The best work in any art form frequently comes from a revolutionary mind.
Working Classroom's latest production, "Carmen" is an innovative creation from no less than 11 minds, one of which is MoisÇs Kaufman, writer and director of "The Laramie Project."
"We're taking a process that's very collaborative in the community and creating something pretty revolutionary," said Tricklock Theatre's Joe Pesce, the assistant director for the play.
The performance was created in Working Classroom, a multi-cultural community organization dedicated to giving students access to a future in theater and creativity.
The story that struck the group the most was one brought in by three students who were siblings about their grandmother, Carmen.
"It was a great example of how rich our community is," Pesce said. "It shows that there are very real, touching, beautiful, dramatic stories in the community. It has great fruit there for making drama."
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The 30-minute play follows the life of Carmen and her family as they struggle to make their lives better, striving for more.
"Instead of writing words, we were writing performance," Pesce said.
Pesce described the technique as six-hour rehearsals working on improv and creating moments using different lighting, costumes and elements of "theatricality." At night, Pesce and Kaufman would write scenes to the students' performances.
"So we were fitting theatrical vignettes to stories that the students brought in about their families, instead of someone sitting in their room, writing a play and then slapping theater on top of it," Pesce said.
There is no light, set or costume designer for this play, as those things were designed in the heat of the moment as the two directors watched the students.
"I hope that people leave with a broader sense of the possibilities that theater and performance have," Pesce said. "One of our main goals was answering the question, 'Why does theater have to exist? What does it do that visual art or film can't do?' And I want people to get a better sense of the intimate and inspirational live action that validates theater."
What: "Carmen"
When: Friday, Saturday, April 2, 3, 9 and 10, 7 p.m.
Where: Working Classroom,
212 Gold Ave.
Price: $5
Ticket Info: 242-9267
