Full transparency; Episode 3 dropped on December 14, with this episode slated for publication for shortly thereafter. But as that month saw the growing challenges towards our elections, driving towards the events of January 6th, 2021, the subject of “Being A Citizen” took on a new context. And so with fresh ears, we went back to the editing room.

With that as our backdrop, we’ve got a kaleidoscope of people from across the country and around the world for you to hear, really diving into a complex conversation.
It certainly brought into the light that being a citizen is not always about a piece of paper, but about being a piece of a community. As we noted in the VOTING podcasts, it was actually quite heartening to hear common notes among these various perspectives.

Our NEW music is the splendid and exceptional work of Brent Arnold and Scott Adams. Check out their work: 

• Scott Adams:  birdsmaybite.bandcamp.com    
• Brent Arnold: brentarnold.bandcamp.com

FURTHER SUGGESTIONS and RESOURCES to practice your citizenship:
WASHMASKS! https://www.washmasks.org
This mutual aid initiative consists of teachers, school administrators, and arts educators from across Washington who are on a mission to collect/distribute masks for the migrant communities in the state. “Migrant workers are essential workers who are exposed to high-risk conditions due to lack of PPE masks being made available to them. Every meal we eat is made possible by farm workers who work regardless of heat, cold, rain, snow, and now a pandemic.” 

CITIZEN UNIVERSITY - https://citizenuniversity.us   Spreading the belief and skills that a strong democracy depends on strong citizens — and that we all have the power to make change in civic life and the responsibility to try. Seattle and across the US.

FOOD BANKS –

• The White Center Food Bank (our neighbors): https://www.whitecenterfoodbank.org
• Northwest Harvest (serves all of Washington) https://www.northwestharvest.org/
• Find one near YOU? https://www.foodbanks.net/ - a good clearinghouse of info

MUTUAL AID societies – all over the country – search up “Mutual Aid” + your group of interest

REAL RENT Duwamish https://www.realrentduwamish.org

• Live in Seattle? All donated funds go directly to Duwamish Tribal Services (DTS) to support the revival of Duwamish culture and the vitality of the Duwamish Tribe, the ancestral stewards of this area. (Be a good neighbor, won’t you?)

PARK BENCH is an interactive public art piece that often resembles a tiny park on a rolling hill, where we invite people to have a seat and have a chat from a slightly different perspective. We ask you to tell us your thoughts, and we’ll tell the world.  But…. COVID-19 has impacted our lives/work, too -  SO we adapt~

These are recorded phone calls and cellphone-recorded voice memos. You will hear differences in recording quality as we go, but hopefully you can still hear the CONVERSATION, and engage with that wherever you are.

If you would like to be part of a future podcast, check out our website at theatersimple.org. You will find a link to COVID CONVERSATIONS, as well as past episodes, under PODCASTS.  
Jump in and submit your thoughts -

NEXT TOPIC: CREATIVITY and ART in a time of Pandemic & Isolation

theater simple acknowledges that we live and work on land that is the traditional territory of Coast Salish peoples, specifically the Duwamish Tribe (Dkhw Duw’Absh), a people that are still here, continuing to honor and bring to light their ancient heritage.
We thank them for their stewardship and example. https://www.realrentduwamish.org

The Park Bench interviews were conducted by Llysa Holland and Andrew Litzky (who is also the main editor of Park Bench). 

https://theatersimple.org/support-us
Thanks so much for listening.  If you liked what your heard, and would like to support us, by donating the equivalent of a fancy tea (for Llysa) or coffee (for Andrew) or a drink with us(!!), or even toss a bill into our virtual busker’s hat, we’d be grateful. If you don’t have those resources right now, we hope you enjoy these as a gift and pass the gift along. (This is a much better option to spread virally than COVID, right?)
AND -We hope to see you on the Park Bench someday. 
Have a seat and tell us your thoughts.  We’ll tell the world.

For episodes 3 & 4 we are exploring thoughts on being a “CITIZEN”.   Citizenship. Citizenry.
One’s culture around these ideas -
How one thinks about the IDEA of being a citizen – how do you integrate that into your life?  
Do you even think about it?

We’ve got a kaleidoscope of perspectives from folx across the political spectrum and around the world who recorded their thoughts for us, really diving into a complex conversation.
It certainly brought into the light that being a citizen is not always about a piece of paper, but about being a piece of a community. As we noted in the VOTING podcasts, it was actually quite heartening to hear common notes among these various perspectives.

