Aquila Theatre

What a fun weekend of collaboration at Catskill Mountain Foundation as we concluded our educational residency and our artists performed alongside the incredible dancers of Orpheum Dance’s production of Midsummer Nights Dream threading together dance and theatre in such a magical way. Thank you Victoria Rinaldi for wanting us to play along with you!

We are looking forward to being a part of this event tomorrow night and part of an inspiring collective of veteran artists some of whom participated in our Warrior Chorus program.

Come see this exciting new collaboration with Aquila Theatre and the Catskills Mountain Foundation’s Orpheum Dance Program performing “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” A fusion of ballet and spoken word. Three performances this weekends in the beautiful town of Tannersville, NY. Tickets at https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/a-midsummer-nights-dream-2405089
Photos by Paul Schwartz

June a a big month of celebration for those in communities that are often subject to prejudice and discrimination. On June 19th we celebrated Juneteenth commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and the month of June is Pride Month, to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan.

At Aquila we work with classic material that isn’t exactly known for its inclusiveness and diversity, but people of color and those of all sexual orientations have always been a part of society.

Here are some quotes from Desiree Sanchez (Executive Artistic Director) discussing Aquila’s approach to representation of marginalized people in the classic material we produce:

“We try to show a different perspective than what is normally shown,” said Desiree Sanchez,

“That may mean changing the gender of a famous character. Many of these stories were written in a time when we might perceive women didn’t have a voice, or people of color didn’t have a voice.”

“In what was written (in the early 1800s), it’s easy to feel like people of color didn’t exist, when of course that’s ridiculous, of course, they did. They were very prevalent in art and literature, it’s just that they got erased or the pieces involving them didn’t get passed down. There were a lot of bi-racial and mixed families in England at the time of this story and the rules of entailment (restricting inheritance to male lineage) really didn’t change. So, we didn’t have to change the story at all. But we also didn’t want to do color-blind casting.”

Source: “Pride and Prejudice delivers wit, romance and dancing with diversified cast” By Kevin Allenspach.

We all deserve a voice and can find a connection to classic stories no matter where we come from or who we are. Happy Juneteenth! Happy Pride!

National Endowment for the Humanities

Jenny Pacanowski has been a part of the Warrior Chorus for many years. A brilliant poet, writer, and performer who has shared her journey through her art with our community in many ways. Most recently she joined The Warrior Chorus on the USS Intrepid for a staged reading of an excerpt of Antigone over Memorial Day weekend. To show our support for a dedicated Warrior Chorus member we wanted to share an event she is hosting:

Join Jan Barry, Vietnam Veteran and Jenny Pacanowski, Iraq Veteran for a poetic theater experience never seen before! Great poetry, storytelling and true friendship!

Bridge Back Home from War. A conversation through poetry about the impact of war

"After returning from overseas, two military veterans from different eras, navigate their experiences of war and reintegration. Embodied through poetic theater, writers Jan Barry and Jenny Pacanowski invite the audience to join on this journey of soul searching."

June 8th at 8pm

Presented in Program B, Theatre 1
Pan Asian Repertory’s annual NuWorks Festival at
Theatre Row
410 West 42nd Street NY NY
Tickets Sold here

https://bfany.org/theatre-row/shows/nuworks-2023/

Antigone on the USS Intrepid: Truths Colliding is happening TODAY! There’s still a chance to register and join for this incredible lineup of dance, readings, poetry, and discussion, plus a wine and cheese reception after the performances.

In collaboration with veteran-led dance company, “Exit12”, who is bringing together a cohort of veterans, refugees, and artists to create and full evening performance that will premiere aboard the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.

Friday, May 26, 2023
6:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum�West 46th Street New York, NY, 10036

Free admission. Register at the link below:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/exit12-presents-truths-colliding-on-the-intrepid-tickets-608502556527

National Endowment for the Humanities

National Endowment for Arts Announces Second Round of Grants for FY 2023.

Aquila Theatre Company has been awarded an NEA Grant ($20,000 New York, NY Grants for Arts Projects - Theater) to support the touring production of "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury, directed by Desiree Sanchez, with a staged reading of "The Woman of Colour" and other accompanying project activities.

https://www.arts.gov/news/press-releases/2023/national-endowment-arts-announces-second-round-grants-fy-2023

National Endowment for the Arts

“This creature travels on a winter gale
Across the silver sea,
Shadowed by high-surging waves,
While on Earth, grandest of the gods,
He grinds the deathless, tireless land away,
Turning and turning the plow
From year to year, behind driven horses.” -ANTIGONE CHORUS – First Stasimon By Sophocles (Strophe A)

Antigone on the USS Intrepid: Truths Colliding

In collaboration with veteran-led dance company, “Exit12”, who is bringing together a cohort of veterans, refugees, and artists to create and full evening performance that will premiere aboard the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. Exit12 Dance Company

Friday, May 26, 2023
6:30 PM 9:30 PM
Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum�West 46th Street New York, NY, 10036

Free admission. Register at the link below.
Source:: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/exit12-presents-truths-colliding-on-the-intrepid-tickets-608502556527

National Endowment for the Humanities

In the years Aquila has been conducting the Warrior Chorus program, we have connected with numerous creative veterans who are actors, writers, directors, and so on. It’s a tight community and the connections that are built allow us to work in a multitude of ways with these wonderful artists, including James P. Stanton, who’s theatrical play, The Sun Also Sets, will be directed by Aquila’s very own Executive Artistic Director Desiree Sanchez.

