Bogotá Theater Groups Threatened with Exile or Death.

by Steve Cosson, The Civilians

The right is eager to consolidate power and re-take political control. And apparently, that requires threatening teenagers, stilt walkers, mimes and musicians.

Shortly after arriving here in Bogotá I learned of a crisis here in the city that seems perfectly surreal but is in fact very real and worthy of some international attention. (I find myself in Bogotá in order to lead the research of a new Civilians project about a beauty pageant that will take place in a few weeks at El Buen Pastor, the national women’s prison. More on that to come in future blog postings here.)

Here’s what’s going down. On August 23, a group of twelve theater and arts groups were threatened by the very sinister-sounding “Bloque Capital D. C. de las Águilas Negras” (The Capita District Sector of the Black Eagles). The groups received a note saying such things as: “Today we begin the social cleansing of all the dirty organizations that stand in our way... we are not playing around you motherfucking disgusting sons of bitches. Don’t make us finish you off one by one.” In short, the groups were ordered to leave Bogotá or be killed. The full text in Spanish and English follows. 

The Aguilas Negras are essentially a right-wing paramilitary group. Under former president Uribe the paramilitaries were officially disbanded. However, many of these groups have reformed and are sometimes described as "neo paramilitaries" or “emergent criminal groups.” In this instance however, the origin of the threat from the Aguilas Negras is likely not criminal but political which has everything to do with upcoming elections this fall.

WHO IS THREATENED:

The groups primarily work in the working class/poor south of Bogotá, often with a focus on social service, providing activities for youth, etc. The work is populist, often street theater: parades, dance, masks, stilt walking—a kind of spectacular visual theater that’s a tradition in the area. The key factor in this is most likely the youth. While not necessarily political companies, the groups tend to be left-leaning and the right-wing perceives them as competition in the effort to gain recruits among the young.

THE RESPONSE

In response to the threat, the threatened groups and other cultural organizations of Bogotá have convened several large meetings. At a recent convening one of the threatened teatreros commented that while all the groups felt very concerned they could not imagine who would want to kill them. In referring to the text of the death threats, part of which stated the the Aguilas Negras will attack “these motherfucking organizations of shit who pretend to be defenders of the human rights through artistic expressions that are against the policies of our government.” The teatrero commented that the threatened groups could not understand how the defense of human rights could inspire a death threat, nor did they understand what the Aguilas meant as “our government.”

On August 30th, the day that the groups were supposed to leave Bogotá, the groups instead organized a festive parade through the streets of downtown Bogotá calling on fellow citizens and cultural groups to come out in support. Here are some photos and a short video I took of the march:

You can see a bit more of the march in this video, created by others attending:



The march was followed by another large convening. The Police have opened an investigation into the threat and have offered protection to the threatened groups. Part of the investigation’s purpose is to determine who exactly is making the threats as there is a history of various groups using the name “Aguilas Negras” to intimidate their enemies. In this case, whoever might be using the name, it seems to many here in Bogotá that this crisis is happening as part of the lead-up to the fall elections which will elect a new Mayor of Bogotá, state governors and numerous city councils. After the failure of a left-leaning mayor here in Bogotá, the right is eager to consolidate power and re-take control. And apparently, that requires threatening teenagers, stilt walkers, mimes and musicians. Recent newspaper articles here have argued that the threats may be coming from “delinquent groups” comprised of former guerrilla, narcos and paramilitaries who wish to continue control of the local drug trade and that the artistic groups may “present an obstacle.” Just my opinion here, but I can’t see how dancing teenagers pose a threat to the drug trade. The political theory carries more weight.

In the meantime, the artistic groups argue that they do not feel sufficiently protected. And while the police continue their investigation of the threats, it’s vitally important that the international community work to shine a light on this situation and remind the police and the government of Colombia that the world is watching.

Please consider writing or sending an email to the entities listed below. Many national and international human rights groups are already aware of the issue. However, the more international attention we can garner, the greater chance that these threatened groups will be safe. Letters and emails sent directly to officials here in Bogotá truly make a difference. Through The Civilians and other US organizations, I will also be organizing a letter for publication. If you would like to help in that effort please feel free to contact info@thecivilians.org.

