‘LIVE IN THE OAK GROVE’
Outdoor afternoon performance set for today
Over the past year and a half, artists have continued creating. For many, the pandemic has been an inspiration to express something new. For others, it has served as a reason to finish artistic projects that were born before COVID-19.
When it comes to dance, theater and music alumni from Mendocino College who have finished various pieces during the timeline of the pandemic, all they have lacked is a live venue where they can finally present their work.
“There were a number of alumni and people we’ve worked with over time that were itching and ready to get onstage and share what they’ve been working on,” says Eryn Schon-brunner, current director of the Mendocino College Repertory Dance Company.
In response to this urge to perform, MCRDC is hosting “Live in the Oak Grove,” an outdoor performance featuring works that have yet to be seen by an audience. The production takes place on August 27 and 28 at Mendocino College.
There are eight dance alumni, three theater alumni, two music alumni and two community dance companies involved in the production—an eclectic group that Brunner began reaching out to in early July.
Rickie Emilie Farah is one of the theater alumni who was invited back to be a part of the performance. She attended UC San Diego following her time at Mendocino College and recently graduated with a degree in theatre arts.
The detrimental effect of COVID-19 indefinitely postponing live shows led to Farah spending her last year and three months of school performing on Zoom. Despite her focus being on theater and learning to communicate emotion with live audiences, the transfer to online platforms unexpectedly allowed her to explore the film side of acting.
“I met with Reid (Edelman) on Thursday and I showed him my monologue. It was strange performing it in a theater, because I’ve only ever done that on my floor, in my bedroom, in front of my laptop,” Farah describes.
Edelman, Theater Program Director at the college, was initially responsible for asking Farah to be part of “Live in the Oak Grove.” His only request was that she present work that Mendocino College audiences had never seen before.
The two monologues Farah has rehearsed for the show are pieces from her time at UCSD, both of which she originally performed on Zoom. In her scenes, Farah will take on the lead role of Hecuba in Trojan Women as well as the character Jillian from the play Goodbye Charles.
As an alumnus coming back home to perform, Farah has found that rehearsals with Edelman—her old mentor—have brought nostalgia for old times.
“He gave me a foundation when I first moved to Ukiah,” Farah says. Her childhood was spent in Peru and her experience with theater there was limited to small academies. She adds, “Stepping into the theater to have someone see my pieces, it was really nice to get to do that with someone that I trust, like Reid.”
While the artists have been preparing for their roles and rehearsing religiously, Brunner has been busy building the show itself. Typically, she takes the entire semester to assemble all the pieces into one collectively moving performance. But with in
put from the alumni and guests involved, “Live in the Oak Grove” has essentially come together within the last six weeks.
There are about 15 short works showcased in the hour-and-a-half long production, with each piece running three to seven minutes. Mendocino Ballet will be presenting a piece sourcing from their show “Alice In Wonderland” and Mendocino Dance Project will also be bringing a work that they have yet to perform live. A majority of the works are solos and duets, due to the size of the outdoor stage.
Steve Decker, Technical Director for the theater, has modified platforms that the college has previously used for events to create a stage better suited for performers. The stage will be set up on campus between Macmillan Hall and the Lowery Building.
However, with an outdoor performance, the very lack of technical elements has been freeing. The show is scheduled to take place at 3 p.m. in order to utilize natural light in the grove. The sound system is simple, with its primary function being to bring the audience’s attention to what is taking place on stage.
“It’s just a celebration of being together,” Brunner says, relieved after a long time of being apart.
The last MCRDC show was a virtual “Dance on Film” festival in spring of 2020 that featured digital performances of student work. MCRDC did not run during the following school year, due to uncertainty about being inside the theater.
“I thought it would be great to kick off the semester with a live performance,” Brunner concludes. “We’re still here, we haven’t gone away and we want to keep putting out art and sharing it with the community.”
Mendocino College is sponsoring the performance in celebration of a return to the performing arts, so tickets to the event are free. Attendees are invited to bring blankets and chairs to be comfortable with the outdoor lawn seating, and appropriate social distancing measures will be in place.
Any updates for the event will be posted on the Mendocino College Dance Facebook page.