POWER STREET THEATRE COMPANY
THE POWER OF THEATRE
"What more could we possibly hope for in the future of American theatre? We need groups like this to keep going--to create more art and joy and hold our face to the flame. This is theater that is urgent, necessary, and beautiful. Growing up in West Philly, with much family in North Philly, I had no ideatheater existed in Philadelphia. Theaters didn’t put up posters in our neighborhood. Theater wasn’t “for us.” We weren’t invited to the table. Power Street is building a new table. One Philly--and this nation--desperately needs."
- Quiara Alegría Hudes
Playwright (2012 Pulitzer Prize for Drama)
"I remember only once in my career when I felt truly at home in a theatre. I have always felt passion for my craft, and been part of moments that were beautiful and transcendent, but I have always carried the knowledge of being an other, an outsider. I remember during a rehearsal for LAS MUJERES, not any special rehearsal just one where we were discussing the text, I sat and looked around the room and realized for the very first time in my life I wasn't code-switching. I could speak in half Spanish if I wanted. I could make reference to my abuelita, or empanadas, or praise a memory with "besos, besos besos" straight from my thoughts to the world outside. I looked around and knew no one was going to ask me an insensitive question about my name, or my heritage, or "my people" as has happened so often before. I found myself in a room full of artists of color, elevating the voices of women and female-identifying artists, being as open, and kind, and thoughtful, and full of passion, and emotional, and
supportive, and inclusive as I had always dreamed the rehearsal room could be. The power struggles were missing. We were discussing things like trauma, patriarchy, children, and cultural identity and how they met for both the actors and the characters. We had a location where anyone in the room could take a break if the work became overwhelming or triggering in any way. We weren't having to beg or apologize for the space we were taking up. All voices were being honored. I hope to feel that way in a rehearsal room again and I try to build all of the rehearsals I have had since then on that experience, decolonizing the process of making art. That is a gift and an affirmation that has deeply changed me as an artist and a moment
I will never forget."
- Tamanya Garza
Director, Producer and Digital Marketing Specialist
"The opportunity to attend Morir Sonyando was incredible for our students from Olney Charter High School. The students had never seen a play performed live, and it exposed them to a new area of art. Several of the students who came are English Language Learners who are emergent bilinguals. Seeing a play performed in Spanish and English was eye-opening for them--they expressed excitement about seeing a professional play performed in multiple languages. The subject matter was also compelling. Immediately after the play, students started talking about their own experiences witnessing domestic violence. Seeing professional actors take this subject matter seriously opened the door for them to see their own experiences as part of larger structural issues, and allowed them to share with each other. They left the theater feeling bigger and seeing themselves as the tellers of stories. Seeing my students react so enthusiastically to the play also inspired me as their teacher. It gave me ideas about how to lead our unit on Theater of the Oppressed and what topics would be of interest to students. I look forward to how students who saw the performance will be able to use what they learned to bring their own experiences and ideas into the limelight to share important topics with others."
- Educator at Olney High School
"I applaud Thais Flaitt Giannoccaro, the director of Morir Sonyando, for bringing to light the issue of domestic violence. Our communities need to be educated about this subject, and people need to talk about it. The public needs to understand that domestic violence is about power and control. Every woman is at high risk of encountering domestic violence. Statistics show that one in four women will experience domestic or intimate partner violence at some point in her lifetime. Domestic violence can happen regardless of socio-economic status, race, ethnicity, age, orientation, education, employment status, physical ability, maritial status or childhood history. I sincerely thank Thais F Giannoccaro for this production. I think everyone should see it."
- Ruth Marquez
"Morir Sonyando hit home for me. We all know that domestic violence is a vicious cycle caused by perpetrators who were probably abused, and that is what they know. Then there are individuals who have anger management problems which cause them to be violent with their wives, children and others. Anything triggers them and they have the tendency to blame others and they always say they love you and they will not do it again. But we all know that it is not true. Perpetrators need help and so do the victims. The problem is that fear of the unknown,self-worth, low self-esteem, economic and emotional dependency among many other reasons keep women from running away, talking about their situation, and seeking help and resources.
This play was excellent. It very accurately, culturally, and sensitively approached the "Domestic Violence Cycle" as well as, educated those present on the prevalence of this problem in the Latino Community. Very well done, and I hope you can continue to perform this project and spread the news to our community, that there is always a way out!!!"
- Anonymous
