sara makes theater

zimmesa — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:27:00 +0000

Throw at the Chocolate Factory

zimmesa — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 17:30:09 +0000

Performed at THROW this week, a work-in-progress evening at the Chocolate Factory curated by Sarah Maxfield. Good stuff. I was very impressed with turn-out, whole lot of people crammed into a small basement performance space. Eliza and I performed a brand new section of Big Exit. It was an experiment in performing an EXCERPT. In my mind the bit we showed is the climax of a much longer work. It would come somewhere after the basic piece we have performed at the Kitchen and at Figment. I think it left the audience with very little lead in or context…but I was interested in what that would feel like. The night of I was pretty concerned the audience would feel bombarded, and that the piece would feel like “too much/out of nowhere”..like when you see a really emotional monologue, but you don’t really get where it’s coming from…In the end, we did good. As a performer I know I held back a little, my director self scared about the “too much” thing. ahhh directing and performing at the same time…such an interesting dynamic. Eliza rocked it as usual.

…no the skirt of my costume is not supposed to look like that…

“Break”

zimmesa — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 19:54:41 +0000

Hello blog. I have neglected you because I have not been rehearsing or performing since June. Why? I’ve been taking a break! I also spent 30 days this summer doing the first half of the program in Laban Movement Studies. Amazing amazing. And now, after break and a time out for learning I am now chained to my desk applying for things. Next week I’ll get some pictures from the studio as I start the next round of Big Exit for my upcoming showing at the Chocolate Factory. This week here are some links to grants and residencies that I am working on and any of you artists might want to know about with rapidly upcoming deadlines.

http://dixonplace.org/html/submissions.php (supposedly the deadline for showings for Jan-March was extended to Nov 11?..not sure )

http://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/dance/research/festival.html (deadline Nov 15)

http://www.puffinfoundation.org/index.php? (deadline in December)

http://www.djerassi.org/applicationforms.html (deadline not til February, but included for fun)

http://franklinfurnace.org/artists/franklin_furnace_fund/how_to_apply.phpn) (this is for later too, apps available in January)

Big Exit Photos!

zimmesa — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 01:52:53 +0000

Photos are in from Saturday’s performances in the rain at Figment! Thank you Pavel Antenov, amazing professional photographer friend who came out to the island and took the beautiful photos below.

Because of the wet and slippery weather we chose not to hit the stage and found two new spots, the grass, and an archway to perform our piece. Everything changed, it was crazy and wild, but it was a great ride, and we’ve got some pictures to prove it.

Sunday we took to the stage, the sun came out, and the piece was a little more it’s old self, with some new improvisational blood in it, in response to the festival atmosphere….but you’ll just have to take my word for that one!

Performers: Sara Zimmerman, Eliza Ladd, Costumes by Jess Hooks

Big Exit goes to Governor’s Island!

zimmesa — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 11:15:57 +0000

BIG EXIT AT FIGMENT! TODAY! GOVERNOR’S ISLAND!

12 PM LAWN STAGE, SATURDAY

330 PM LAWN STAGE, SUNDAY

http://figmentproject.org/2010/about/

Labapalooza! Still three shows to go!

zimmesa — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 21:21:29 +0000

St. Ann’s Warehouse – LABAPALOOZA! 2011

Come check out the piece I’m in with Messenger Theatre’ Company in the lobby of St. Ann’s Warehouse. Usually each audience is 20-30 people, but today Jojo (puppeteer) and I performed for an audience of one. It was one of the most beautiful performance experiences I’ve had. Oh what can happen when your audience member is so open, and present, and taking it all in. It was an incredible show! We continue performing our piece, Seeing Inside, through tomorrow in the hour before each Labapalooza show begins.

Kickstarting Big Exit

zimmesa — Mon, 23 May 2011 17:27:45 +0000

We are raising funds to bring Big Exit to an arts fesival on Governor’s Island, NY called Figment. It’s outdoors, free to the public, and packed with all kinds of performing arts, visual art, sculpture, and installations! I love teeny tiny donations and big fat donations. And you will get a little something for your money either way!

Check out my KICKSTARTER PAGE!

Big Exit at Figment

zimmesa — Thu, 05 May 2011 20:19:47 +0000

We’ll be doing a new version of Big Exit at Figment on Governor’s Island this June. A big old participatory arts festival that is free! and on an island! It’s not too late to get involved.

http://figmentproject.org/2010/opportunities/

Big Exit (work in progress)

zimmesa — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 19:37:55 +0000

Here is the video of our performance at the Kitchen. I am totally surprised by how this piece turned out, and right now I am really excited about all the places it could go. Dance clown? I think I like it.

March 21 work in progress at the Kitchen

zimmesa — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 18:55:02 +0000

Showing a new work in progress at the Kitchen on March 21. This is part of the showcase from the Field’s Emerging Artist Residency program. I’m thrilled to be working with Eliza Ladd on the project, you should come just to see her perform!

The piece is definitely in the beginning of its life. The artistic challenge for this showing is to give the piece enough form so that it’s ready to show, and as performers we feel confident and clear about where we are. But as a director I don’t want to clamp down too soon on all the other directions and possibilities that are happening in rehearsal.

The piece is called Big Exit (working title) and is a winding theatrical love letter to human beings who work work work and dream of flight. Big Exit celebrates how imagination and fantasy offer escape from the mundane!

Also, the other artists in this showcase are dynamite.

Hard to read the flyer below: 7:30 pm March 21 at the Kitchen. Tix are $15.