CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS — TELL YOUR STORY ON STAGE!
New theatre production will explore St Paul’s Hmong story through the voices of community members.
Face to Face: our Hmong community
Application Deadline: Tuesday, Oct 1, 2019
Performances: March 5-16, 2020
Rehearsals: Feb 8th-Mar 4, 2020
Fill out an online application form HERE
Download a printable form HERE
Translation services and assistance filling out the form is available as needed with one week notice.
Project Description
Information Sessions
Join us for an info session to learn more about the project!
Tuesday, Sept 10, 6:00 PM
Asian Economic Development Association
422 University Ave W, St Paul
Saturday, Spet 21, 10:30 AM
East Side Freedom Library
1105 Greenbrier St, St Paul
Park Square Theatre is partnering with Ping Chong + Company, and Twin Cities artist Katie Ka Vang, to present Face to Face: our Hmong community, an interview-based theatre production exploring the diverse experiences and histories of Minnesota’s Hmong population.
Ping Chong + Company is an internationally acclaimed theater company known for bringing unheard voices to the stage. Sara from Ping Chong + Company, and Katie will conduct extensive interviews with Hmong community members with Minnesota stories. The interviews become the basis of a script which will be performed by the interviewees themselves. The production will weave together personal, historical and political narratives.
The goal of Face to Face is to use theater and personal testimony to foster greater understanding among Hmong and other communities in Minnesota.We are looking for stories that reflect a wide range of Hmong experiences – interests, ages, stories and identities.
No previous performance experience required!
Those chosen to perform in the March production will receive a $1,000 stipend + $200 parking stipend.
Watch this short documentary for an example of Ping Chong + Company’s previous project: Beyond Sacred
Click for more information about Ping Chong + Company
Interviews (lasting approximately 2 hours) will take place approximately between Oct 12-23. If you are chosen for an interview, we will contact you and do our best to work with your schedule.
For more information contact:
Katie Ka Vang, katieka.vang@gmail.com – or –
Rachel Wandrei, wandrei@parksquaretheatre.org. 651.767.8485
Important Dates
Oct 1, 2019 — Application Deadline
Oct 12–23 — Interviews with applicants
Feb 8–Mar 4, 2020 — Rehearsals (evenings and weekends, 3-4 days/week, 3-4 hours/day. Schedule will be developed based on availability of participants)
March 5–15 — Performances:
- Thurs, Mar 5, 10 or 10:30 am
- Thurs, Mar 5, 7:30 pm
- Fri, Mar 6, 7:30 pm
- Sat, Mar 7, 7:30 pm
- Sun, Mar 8, 2:00 pm
- Tues, Mar 10, 10 or 10:30 am
- Wed, Mar 11, 10 or 10:30 am
- Thurs, Mar 12, 10 or 10:30 am
- Thurs, Mar 12, 7:30 pm
- Fri, Mar 13, 7:30 pm
- Sat, Mar 14, 7:30 pm
- Sun, Mar 15, 2:00 pm
Requirements
Participants must:
- Be at least 18 years of age.
- Identify as Hmong.
- Be comfortable speaking and reading in English, as well as their first language, if English is not their first language.
- Be willing to talk openly about their lives, family, culture and customs, and share their thoughts in a public forum.
- Be willing to talk openly about cultural differences and identity issues, and make observations about the culture and communities in which they currently live.
- Be willing to allow others to express contrary opinions or political views.
- Be available for an initial interview lasting approximately 2 hours between the dates of Oct 12-23, 2019
- Selected participants must be available for 1-2 additional interviews lasting approximately 2 hours each, plus some hours of research, possibly about their family or the history and culture of their place of origin.
- Be available for 3-4 weeks of evening and weekend rehearsals (about 3-4 days/week, 3-4 hours/day) in the period leading up to production (3-4 weeks leading up to March 5th, 2020, the show premiere date). Please note that you will be compensated for your time.
- Be available for all technical rehearsals and performances.
PLEASE NOTE: This project does not require that participants have previous performance, dance, or singing experience, but they must be willing to share their personal experiences on stage and in public. No memorization is involved in the performance. The script will be read on stage in English except for a potential song or poem in one’s own language.
Not all people interviewed will be selected to participate in the final project. For those who are selected, not every experience shared in the interview process will be included in the final production.
Application Deadline Tuesday, Oct 1, 2019
Fill out an online application form HERE
Download a printable form HERE
