Music by The Liberation Music Collective, written word by the Brown County Writers, Readers, and Poets Society, and narration by Yaël Ksander. Saturday, Febraury 20, 2016, at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $15 general, and $5 for students.
Three creative forces have joined together to present Utopia: 21st Century Reflections on the Pursuit of Perfection, drawing on Indiana’s rich history of utopian experiments. Through the music of The Liberation Music Collective, the writings of the Brown County Writers, Readers, and Poets Society, and the narration of Yaël Ksander, Utopia presents a historical reflection on our pursuit of perfection and an invitation to meditate on the meaning of progress.
Utopia is an innovative dramatic work that brings together fact, fiction, and fantasy. With Yaël Ksander as narrator, the audience will learn about Indiana’s history with utopian experiments, namely the Rappite and Owenite communities at New Harmony and Jim Jones’ Peoples Temple in Indianapolis. Against this backdrop, The Liberation Music Collective has composed an original musical suite that follows the triumphs and tribulations of characters in a fictional utopia. Woven between the narration and the music are the written works of Brown County writers, who invite the audience to reflect on human frailty, the desire for change, and above all else, hope. Utopia is about our collective yearning towards the end of suffering—and how much we are willing to sacrifice towards that end.
The Liberation Music Collective is a socially conscious big band dedicated to performing original compositions about contemporary social issues. The 14-piece band, led by co-creators Hannah Fidler and Matt Riggen, is comprised of students and alumni from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. The Liberation Music Collective released their first album, Siglo XXI, in August 2015. In the words of Neil Tesser, winner of the 2014 GRAMMY Award for Best Liner Notes and the Jazz Journalist Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award, Siglo XXI is “conceived in the blazing crucible of political awakening, and executed with a maturity way beyond its leaders’ years.”
The Brown County Writers, Readers and Poets Society (WRAPS) was founded 20 years ago to foster the literary arts in beautiful Brown County. Many WRAPS members are published authors, and WRAPS’ seasonal publication Through The Window features both fresh and seasoned talent from Brown County and surrounding areas. WRAPS bimonthly meetings and sponsored events provide a close-knit space for writers to exchange ideas, hone skills, and find mutual support. Utopia features works by WRAPS members Keith Bradway, Deb Bowden, Peggy Daily, Deborah Cronin, Pam Raider, and Gay Weimer.
Yaël Ksander is WFIU’s Arts Desk Editor, where she “seeks out and shepherds the stories of artists, musicians, writers, and other creative people.” Her indispensible work with WFIU also includes being co-host of A Moment of Science, producer of Speak Your Mind, and writer for A Moment of Indiana History. Ksander’s thoughtful, intelligent voice has graced a wide range of productions, from nature documentaries to accounting courses.
The annual Jacobs School student showcase, mentored by the Office of Entrepreneurship and Career Development, which provides expert guidance and resources, as well as a wide variety of events designed to empower Jacobs School of Music students as they prepare for a career in music and dance.
Building on its tradition of providing quality entertainment, the Brown County Playhouse contributes to Brown County's economic and cultural development by offering a diverse selection of performing arts productions and events for tourists and residents.
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