Imagine a summer hiking a Spanish trail to the Pyrenees and finding your companion to be more and more intolerable. This is where Heather finds herself, that is until a strong handsome American whisks her off on a grand adventure: the Running of the Bulls, the traditional Festival of San Fermin in Basque country. When the companion and his Spanish tour guide decide to pursue her, all bets are off. Who falls in love with whom?

The Sun Also Sets is a new play by US Air Force Veteran, Col. James P. Stanton. Opening May 17th at Theater for the New City.

155 1st Avenue New York, NY 10003 (Bet 9th + 10th)

Wed 5/17 - Sat 5/20, 8PM
Sun 5/21, 3PM
Tue 5/23 - Wed 5/24, 8PM

Come out and support veteran artists! Get your tickets Now, $15 or Free for Military Veterans, Active Duty, and their family members. Use the code VeteransSunset23 at checkout.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-sun-also-sets-by-james-p-stanton-directed-by-desiree-sanchez-tickets-612748335767

The 2023 DemocracyWorks Essay Contest question was: “How have your theatre education experiences helped prepare you to actively participate in our democracy?” The contest was sponsored by Concord Theatrical Press. This years First Runner-Up is Aarush Rompally of Morris Hills High School, Troupe 1736.

“In a world where premeditated violence is a political tool, where leaders fear to agree with the other side, theatre education is imperative as a means of equipping future leaders with the words and empathy that is necessary to effect impactful positive change.” - Aarush Rompally

To read the full essay visit https://dramatics.org/how-theatre-prepares-students-for-democracy/

This is a prime example of the type of question Aquila poses in our “Warrior Chorus: American Democracy” humanities program. We work with military veterans, students, and the greater community to explore themes of democracy in our theatrical productions and workshops. It’s amazing to see a brilliant young person articulate this topic so beautifully, and it makes the work we do feel even more meaningful when we hear people share their stories of the impact theatre has on them and their connection to democracy. Congratulations Aarush!

National Endowment for the Humanities

Aeschylus was the original Debbie Downer, as the Father of Tragedy 🎭 The first of the three most renowned Greek tragedians, whose works are still around teaching us lessons on life millennia later.

They say “write what you know”, and he did. Growing up in a turbulent period of Athenian democracy, Aeschylus took part in the city’s early struggles against the invading Persians and later participated in the Battle of Marathon.

Today, Aquila works with veterans in a humanities program, known as The Warrior Chorus, and in this work we encounter numerous creative veterans that bring their experiences on the battlefield to the theatre, exploring our modern democracy in the same way Aeschylus did in his time.

Source: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Aeschylus-Greek-dramatist

Photo: Aeschylus, marble bust, Photos.com/Thinkstock

National Endowment for the Humanities

The city is in a state of crisis: a pandemic, endless wars, disastrous foreign interventions, and a terrible government controlled by wealthy oligarchs has just been defeated but the threat remains - the enemy is at the gates. This is Athens in 405 BCE. The only thing that can save the city is, guess what? A PLAYWRIGHT!

In true Aquila fashion we produced a production of Aristophanes’ brilliant comedy, FROGS back in 2020 in a virtual format to reflect the state of the world we all found ourselves in.

Since the dawn of drama humans have been using theatre as a device to explore our world, whether that be to tell a story of playwrights that save the city or using technology to keep theatre going during an uncertain time. A story within a story within a story…. Ribbit Ribbit 🐸

National Endowment for the Humanities

The big 3 Athenian dramatists; Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides (try saying that in a row really fast!) created numerous masterpiece works of art. Even thousands of years later we are studying/teaching/analyzing/performing their works of art to have a better understanding of the world we live in. That is a testament to the power of drama and how important it is to the human experience.

What stories classic or modern have helped you process the world around you and provoked thought of bigger questions about our society?

📸 1992 Ajax (Sophocles) - Bridge Lane Theatre, London and U.S.A National Tour and Canada

National Endowment for the Humanities

“Let me not then die ingloriously and without a struggle, but let me first do
some great thing that shall be told among men hereafter.”
― Homer, The Iliad, 'Book 22' (Tr. R. Fagles)

Our Trojan War/2017. This particular production was a collaboration with Aquila and American Combat Veterans of the Warrior Chorus creating a unique theatrical experience, setting epic scenes from Homer, Greek drama and literature alongside compelling questions on modern democracy. What does democracy mean? What kind of democracy do we want to live in? How do we preserve and protect the democracy we have?

These are questions we continually explore and expand on in our humanities programs. In looking back to antiquity and our own production history, we can build upon our mission to create a space where veterans, students, and the greater community can come together and find meaning in our modern society through these classic works of art.

Let us know in the comments if you’ve been to one of our Warrior Chorus events or productions and what insights you had about democracy.

📸 by Richard Termine (L-R) James Lavender, Adrienne Brammer (U.S. Air Force), Ryan Wuestewald, James Stanton (U.S. Air Force)

National Endowment for the Humanities

Happy World Theatre Day! Well, yesterday, but still wanted to share these amazing photos Katie Housley posted from our tour. We are incredibly grateful and privileged to be able to do what we love in these amazing theaters across the country!











with .repost
・・・
A little late to the party but Happy World Theatre Day! In honour of the occasion, here are some of the gorgeous theaters I’ve had the incredible luck to perform at over the last few months. Here’s hoping to many more! 🎭🌎❤️

Happy World Theatre Day! Well, yesterday, but still wanted to share these amazing photos Katie Housley posted from our tour. We are incredibly grateful and privileged to be able to do what we love in these amazing theaters across the country!

National Endowment for the Humanities









with .repost
・・・
A little late to the party but Happy World Theatre Day! In honour of the occasion, here are some of the gorgeous theaters I’ve had the incredible luck to perform at over the last few months. Here’s hoping to many more! 🎭🌎❤️