Here is a scan of the death threat (click to enlarge):

English translation:

Today we begin a social cleansing of all the dirty organizations that stand in our way.


3.1 To formalize a release in the south-center and south- western areas of the city to the motherfucking organizations of shit that pretend to be defenders of the human rights through artistic expressions that are against the policies of our government.


[List of the the threatened organizations]

We don't care whether you're protected sons of bitches, it won't do you any good. You have 8 days to leave the city, motherfuckers.We are not playing around motherfuckers, disgusting bitches don't make us finish you off one by one. The Capital Section of the Aguilas Negras.

Please help by writing any or all of the contacts below to let them know that you are concerned for the safety of the theater and artistic groups in Bogotá and that you urge the Colombian government and police to do everything it can to protect the  groups and to investigate the threat.

Volmar Antonio Perez
Defensoria del pueblo
Calle 55 No 10- 32
Bogota, Colombia
Email: http://www.defensoria.org.co/red/?_item=0008&_secc=00&ts=1

Hernan Jaime Ulloa
Programa presidencial de derechos humanos
presidencia de la república
carrera 7 No 6 – 54
Bogota, Colombia
Email: ppdh@presidencia.gov.co

Mariella Barragán
Secretaria de Gobierno Bogota

comunicaciones@gobiernobogota.gov.co

And here are some links to recent articles about the threats:

http://www.semana.com/nacion/teatreros-bogota-bajo-amenaza-criminal/163371-3.aspx(Spanish)

http://esferapublica.org/nfblog/?p=18695 (Spanish)

http://colombiareports.com/colombia-news/culture/18685-bogota-theater-groups-protest-death-threats.html (English)

And an overview of the heirs to the paramilitaries:

http://www.hrw.org/news/2010/02/02/colombia-stop-abuses-paramilitaries-successor-groups (English)

TALES FROM MY PARENTS' DIVORCE at Williamstown

TALES FROM MY PARENTS' DIVORCE has officially opened at Williamstown Theatre Festival, and we still have a weekend of performances to go! The actors, who all interviewed their own parents and in fact play their own parents, do a fantastic job of, dare I say, becoming their parents and telling the stories of building and dividing their families. Writer and actor Robbie Collier Sublett brought up another layer that the show offers during a talk-back after Tuesday's performance - which is that these actors witnessed a lot of these events as kids, and in fact, the stories that they're now telling had a major impact on shaping their childhoods. So it's all the more cathartic to be able to look at these events with the distance (all of the parents are over 20 years divorced at this point) that their parents' have been able to get over time.

The Boston Globe liked it, too, saying it's an "engrossing production" and applauding the actors' "impressive skill." Click HERE for the whole review!

And here are some wonderful program notes written by our most fabulous former Literary Associate, Rachel Lerner-Lay! The notes take a look at some of the statistics (with some great info-graphics) to accompany our stories of one of the wide-spread social phenomena in America today (click on it to enlarge).

And here's a photo of the theater....

And here's a photo of the set! (Note the dishwasher in the back - it really works!)

Congrats to all the cast and crew - break a leg this weekend, and we can't wait for the show to go up to ArtsEmerson in October!

Reading(?) of THE GREAT IMMENSITY?

We had a reading of THE GREAT IMMENSITY on Monday, and it went great! We had a good, responsive crowd - and to those of you who filled out the surveys: thank you!

I was talking to one of my friends about it, and he asked me what a reading is. It's likely that most of you reading this will know the answer to this question having acted in, produced, directed, or written a script that had a public reading, but it's actually a good question. A reading is a presentation for either a small group of friends or an audience where actors read the script aloud, usually with minimal movement and without costumes or lighting cues (of course the lights are on and actors wear clothes, though!). 

The Actors Equity Association (the union for actors) has a set of guidelines for what makes a staged reading that can be found HERE, and they give you information like the maximum number of hours of rehearsal (15), how many public presentations you can show (up to 3) and, perhaps the most defining features: "9) Book in hand, no memorization, only minimum staging with no choreography permitted."

