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ART THAT AWAKENS
coming december 8 & 9
a Conch shell productions in person event
Join us Friday December 8th and Saturday December 9th for our annual
HB Studio will be hosting Conch Shell Productions 2023 CSP New Works Fest.
Plan to join us at 124 Bank Street Theatre, New York, New York 10014.
We will be thought provoking, innovative plays-in-development written by CSP Artist Collective members.
Stay tuned for updates.
This event is being presented in partnership with HB Studio.
It is funded in part by the ART/NY Small Theatre Fund made possible with support from the Howard Gilman Foundation.
online reading SERIES
WORKS-IN PROGRESS WRITTEN BY CSP ARTIST COLLECTIVE MEMBERS
This season we presented online readings of two full length plays written by members of Conch Shell Productions Artist Collective members:
- Searching for Abuelo written by Gretchen Suarez-Pena (March 2023)
- Between Dog & Wolf written by Cris Eli Blak (June 2023)
ARTIST STATEMENT
History doesn't repeat itself, it only continues. Unfortunately, this is the same with the tragedies that have become such commonplace in our society that we don't even flinch anymore when a breaking news report comes on. In my plays, I don't aim to tell stories, I aim to tell the truth. Between Dog and Wolf is an exploration of healing and forgiveness, a plea to pay attention to the effects of gun violence and school shootings in America, and to take a look into why only certain faces and shades of skin are given attention and sympathy when these events happen. I wrote this play to tell the truth - - the hard truth. The only thing I ask is that you listen
ABOUT THE PLAY
High school friends Blake, Patrick, and Mara reunite at a hotel the day before their 10-year reunion. Forever traumatized by the school shooting that took place their junior year, the three try and fail to relive painful memories and heal broken friendships.
ABOUT THE CAST
Petron Brown (Reader) is a playwright, performer, arts leader, an intimacy director, and a member of Conch Shell Productions’ Artist Collective. He was born in The Bahamas and immigrated to the US to pursue educational and artistic endeavors.
Milton Espinoza Jr. (“PATRICK”) born & raised in Newark, is currently pursuing his MFA in Acting at Columbia University. Since graduating from Wesleyan in 2022, he has been expanding his artistry with in the Caribbean Rasanblaj, giving a voice to those who have been silenced. IG: @m11ton3
Erick Goldsmith (“BLAKE”) born in Chester, PA, earned B.A. in Theatre and has been a paid voice/actor for 7+ years. He finds fulfillment in work and life through human connection.IG: e.smith_smiththestoryteller
Shakira Kelly ("MARA")was born and raised in Jamaica, has a B.A. in English Literature and has 2 years experience performing in Jamaican theater. She uses her passion for acting to bring attention to real life experiences. IG: kellykarisma
MAGALY COLIMON-CHRISTOPHER, director
Conch Shell Productions Artistic Director. To learn more about Magaly, click here
SEARCHING FOR ABUELO
One-woman show written and performed by
Gretchen Suárez-Peña
Directed by Magaly Colimon-Christopher
ARTIST STATEMENT
"My maternal grandfather died before my mother even graduated from High School. I know very little about him except that he was a bartender, and an aspiring actor and writer in New York City. In this one-act solo show, framed in the traditional Puerto Rican musical style of Bomba, I (Gretchen) put myself through the journey of figuring out who he was, who I am, and what to do about it."
FROM THE HEART OF HAITI - anthology of testimonials
Work-In Development by Magaly Colimon-Christopher
FROM THE HEART OF HAITI - anthology of testimonials from the people of Haiti about their 2023 experiences.
This series-in-development features separate standalone re-enactments of adapted/translated testimonials from people living in Haiti today. The identity of each Haitian person who contributed their stories is anonymous.
In response to the daily injustice and violence in my ancestral lands, I have begun shooting rough cuts of this project and sharing them via social media as a public service. Can art affect social change? Did Picasso’s “Guerina” help raise awareness of the war and raise necessary funds? Yes. Just as the image of women and children make Guernica the image of innocent, defenseless humanity victimized, I hope this anthology will do the same for the plight of Haitians who choose to stay in their homeland. There is an undeclared war occurring in Haiti - a war of the wealthy ravaging the middle class and the poor. May this anthology humanize the people of Haiti.
The goal is to awaken the awareness of the international community to the courage and strength of the Haitian people, and to help end the inhumane conditions of their existence. We are releasing concept videos via social media to provoke a dialogue in immediate response to the shared stories.
We are raising funds to fully develop this project for film and stage. The completed film will feature subtitles in Dutch, English, French, Haitian Creole, Papiamentu, and Spanish (the languages spoken in the Caribbean).