Sunday, May 18, 2008

"Inside/Out, voices from the disability community" plays Kennedy Center in June

VSA arts commissioned Ping Chong & Company to create "Inside/Out…voices from the disability community," which will have its a world premiere June 27-29 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

The theatrical production by Ping Chong and Sara Michelle Zatz is "an oral history production that explores first-hand experiences of the disability community through personal narratives. Their histories are interwoven into a script that is performed by the participants themselves, giving voice to individuals whose stories frequently go unheard," according to VSA arts.

The performances will be June 27 at 7:30 p.m., June 28 at 7:30 p.m., and June 29 at 2 p.m. To purchase tickets, visit www.kennedy-center.org/tickets.

This production by Ping Chong, a renowned theater director, choreographer and visual installation artist, is part of his ongoing series of oral-history theater works known as the Undesirable Elements project, exploring issues of race, culture, identity, and “otherness” in America. The series is designed to help communities confront and overcome cultural insularity by encouraging dialogue and giving voice to individuals whose stories frequently go unheard.