FURTHER SUGGESTIONS and RESOURCES to practice your citizenship:
WASHMASKS! https://www.washmasks.org
This mutual aid initiative consists of teachers, school administrators, and arts educators from across Washington who are on a mission to collect/distribute masks for the migrant communities in the state. “Migrant workers are essential workers who are exposed to high-risk conditions due to lack of PPE masks being made available to them. Every meal we eat is made possible by farm workers who work regardless of heat, cold, rain, snow, and now a pandemic.” 

CITIZEN UNIVERSITY - https://citizenuniversity.us   Spreading the belief and skills that a strong democracy depends on strong citizens — and that we all have the power to make change in civic life and the responsibility to try. Seattle and across the US.

FOOD BANKS –

• The White Center Food Bank (our neighbors): https://www.whitecenterfoodbank.org
• Northwest Harvest (serves all of Washington) https://www.northwestharvest.org/
• Find one near YOU? https://www.foodbanks.net/ - a good clearinghouse of info

MUTUAL AID societies – all over the country – search up “Mutual Aid” + your group of interest

REAL RENT Duwamish https://www.realrentduwamish.org

• Live in Seattle? All donated funds go directly to Duwamish Tribal Services (DTS) to support the revival of Duwamish culture and the vitality of the Duwamish Tribe, the ancestral stewards of this area. (Be a good neighbor, won’t you?)

PARK BENCH is an interactive public art piece that often resembles a tiny park on a rolling hill, where we invite people to have a seat and have a chat from a slightly different perspective. We ask you to tell us your thoughts, and we’ll tell the world.  But…. COVID-19 has impacted our lives/work, too -  SO we adapt~

These are recorded phone calls and cellphone-recorded voice memos. You will hear differences in recording quality as we go, but hopefully you can still hear the CONVERSATION, and engage with that wherever you are.

If you would like to be part of a future podcast, check out our website at theatersimple.org. You will find a link to COVID CONVERSATIONS, as well as past episodes, under PODCASTS.  
Jump in and submit your thoughts -

NEXT TOPIC & deadline: CREATIVITY and ART in a time of Pandemic & Isolation 1.8.21

Our NEW music is the splendid and exceptional work of Brent Arnold and Scott Adams. Check out their work: 

• Scott Adams:  birdsmaybite.bandcamp.com    
• Brent Arnold: brentarnold.bandcamp.com

theater simple acknowledges that we live and work on land that is the traditional territory of Coast Salish peoples, specifically the Duwamish Tribe (Dkhw Duw’Absh), a people that are still here, continuing to honor and bring to light their ancient heritage.
We thank them for their stewardship and example. https://www.realrentduwamish.org

The Park Bench interviews were conducted by Llysa Holland and Andrew Litzky (who is also the main editor of Park Bench). 

https://theatersimple.org/support-us
Thanks so much for listening.  If you liked what your heard, and would like to support us, by donating the equivalent of a fancy tea (for Llysa) or coffee (for Andrew) or a drink with us(!!), or even toss a bill into our virtual busker’s hat, we’d be grateful. If you don’t have those resources right now, we hope you enjoy these as a gift and pass the gift along. (This is a much better option to spread virally than COVID, right?)
AND -We hope to see you on the Park Bench someday. 
Have a seat and tell us your thoughts.  We’ll tell the world.

PARK BENCH is usually an interactive art project that looks a little like a rolling hill, where people have a seat and tell us their thoughts from a unique perspective.  But, COVID-19 has grounded our in-person work. For this episode we recorded phone calls and received cell phone voice memos.  We received so many inspiring submissions, we are turning this first topic into TWO episodes.  If you haven't listened to Part 1, these episodes stand alone, but do check it out.  It's right below this episode in the Park Bench feed.

We found it reassuring to hear similar statements and philosophies from both sides of the political aisle; and we accept and acknowledge that there are deep challenges to be tackled and resolved around these ideas of representation, and even who is allowed to vote.  But listening to these recordings, we believe that we as a country have many more commonalities than differences.

