What is this COTA business, you ask? Ah, well it’s Celebration of the Arts that took place here at New Paltz’s Hasbrouck Park on Sunday September 28th. I know that was a little while ago, but I took some video footage and took some snapshots, so I thought I’d tell ya a little about it. Wow, this took place when we had that very long weekend! September seems so long ago! Well here’s the website that you could get a more in-depth view of what went on there!

http://www.celebrationofthearts.net/COTA.html

There were all kinds of artists, from: emerging, working, closet, and those taking a chance by bending convention. To give you an idea, there were over 100 artists showcasing and selling their artwork, performances through out the day, a local writers’ tent for signings and book sales, children events, an arts networking tent, free professional development seminars for artists, habitats for artists installations, and foood.

Here’s some videos of the performances I watched!

A New Paltz alum, Cuttz, performing at COTA.

So as I mentioned before, there were a lot of beautiful booths where artists were selling their work. We didn’t buy anything (alas the life of the poor college student) but my friends and I looked around! Check it out! Enjoy and till next time stay smiley!

The event took place right behind the Van Den Burg Hall, which houses our nursing and business programs. THAT’S how close this event was to campus.

Children were running all around, especially on this playground, despite the misty weather and the mud.

Kids made tambourines out of paper plates and decorated themselves!

Hey hey hey!

How’s everyone doing on this oh-so-long weekend, or you could say, mini vacay? For those reading this that AREN’T going to SUNY New Paltz, let me inform you that we have NOOOO classes until WEDNESDAY! How splendid is that? Thank you Rosh Hashanah! I know a bunch of people went home or visited friends at colleges this weekend….but I’m staying here in the Paltz. This is due to: 1.) I have rehearsal for many of those days we have off. 2.) I’m giving tours around campus.

However, it was so nice to smack that snooze button this morning, without a consequence in sight! Oh and I want to get ahead of some homework, since Midterms (with a capital M) are around the corner and the musical will be in full storm very VERY soon. It would be IDEAL to get some of those papers and projects behind me. I hope I achieve my objective here. I don’t wanna be all talk and no action.

So last night I attended something called 24 Hour Theatre, which was presented by Alpha Psi Omega (the National Theatre Honor Society on campus) and New Paltz Players. Flannery Spring-Robinson and Kathleen Bulman were the Producers, keeping this entire event alive and kickin’! It took place in the Blackbox located in the Smiley Art Building.

The program (above) explains what 24 Hour Theatre entails and what the objective was, so I shall type up what it states.

“The mission of this event was to provide fresh talent, yearning to collaborate with other passionate individuals in order to create an innovative performance. The individuals are urged to take on roles which they may not be used to; such as Producer, Director, Writer and Actor. Each group had a task to take a common theme (in this case, the common theme was resistance), and thread it throughout everyone’s ideas: the Producer’s concept, the writer’s text, the director’s vision, and the honesty of the actor’s performance. Thus, culminating in an end product that, if for no other reason, is successful because it was created within the time frame of 24 hours! That shows true passion for commitment, collaborations, and fun!

This project wasn’t for people to go on massive power trips and gain a huge ego! NO NO! It’s about GREAT MINDS NOT THINKING A LIKE…and that is a good thing! Learning to work with others, who have varied views, is a beautiful and beneficial process: the true art of the theatre is collaboration.

We were told to please take in this experience with an open mind and the willingness to try something new!” <– And I couldn’t agree with this statement any more!

Alright, so on that note, the two short plays that were created within a 24 time span were called…From the Human Psyche, and Cross Beam. The Group Statement of …From the Human Psyche was that through this collaborative piece: “We are seeking to confront that which we want to resist. Before confronting, we must identify and accept. Before identifying comes the inevitable search. This is a compilation of what we discovered as a group through internal and external exploration. We invite the audience to explore these themes as they apply to their own lives.” And the producers, directors, writers, and actors in this production were Paul Rigano, David Mangiamele, Carley Colbert, Patricia Draghi, Kristin Dwyer, Meg DiMaggio, and Nick Bourchier.

Meg DiMaggio & Carley Colbert holding hands, adding movement to the piece.

David Mangiamele speaking his great monologue!

Nick Bourchier talking about life in America, with Trish Draghi in the background.

Paul Rigano playing the keyboard while the cast sings. In this picture Kristin Dwyer, Meg DiMaggio and Nick Bourchier.

They did a marvelous job! It was all so honest, delicate, and stunning. Music, lyrics, and monologues were created especially pertaining to this theme of resistance. Each piece the person did (sung or spoken) related to something personal that affected their lives. The vulnerability made it that much more beautiful! Paul Rigano said this was a great experience and we should all do it next time it comes up! Perhaps I will P. Rigs…perhaps I will.

Here’s a little clip with Producers Flannery Spring-Robinson and Kathleen Bulman giving a nice introduction, as well as a little clip of From the Human Psyche before my camera’s battery gave out!

24 Hour Theatre Introduction on YouTube

Then there was a 10 minute intermission, so the Blackbox could be arranged differently for the next play, which was Cross Beam. This play dealt more with lighting effects. Their mission statement of their work was the following: “We have created a semi-traditional drama, through experimental means, in an attempt to communicate a series of resistance between the ideas of the natural and the contrived.” So this play was a little more abstract. Jess Maxwell was the producer as well as the writer with Alex Oates. Ryan Carlesco, a freshman here, got involved by being the director, and the cast included Chris Lavin as Steven, Rachel Ritacco as the Mother, Alex Rich as the Father, and Stephanie Spohrer as Light Girl. At first, it was hard to grasp the concept, but after talking with Chris Lavin, he stated the turning on of the flashlight symbolized the opening of portal to his own, mystical world, which was resisting reality. Anyway, that’s the basic gist. The spectacle was striking, as well as the message. Here are some pictures to show you what I mean.

Chris Lavin with the light!

Stephanie Spohrer freezing in place.

Alex Rich, Rachel Ritacco acting as concerned parents.

This one is my favorites! Chris Lavin and Stephanie Spohrer shinging the light on one another.

Anyway, everyone had a great time and the audience was very supportive! That’s always lovely!

A big round of applause everybody, for all who was involved!