So what is a workshop? The term is one of the "Fungible Terms" pinpointed and defined by David Dower in his essay "The Gates of Opportunity" for the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. He says the term "workshop" can be used to describe:

 "- Anything more than a five-hour rehearsal process for a reading.
 - The pre-production sketch of a new play—sometimes fully staged, sometimes fully memorized, sometimes involving design collaborations and tech. 
- A period of anywhere from two to three weeks in a room with actors to create a devised text, culminating in a reading.
- A multi-week process that involves designers.
- A low-budget premiere of a play.  Tickets are sold, press is invited to review the work, and the process involves a full rehearsal period and full complement of design elements.
- The interaction between the artist and the community—workshops are skill building opportunities led by the artist 'in residence' or a period of 'development.'"

So why would you want to see this stuff? Well, it's fun to be able to see a show grow, and can give you insight into how the artists are working. Plus it's a great way to support the arts - these are crucial events for artists to learn about how an audience reacts to a show. They get invaluable information about where laughs fall (or don't), pacing, and how the show as a whole sounds. You wouldn't publish a novel without asking your friends, mom, editor, etc. to read it first, and this is how to get an inside look at the theatrical creative process!

Hope that helps! Tune in next time, when we'll talk about the 29-hour reading...

Hearing with Lasers - Post by R&D Group Playwright Don Nguyen

"This changes everything."  That's been quite the popular phrase lately.  It gets applied to almost everything nowadays.  Political campaigns.  The unveiling of a new Apple product.  But what about hearing implants?  

I'm currently working on the first draft of my play which deals with the identity of Deaf culture past and present.  One of the topics the play explores is the debate about cochlear implants.  These are hearing aid devices used by a deaf person in order to hear sound.  Unlike external hearing aids, cochlear implants are internal, connected to a receiver on the outside.  It's been proven highly controversial amongst the deaf community.  Some feel it helps them to hear.  Others feel it's a waste of time and forces deaf recipients to lose their deaf identity altogether.

So there may be a new kid in town to add to the debate.  Currently being tested in the laboratory is a new way to hear.  With lasers.  Yep, lasers.  What can't lasers do?  This article explains how "laser hearing" works:  

http://www.medgadget.com/archives/2011/03/infrared_light_used_to_stimulate_heart_and_innerear_cells.html

I found this section to be the most interesting:

Existing cochlear implants convert sound into electrical signals, which typically are transmitted to eight electrodes in the cochlea, a part of the inner ear where sound vibrations are converted to nerve signals to the brain. Eight electrodes can deliver only eight frequencies of sound, Rabbitt says.

"A healthy adult can hear more than 3,000 different frequencies. With optical stimulation, there's a possibility of hearing hundreds or thousands of frequencies instead of eight. Perhaps someday an optical cochlear implant will allow deaf people to once again enjoy music and hear all the nuances in sound that a hearing person would enjoy."

This sounds really exciting.  Or course I'm a hearing person reacting to this news.  I wonder how this news will be taken by the Deaf community.  I'm sure some will be intrigued and excited about this news.  Some will be skeptical.  And some probably won't even care.  

So there you have it.  Hearing with lasers.  This changes everything.  

Or does it?

Post by Don Nguyen, R&D Group Playwright

Michael Friedman and Bess Wohl in The Spotlight for A PRETTY FILTHY EVENING

Composer and lyricist Michael Friedman and playwright Bess Wohl were interviewed for the Los Angeles Times Culture Monster blog about A Pretty Filthy Evening at the Kirk Douglas Theatre this weekend (which is already sold out). It's a fantastic piece:

What was your strangest interview?
Wohl: I went to the set of “Not the Bradys XXX.” That pretty much collapsed every fantasy of my childhood.

Michael, the world of adult entertainment seems wildly different from the emo-history of "Andrew Jackson."
Friedman: Actually musical theater is very similar to porn.  It’s a fantasy about attractive people who do cool things. It’s a place you go to learn what you like. Porn knows more than you do about what you want.

