Lost Theater Company Seeks Temporary Home

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Sep 15th 2005, 12:03am By queenseyes

Think Financial Student Loans

During the last few weeks of continuous Katrina coverage, I came across a story on the internet about a New Orleans theater company that was performing at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival during the hurricane. The company members were watching the coverage on TV between performances, concerned about their homes and their friends.

According to the article from NBC10 in Philadelphia, the company members were very concerned about their future:

"It's like your whole life, just in one storm, totally nothing, you just got to start over," said Erica Centurion. These actors' passion may be in the theater, but their paychecks come from tourists. In New Orleans they are waiters and waitresses and bartenders. So, even if they get back home, it is unlikely there will be any jobs to which they can go back. "

Luckily, as it turns out, all their families are safe, but they are now "gypsies," according to EgoPo's artistic Director, Lane Sandoval. They don't know the conditions of their homes or their theater space and may not know for quite some time.

As I was reading about this, it occurred to me that it would be really great to see if I could find a way to bring the company to the Buffalo area for some performances. What better way for them to get back on their feet but to perform for a while in a theater-loving city like Buffalo? Buffalo would get to enjoy what sounds like a GREAT show (The Maids X 2, two performances of Jean Genet's classic performed by three women, and then three men), and would get to contribute to the restoration of New Orleans cultural community after this devastating storm.

I contacted the Philly Fringe Festival and they put me in touch with Lane, and we have been discussing bringing them to town. I have started getting in touch with Buffalo area theaters, and would love to hear from anyone else who is interested in helping with this effort to bring them to town! -Laura Schultz

Please contact Laura Schultz at metaphoria76@yahoo.com for more information.

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