Fireside Chat

Dana Atchley, "Next Exit"

Here's the assignment description of the Fireside Chat...

Each student will prepare and perform an interactive theatrical performance that addresses some belief that he/she has. The fireside chat will include the student's performance of a (more-or-less) scripted story, accompanied by a visual, audio, audio-visual, or other design element. Students are to rehearse the story and accompanying elements to become comfortable with their performance. Students will meet at an undetermined location [actually the Nelke Theatre] at an undetermined day and time [actually Saturday, April 9 from 6:30 to 10pm] and share these stories. Students will be asked to bring food, friends, and family to enjoy the evening.

To help you get a sense of what we're doing, here's "There is a Such Thing as Truth" by Errol Morris.

And then remember this?

Damon from Benjamin Thevenin on Vimeo.

Here is are some additional notes that will be helpful in preparing your 'Chat.' 

• Most importantly, media is due to Jesse by Tuesday April 5th at midnight.
• Your media should be thoughtfully selected/created and function to communicate your story and theme. This is not the time to sample crappy stock photos from Google to make a poor power point presentation to accompany your chat. You may use pre-existing images/text/video/audio, but your use of them has to be purposeful and artful.
• You may use images OR video OR audio OR props OR costumes OR whatever media (or combination of multiple media) you think will best serve your chat. It doesn't matter to me, as long as it exemplifies your effort and creativity.
• Your performance should be (more or less) scripted and performed BUT NOT wholly pre-recorded. Part of this experience is for you to tell your story in this space at this time. SO, there must be some performed element and some mediated element.
• Your performance should be no longer than 4 minutes long. Remember how some of those Webspinna Battles got tiresome, and some people had to leave before it ended? Let's stick to 4 minutes or less with each performance. And plan on staying for the duration of the evening.
• Your artist's statement will require you to reflect on the creation and presentation of your chat, as well as your experience listening to and sharing with other students on the night of the performance.

Here's a link to This I Believe, if you're in need of some inspiration for your piece.