New York City Playwright Shares Work at WSU
OGDEN, Utah — New York City-based playwright Chana Porter will discuss the intersection of love, technology, communication and gender identity during a reading of her play “SPEAK!” at Weber State University, Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. in the Shepherd Union Wildcat Theater.
“SPEAK!” features gender fluid characters and incorporates the growing role of technology in relationships. The play is currently in development with 3-Legged Dog, a multimedia theater company in New York City.
“The characters in “SPEAK!” don’t all conform to a strict man or woman gender binary,” said Jessica Greenberg, WSU theatre design assistant professor. “I think it’s valuable to have stories that students haven’t heard before and be able to see people on stage you don’t often see.”
Porter’s work has been performed and developed throughout New York and London. Porter also co-founded AliveWire Theatrics, a theater company that focuses on producing art that is current and connects with an audience.
Greenberg and Porter met during their undergraduate education at Hampshire College, Massachusetts. Since then, Greenberg has worked with Porter on several productions in New York City, including designing lighting for two plays.
“Her work is really interesting,” Greenberg said. “Beyond the interesting gender questions, the way it looks at technology and how it affects our relationships and the way we communicate with each other is relevant to all of us today.”
The play reading will differ from a full production, as actors will sit on stage with music stands and scripts. A cast ,member will read stage directions as the actors read their lines.
“Those who are interested in the performing arts will get a sneak peek at a play they might hear about in a larger news outlet in the next couple of years,” Greenberg said. “This story is unlike theatre that frequently gets staged in this area, so it’s something different. I think it’s challenging in a good way.”
After the reading, Jayson Stokes, WSU’s LGBT Resource Center coordinator, Tracy Callahan, WSU theatre professor and Alicia Giralt, Women and Gender Studies program director, will join Porter and Greenberg in a discussion about gender.
Porter will visit WSU for two days. In addition to her play reading, she will speak to various theatre classes.
The event received funding from multiple sources, including Utah Humanities Council. Utah Humanities empowers Utahns to improve their communities through active engagement in the humanities. The LGBT Resource Center, the Women and Gender Studies program, the Department of Performing Arts and the Dean’s Office of the College of Arts & Humanities also are sponsors of the event.
The performance is free, but “SPEAK!” contains mature material and language, so it is not recommended for children.
Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.
For a high-resolution photo, please visit the following link:
Rachel Badali, Office of Marketing & Communications
801-626-7295 • rachelbadali@weber.edu- Contact:
Jessica Greenberg, assistant professor of theatre design
801-626-6542 • jessicagreenberg@weber.edu