For now, here is Episode 2 of COVID CONVERSATIONS: VOTING

https://theatersimple.org

Park bench is usually an interactive art project that looks a little like a rolling hill, where people have a seat and tell us their thoughts from a unique perspective.  But, COVID 19 has grounded our in-person work. For this episode we recorded phone calls and received cell phone voice memos.  We received so many inspiring submissions, we are turning this first topic into two episodes.

We found it reassuring to hear similar statements and philosophies from both sides of the political aisle; and we accept and acknowledge that there are deep challenges to be tackled and resolved around these ideas of representation, and even who is allowed to vote.  But listening to these recordings, we believe that we as a country have many more commonalities than differences.

For now, here is Episode 1 of COVID CONVERSATIONS: VOTING

Welcome to Park Bench, theater simple's mobile interview outpost where we invite people to have a seat…and have a chat.   This is the fourth and final installment of our collaboration with The Network of Ensemble Theaters, focusing on Past/Forward: the June 2017 NET National Gathering and Symposium. If you haven’t heard Parts 1, 2 or 3, you can find them just down the podcast stream.

Founded in the mid-1990s by a small group of ensemble theaters, NET has grown into a vibrant national community of over 350 members, including theater simple.

The 2017 National Gathering brought together NET members, artists, educators, activists, funders, policy makers, and others with an interest in collaborative creation across disciplines.

They Gathered for four days, just after midsummer on the beautiful campus of The University of Washington. And Park Bench was there, talking with participants about the importance of Art and Ensemble Theatre practice, and The Gathering itself. We generated so much great sound, that we have spread it over 4 half hour podcasts.

And now we present Part Four of Past/Forward: The 2017 NET National Gathering and Syposium.

Contents

0:00 – 2:00: Intro

2:01 – 5:45: Jonathan Clark, The Carpetbag Theatre (Knoxville, TN)

5:51 – 9:45: Michelle Dahlenburg, Texas State University (San Marcos, TX)

9:49 – 10:27: Travis Coe, Double Edge Theatre (Ashfield, MA)

10:31 –11:13: Scarlet Rivera, Letter of Marque Theater Company (Brooklyn, NY)

11:15 – 12:55: Sally Ollove, The Bearded Ladies Cabaret (Philadelphia, PA)

13:00 – 16:30: Debórah Eliezer, foolsFURY Theater (San Francisco, CA)

16:37 -- 18:40: Godfrey Simmons, NET Board, Civic Ensemble & Cornell University (Ithaca, NY)

18:47 -- 21:22: Heather L. Barfield, Ph.D, The VORTEX (Austin, TX)

21:28 – 24:13:  Shoshana Bass, Sandglass Puppet Theater  (Putney, VT)

24:17 -- 26:35: Gerard Stropnicky, NET Board & Bloomsburg Theater Ensemble Emeritus (Danville, PA)

26:47 -- 30:22: Claudia Alick, NET Board, Co-President & Oregon Shakespeare Festival (Ashland, OR)

31:19 -- 32:22: Outro

Founded in the mid-1990s by a small group of ensemble theaters, NET has grown into a vibrant national community of over 350 members, including theater simple.

The 2017 National Gathering brought together NET members, artists, educators, activists, funders, policy makers, and others with an interest in collaborative creation across disciplines.

Many thanks to everyone who stopped to chat with Simpletons Andrew Litzky and Llysa Holland.

Founded in the mid-1990s by a small group of ensemble theaters, NET has grown into a vibrant national community of over 350 members, including theater simple. The 2017 National Gathering brought together NET members, artists, educators, activists, funders, policy makers, and others with an interest in collaborative creation across disciplines.

They Gathered for four days, just after midsummer on the beautiful campus of The University of Washington. And Park Bench was there, talking with participants about the importance of Art and Ensemble Theatre practice, and The Gathering itself. We generated so much great sound, that we have spread it over 4 half hour podcasts.

Park Bench is a change of perspective that looks a little like a rolling hill and arrives into an urban environment (a mall, a parking space, or …. a National Gathering) and asks passersby to share their thoughts while sitting and observing their present situation.

Founded in the mid-1990s by a small group of ensemble theaters, NET has grown into a vibrant national community of over 350 members, including theater simple.

The 2017 National Gathering brought together NET members, artists, educators, activists, funders, policy makers, and others with an interest in collaborative creation across disciplines.

