stories are also fascinating to dissect, what is the morality of the story? what is this supposed to teach us about life? I get pretty wrapped up in that stuff.
Cat Ramirez: Honestly, my interest in fairy tales as a kid was pretty overshadowed by my interest in the Power Rangers, but when I was in college, I devised a piece that explored misogynistic themes throughout fairy tales and it was a pretty transformative experience.
ReVamp: If your life was a Grimm fairy tale, what would the title be?
Cat Ramirez: The Lost Breakfast Sandwich
ReVamp: How is this story still relevant today?
Cat Ramirez: I'm interested in Snow-White and Rose-Red as a depiction of the relationship between privilege and growing up in a closed off environment. The sisters have spent their entire life in this small cabin in the woods. When they venture out and into the woods, they don't really seem to listen to any of the creatures around them.
Lesley Berkowitz: One of the many things that I love about folklore, fairy tales, faerie stories and mythology is that they have the ability to fit whatever lens you view them with. They have a malleability so that we can find the lessons that we need at any given time within them.
ReVamp: What is your goal as an artist?
Lesley Berkowitz: To make work that is fun, accessible, and able to make people think and feel about the subject matter. Also to highlight under represented groups whenever possible.
Cat Ramirez: Right now, it's to start refining my artistic voice. I've spent the last few years supporting the work of others and, while that's been incredibly valuable, I'm trying to get back to making my own shit.
