So Cruel on YouTube

In case you missed it, or just want to relive it, Rob Emanuele captured it all.

And on a day when I remembered all the props.

So Cruel: a sibling serenade

premiered as part of the SoLow Festival

June 20-30, 2013

THANK YOU

To the SoLow Festival, for existing, for making me believe this is something I could do, for encouraging me every step of the way.

To everyone who came out to support me, or even just wanted to but were deterred by schedules and/or weather.

More photos!

These ones are all from Rachel Cheetham Richard, another colleague from Azavea. You need some geospatial analysis? Some geographic software built lovingly from scratch? I'm telling you, these guys are the best. At maps, and also at life. Just look.

A Selected Annotated Bibliography for So Cruel

Throughout this process, multiple folks have brought up how few sibling stories there are out there. So, obstinate virago that I am, I set out to list those I've encountered, as well as find new ones. I've done it before, and I'll do it again -- here's this show's shout out to influential, instrumental, and essential writers. All my literary bitches stand up.

Thank you, bike.

It's opening night. I'm about to head out to do things like pick up extra ipods, tie little strings around scrolls, and hide everything everywhere. But I wanted to leave you with this sestina.

It's not the best poem ever, and it's not really related to the show; it's actually about my bike.

But my bike's in the show too, you know, and sometimes my bike and I don't really understand one another, sometimes my bike drives me nuts in fact, like right now the fender's bent funny for no reason and it makes this awful squawking sound -- but it's my bike, and when I forget where I parked it, or someone tries to hit it, or I leave it in the basement all winter, I kind of lose my shit.

So I just wanted to say, thank you, bike.

"I'm doing a show, dad!"

I wish I could convey the tone of my voice in this post title. Just imagine that I'm doing what I'm doing in the photos below, during my first dress rehearsal, with a real live audience, when my dad comes outside and starts hollering my name the way only a Longo can holler.

Check out this h4wt promo vid

Surriously, check it out! Rob Emanuele is the best. Frealz.

So Cruel: a sibling serenade

will premiere as part of the SoLow Festival

June 20-30, 2013
To reserve tickets, email socruelphilly@gmail.com

I have successfully poured all my self-doubt into making these damn scrolls

I cannot write on the fabric.

My handwriting looks like an ax-murderer chicken.

What I wanted to write in the first place doesn't even make sense.

I cannot get the fabric to stick to the place mat thingies.

Am I really using twist ties in my props?

So Cruel: a sibling serenade

will premiere as part of the SoLow Festival

June 20-30, 2013
To reserve tickets, email socruelphilly@gmail.com

Words of Wisdom from not even teenagers

There were a whole bunch of Longo's at my parents house for Father's Day this weekend. At one point, my three nieces came up to me and asked about my show.

Oof.

So Cruel: the Playlist

Songs about reconciliation or figuring things out. Songs about family. Songs I just like, and I can't explain why they fit.

Because of reasons.

So Cruel: a sibling serenade

will premiere as part of the SoLow Festival

June 20-30, 2013
To reserve tickets, email socruelphilly@gmail.com

Get it, girrrrrrl!

Movement.

Geez.

How did I get myself into this?

Well, a couple reasons. First, So Cruel is a whole lot of following me around and listening to my voice in headphones. If I don't do something interesting with my body, ya'll are gonna get bored, wander off to a whole other park, and just listen like it's a podcast. Fine.

And second, we decided there needs to be a pop song in the middle. And I should dance to it.

Is this a happy show, or a sad show?

I walk in the house and dump a Staples envelope on the table. "Flyers!"

After plucking out a handful and pretending to read one, she finally says -- and I don't mean finally like after reading the flyers, but finally after weeks of rehearsals and interviews and me being a terrible sneak -- she finally says, "Is this a happy show, or a sad show?"

It's a show about my brother and me, how we had a pretty bad time a few years ago. But mostly, it's about how it got better. And how incredibly joyous I am about that.

"It's a happy show, mom."

So Cruel: a sibling serenade

will premiere as part of the SoLow Festival

June 20-30, 2013
To reserve tickets, email socruelphilly@gmail.com

On working outside

The weather being what it is today (please click that link. please.), I'd like to talk about what's it's like to work outside on a site specific show.

Awful.

Okay, and also fun and wild and inspiring. But here are some things we've encountered so far:

Back with a vengeance. Or a show at least.

Hi guys.

I'm back.