Break a leg to the AMAZING CAST this Saturday!

Meet the R&D: Don Nguyen and his project SOUND

Ever been to a party where it's really loud and you're trying to carry on a conversation with someone?  And you can barely hear them, so you just nod, because agreeing with whatever they're saying is the path of least resistance?  Nevermind that you just agreed to donating one of your kidneys, because in the scheme of things, isn't it better to give up a kidney then look stupid at a party?  Exactly.

Yes, I have this irrational fear of losing my hearing.  It all stems from being at those aforementioned parties.  Of course, it's probably because the music is too loud and I've imbibed in too much alcohol.  It doesn't matter.  I said my fear was irrational. 

And what do you do with irrational fears?  You take a vacation of course.  So I took the fastest Fast Ferry to the preferred vacation spot for democratic presidents and Kennedys.  Martha's Vineyard.  Okay it wasn't really a vacation.  It was a writers retreat hosted by the Vineyard Arts Project.  But let's face it, when you're writing dialogue in one hand and eating a lobster roll in the other, you're quickly burgeoning into vacation territory.  

So while in this retreat/vacation, I researched the island and discovered two surprising things.  First, much to my chagrin, there is no vineyard on Martha's Vineyard.  My dreams of sampling full bodied island vino all week long quickly went down the proverbial drain.  The second thing I learned was that in the mid 19th century, Martha's Vineyard had the highest percentage of deaf population in the country.  As I read further, I discovered that the islanders on the Vineyard developed their own sign language and most hearing islanders learned it in order to communicate with their deaf neighbors.  

An interesting side note is that when there is no useful language spoken between two parties, they will often resort to rudimentary signing in order to communicate.  Keep this in mind next time you watch The Jersey Shore.

Speaking of shore, back on Terra Insula, in the 1880s, Alexander Graham Bell visited the island in order to study the deaf population there.  As It turns out, both his wife and mother were deaf.  Also this happened: he invented the telephone.  Which is as ironic as an Alanis Morrisette song (that never gets old).

I also knew I wanted to write about the deaf culture of today and that's when I stumbled upon the great debate and controversy of the cochlear implant, an internal hearing aid device that allows a deaf candidate to actually hear sound.  

As I did more research on both Mister Bell and cochlear implants, the two ideas started to dovetail towards a common theme: Sound.  The quest for sound and the absence of sound.  So that's what I'm calling my play.  SOUND.   Yeah, it's not a terribly original title, but it's a sound one (rimshot please).  

Now, because the core of the Civilians work requires investigation and research, I've decided to start mine by learning sign language, which is actually something I've always wanted to do.  I've enrolled in a sign language class at the Sign Language Center at 39 E 30th st NYC.   

In future updates, I'll share my first foray into sign language class with you, as well as developments with the play.  In the meantime, I've got to go see someone about my kidney.

Post by Don Nguyen

IN THE FOOTPRINT: How was Boston?

Last weekend, In the Footprint was up in Boston at ArtsEmerson for six performances. Of course, the big question on everyone's mind was about how such a seemingly geographically-specific show would play in a different city where people might not even know what Atlantic Yards is. Here are some thoughts from some of the great reviews we got while the show was up there:

Time Out Boston (who called the show "a powerful, multifaceted portrait"): "You may ask yourself: “Self, what does a play about a real estate dispute in Brooklyn have to do with me, here, in Boston?” It has a lot to do with you, actually. We’ve had our fair share of skirmishes over neighborhood ownership; just look at the turf war between Allston and Harvard University, or the aborted move of the Patriots’ stadium to South Boston."

The Hub Review (who said, "I can't think of a more accurate portrayal of the Way We Live Now"): "You may shrug at the topic - what do the travails of Brooklyn have to do with Boston?  But rest assured, the Civilians limn through this particular prism a devastating vision of millennial politics and, you know, how things get done.  For what soon came clear about the Atlantic Yards project was that - as one disgruntled homeowner points out - no elected body or official had ever voted on it ever. "

WBUR (who felt that "the issues come alive in a way I certainly didn’t get from reading about it in the New York Times" - what would Norman Oder say to that?): "The unlikely subject matter is the urban development project in Brooklyn to bring the New Jersey Nets there, among other things. But the Civilians make the issue of eminent domain, something that Bostonians are certainly familiar with, compelling with a variety of strong theatrics from musical numbers to modernistic re-creations of who said what."

