Performative Research-- Life, Love, and Autism

Stories of Autism presents "Life, Love and Autism," a storytelling piece compiled from interviews of parents with children with autism. Over a two year period, researcher Tracy Golden interviewed 34 parents across urban and rural Utah who shared their stories of sharing lives and building relationships with their children with autism. The research is presented creatively through the captivating lens of one-woman, storytelling performance. Come join us as we share these parents' compelling stories of life, love and autism. Audience members are encouraged to remain after the performance for the story circle, to share their own tales of life with autism or even just to listen.
Storytelling
One of my favorite aspects of storytelling is "history telling." It combines my passions for stories, history, and performance. I also tell personal stories. See below for taste of some of my stories.

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Martyrs' Crossing, Provo Fall 2012
Nauvoo Pageant, Summer 2012
Utah Shakespeare in the Park Summer 2011: A Midsummer Night's Dream
BYU's Persuasion March/April 2011
Boeing Boeing Fall 2010
A Thousand Cranes Winter 2010

Right now those working on the Topaz museum rent a wall in a local museum and that is all they have to represent the lives of those who suffered in the camps while their sons were fighting for the country that held their parents captive. It's a part of American history not given much thought, and that needs to change.
ATC hopes to help raise awareness of this part of our history, as well as fund-raise for the museum. A major aspect to this production is that we tour to elementary and middle schools all over the Utah Valley as Teaching Artists--we perform the show and then hold a workshop with the children that focuses on the themes of the show. We will also be performing at BYU and some local libraries. At least 40 performances in all.
February 3rd is our opening night at BYU, where the exhibition will open in the main floor gallery, showcasing artwork from artists that were held in the internment camps, the World Premiere of the 123,000 cranes*, and other avenues of raising awareness and appreciation.
To learn more about the 123,000* paper cranes being strung by students at BYU as well as members of the community, go to http://universe.byu.edu/node/4341
More info to come.
CHECK OUT athousandcranes.net
BYU's As You Like It 2010

By William Shakespeare
Directed by Kymberly Mellen
“Can one desire too much of a good thing?” Find out in the comedy that brings all walks of life into the Forest of Ardenne. There, Orlando and Rosalind try to redeem their families from injustice while also falling in love. As you journey with them from power to poverty and back again, perhaps you too will understand why “all the world’s a stage and all the men and women merely players.”
Please note: Our production of As You Like It has a modern setting. Like many Shakespearean productions, the Bard uses a small amount of innuendo and double entendres. This interpretation of the play also includes contemporary music and some staged violence. For these reasons, the production is recommended for audience members age 13 and older.
Pinewood Summer School 2009--Musical Theatre and Improv

Go Dog, Go! Workshops Winter 2009

MACBETH at BYU

Macbeth
By William Shakespeare
“By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes.” Seeking to fulfill a series of supernatural prophecies, Macbeth falls into a descending web of magic and tyranny as he and his ambitious wife stop at nothing to obtain and keep the crown. Only after he has destroyed everything he holds dear does Macbeth realize life is “full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”
March 18*, 19*, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26, 27, 31, April 1, 2, 3, 7:30 p.m. Saturday matinees, March 21 and 28, 2:00 p.m.
Pardoe Theatre $15 ($5 off weeknights/$4 off weekends with BYU or student ID/$2 off for senior citizens or BYU alumni)
Dress rehearsals/matinees—all seats $8
Individual tickets on sale February 17
(Info taken from the BYU website)
Theatre-in-Education (my latest obsession)
Theatre-in-Education (TIE) is the practice of exploring various issues through theatre, with young people or community groups. The term is also broadly used to express any type of theatre developed by and through skilled theatre artists, placed in an educational setting. More and more the definition of an "educational setting" is broadening to include settings at the community level through professional theatre companies and various community groups.
Skilled theatre practitioners function as teaching artists to help communities investigate themes or concepts derived from theatre productions or, as in devised theatre, to explore social/political issues currently facing any given community.
Pinewood Summer School 2008--Musical Theatre

Pinewood is a private school in Los Altos California. One of its primary focuses is Drama, Musical Theatre, what you will...where they seek to cultivate self-confidence, public speaking skills, team-building skills, and friendships.The summer of 2008 I taught at their Middle Campus, grades 1st, 2nd, and 4th-6th. The first graders magically danced and rhymed the "The Storybook Prince," second graders put on a riveting version of "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" complete with a scary child-snatcher, and the older class played make believe in a stirring rendition of the musical, "Peter Pan."