They Gathered for four days, just after midsummer on the beautiful campus of The University of Washington. And Park Bench was there, talking with participants about the importance of Art and Ensemble Theatre practice, and The Gathering itself.

Many thanks to the Network of Ensemble Theaters, and particularly Alisha Tonsic and Park Cofield, without whom this iteration of Park Bench would not have been possible. Thanks also to the University of Washington School of Drama.

TIMESTAMP INFO & ARTIST CREDITS

0:00 – 1:59:    Intro
2:00 – 5:50:    Laurie McCants, Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble (Bloomsburg, PA)
5:55 – 10:40:  Kennedy Kabasares and traci kato-kiriyama, PULLproject (Los Angeles, CA)
10:41 – 11:35: Sal Mannino, Independent Creative Producer (New Orleans, LA)
11:34 – 14:48: Megan Weaver, Ensemble Theater Director/Teaching Artist (Austin, TX)
14:50 – 19:47: Thomas Pasculli, Walkabout Theater (Chicago, IL) and Michael Brown, Columbia College (Chicago, IL)
19:52 – 23:19: Brianna Smith, TAPROOT (Charlotte, NC & Austin, TX)
23:23 – 25:34: Kevin Griffith, Scenic Designer, University of New Orleans & Mondo Bizarro (New Orleans, LA)
25:38 – 32:52: Busi Peters-Maughan, WHEW, Women Healing & Empowering Women (Austin, TX)
33:00 – 34:26: Outro

For the past 7 years and 31 episodes, Park Bench has been a whimsical mobile interview outpost with a serious agenda.  We ask folks to have a seat, consider a big idea from a different perspective and then digitally record those conversations and podcast it to the world.  But, with Episode #32, we leave the Park Bench at home and turn our attention, and the microphone on ourselves, our art, and some people who have inspired us for years. 

This Spring theater simple’s co-founders, Llysa Holland and Andrew Litzky, traveled to Devon, England, about 4 hours West of London, to do intensive work with the ensemble Multi Story and it’s founders, Gill Nathanson and Bill Buffery, who we first met and toured alongside in Canada 15 years ago.  Also, in London, we interviewed and observed Kath Burlinson and her ensemble, the Authentic Artists Collective, another mate from our Canadian and Australian touring days.

Over 3 very busy days in Devon, and one in London, we shared philosophy and tactics, plotted future work together, met with Beaford Arts Rural Touring Director, Mark Wallace, and soaked up the impossibly rustic landscape that has been Bill and Gill’s working home for 30 years.

We hope you enjoy the lilting accents, and that you will forgive the serious sound quality issues, (the result of conversations in cars, barns, cafes and rehearsal halls), and that through it all, we give you a little window into into the passion and artistic sensibility that has kept us going in the theater for the past 23 years.  And now, theater simple in England!

With our 31st episode, we set up shop in the Theater District of Downtown Tacoma, WA, an arts corridor anchored by the Broadway Center for the Arts and it’s three bustling Venues. During the Center’s 2 day, Fall Free For All Festival , we asked residents, participants and the Center’s Executive Director about their City, their publicly own Theaters, and the importance of the arts in Tacoma. Many Thanks to everyone who stopped to talk. 

From these chats we have done our best to sketch a community: it’s pride, it’s passion and the place that Art holds in their cultural landscape. Hope you enjoy. And now we present Tacoma WA.

Park Bench is theater simple’s, mobile interview outpost; a whimsical project with a serious agenda. We set up our 7ft tall rolling hill, then we ask folks to have a seat and consider a big idea, from a different perspective. Literally.

The week of january 28th, 2013, we set up shop in the high desert town of Wickenburg, Arizona, about 40 miles Northwest of Phoenix on the road to Las Vegas.

That’s us just outside the Post Office, the Safeway, and the High School. Come on over and have a seat.

theater simple's Park Bench: University of Nevada, Reno, Pt 2

The week of September 17th, 2011, we set up shop at the University of Nevada in Reno and asked students about their lives, their plans, their school, and in these challenging times……their hopes for the future. Thanks to everyone who stopped to talk.

theater simple's Park Bench: University of Nevada, Reno, Pt 1

The week of September 17th, 2011, we set up shop at the University of Nevada in Reno and asked students about their lives, their plans, their school, and in these challenging times……their hopes for the future. Thanks to everyone who stopped to talk.