The Phoenix (who called the show a "surprisingly sprightly epitaph for a neighborhood"): Some New York–centric details may not resonate with Boston audiences, but issues of urban renewal (of which we've botched a few) are as hoary — and as pertinent — as Jane Jacobs's 1961 tome The Death and Life of Great American Cities. 

So it looks like the show was really well received by people who have probably never seen the footprint or heard the name Bruce Ratner before! 
 

Ted Haggard: Back in the News - Found in connection with THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY

Ted Haggard is back in Colorado Springs! He started a new church and is working on re-integrating himself into the fabric of the city.

Here are a few great excerpts from a recent revealing feature about him in GQ HERE:

On family:
'"Our lives have returned to normal," [Ted] declares, sliding a marshmallow onto a skewer. "We're starting to do the things we did before, because we're getting a grip on life again."
Elliott, a high school junior with moppish hair and the quiet confidence of a cool-crowd kid, rolls his eyes in a Dad, come onnnnn way. "I don't think our family has a normal anymore," he says.
"Yeah," Ted says, laughing. "It's a pretty dynamic situation."'

On New Life Church:
'Ted obediently signed the agreement, but he now believes it was excessively harsh treatment for a family in the midst of a major crisis—especially since, well, isn't providing mercy for sinners sort of the entire point of Christianity?
"I used to think the church was the light of the world," Ted says. "But I've completely lost my faith in it."
Ted's complaints about New Life are old news to anyone who's been following his saga, but tonight, when I ask him if he really means to say completely, he stops and looks at the sky already starting to lighten.
"You've got to understand, Kevin, people are, at their cores, hateful," he says, rising to stamp out the fire's embers and go to bed. "I don't want to believe that, but the facts have prevailed over my idealism."'

and last but not least, On Sexuality: -
'"Here's where I really am on this issue," [Ted] half whispers. "I think that probably, if I were 21 in this society, I would identify myself as a bisexual." After a weekend of Ted trying to convince me of his unambiguous devotion to his wife and kids, I'm at first too surprised to say anything.'

HERE is a reaction from CO Springs in the Denver Post.

For even more info, Ted Haggard has a one-hour documentary airing on TLC. 

And HERE is a link to This Beautiful City at Colorado College. If you go to 1:15:34, you'll hear the performance of the letter of resignation referenced in the GQ article. Take a listen!

IN THE FOOTPRINT in the New York Times! Theater and Journalism?

The following correction was made to Jason Zinoman's recent New York Times Article about theater and journalism. The article asks (among many other questions): "If the company uses tools of journalism and benefits from the authority of real reporting, does it have an increased responsibility to journalistic standards?"

HERE is the correction:
"A Critic’s Notebook article on Wednesday about political theater based on real events, including the show “In the Footprint: The Battle Over Atlantic Yards,” misstated the circumstances under which Daniel Goldstein, an opponent of the Atlantic Yards project portrayed in the show, lost ownership of his condo in a building that needed to be emptied for ground to be broken. While he did receive $3 million in a settlement, the State of New York took the condo under eminent domain. He did not sell it."

IN THE FOOTPRINT: Featured Video

"I had two ladies, one was a teacher, one was a stockbroker... they were a couple; and the both of 'em were both yellin at me, yelling and screaming, saying how could you be for this project, don't you realize if he builds a sixty story building the trees aren't going to get sunshine. You actually believe that, that the buildings are gonna - how in your right mind you gonna believe that? You can't block the sun! I can't remember how many million miles and it still somehow reaches the flowers even underwater - how you gonna block the sun with a building? Manhattan never woulda been built in with that theory. Am I right or wrong?"

Master Builder, Union Member, and Interviewee



Here is a link to Barclay's press release about the groundbreaking in March. Here's what they say about union jobs: "It is anticipated that Atlantic Yards will generate over $5 billion in new tax revenues for the State and the
City over the next 30 years and will create upwards of 17,000 union construction jobs and up to 8,000 permanent jobs when the entire project is completed."

And here is Norman Oder weighing in on the jobs issue.

Lastly, the earth is 150 million kilometers (93.2 million miles) from the sun.

IN THE FOOTPRINT: THE MOVIE

So, first of all, all y'all need to vote for The Civilians on Forbes.com as a "name you need to know in 2011." Because it IS a name that everyone will need to know in 2011. Both as a non-profit business and as a group supporting, developing, commissioning, presenting some of the most exciting and interesting theater in the country! So keep democracy alive, support the company, vote HERE. Or share on Facebook, or Tweet about it. Just make some noise, and the powers that be will listen.

The author, Larry Reibstein, brought up an interesting question in the comments section. In the movie version of In the Footprint (first Neighborhood Night tonight! $20 tickets using the code "Neighborhood" HERE or at the box office for Brooklyn residents and workers), who should the cast be? (That is, assuming that our AMAZING cast for In the Footprint all have scheduling conflicts... )

We all know Marty Markowitz would like to be played by George Clooney.

Here are some thoughts. Leave yours in the comments!
Marty Markowtiz: Brian Dennehy? Ned Beatty?
Bruce Ratner: Tom Hanks? Robert Deniro? John Doman?
Bertha Lewis: Loretta Devine?
Patti Hagan: Sissy Spacek, maybe?

IN THE FOOTPRINT Rehearsal!

The first preview for IN THE FOOTPRINT is on Saturday! - which means that we are officially into tech week. The cast and crew is back from rehearsing in Boston at Emerson College through the ArtsEmerson program, headed by Rob Orchard.

Here's a link to his blog, wherein he talks about the show!

Here's a photo from the rehearsal room that ArtsEmerson tweeted:


Also, here's the latest Atlantic Yards news. Norman Oder calls Justice Friedman's decision today the "first clear-cut victory" for Atlantic Yards opponents and critics. The decision is posted at the bottom of his post. Check it out!

IN THE FOOTPRINT: Featured Video

Here is a video from our workshop production of IN THE FOOTPRINT, which was at the Brooklyn Lyceum in 2008 (under the title Brooklyn at Eye Level). This is from an interview with the President of the Youth Council Atlantic Terminal Community Center.







"If they build a stadium, that's OK. I have no problem. Cause I could come outta my house and go watch a game. Live. That's no problem. But what about the seniors in this building, the elderly? Come on now."

Atlantic Yards Timetable - IN THE FOOTPRINT

Here are some thoughts about the proposed timetable for the construction and other goals connected to the Atlantic Yards project.

"If you're an elected official who said, 'I support this project because it's going to bring jobs. It's going to bring housing. It's going to create a platform over the rail yards and connect neighborhoods. It's going to create 8 acres of open space. It's going to do all this in 10 years and it's going to bring economic vitality to the downtown area of Brooklyn,' you don't want somebody watching to say, 'Wait is this being achieved?' Because a lot of those things are not going to be achieved, at least not on the timetable they promised."

- Excerpt from interview with Brooklyn resident and advocate, September 2010


The attorney arguing against eminent domain made the same argument in court. Read more about the courtroom proceedings in the Atlantic Yards Report HERE.

Welcome!

This is The Civilians' company-wide blog, where you can find out about The Civilians' many projects and investigations about real-life topics. For older posts, you can check out our Individual Show Blogs:
Brooklyn At Eye Level (Atlantic Yards Investigation, 2008)
Pretty Filthy (must be over 18 years old)
The Great Immensity (Princeton Residency, 2009-2010)
YOU BETTER SIT DOWN (with WNYC)
And you can always find more info at www.thecivilians.org.

Please comment and let us know your thoughts. Ask us questions, voice your opinion, give us feedback. Nothing that The Civilians does is a one-sided conversation, and blogging is certainly no exception, so don't be a stranger!

Thanks for visiting!