Letters from Paris

Here I sit in my top-of-the-stairs (8 flights, American, 7 flights, French; NO ELEVATOR) apartment in Paris.  The weather is perfect: that sort of fresh, hazy morning which brings a soft light not unlike San Francisco and its ocean mists.  This past weekend was the Journee du Patrimoine: austere French ministries in hotels particuliers; a little hidden Russian Orthodox church built all of wood, encircling two living trees; grand monuments like the Ecole Militaire and the Opera-- all open their doors to the public in this once-a-year weekend.  And voila, the history and beauty of Paris abounds. The street teemed with people all eager to take a good long look at their national treasures.  I have long believed that Paris IS theater; not only for the beautiful settings and its surprise moments (that Russian church!) but also because of the way the chairs in the cafes are aligned: facing outward so the passing street scene can be observed, commented on, and most of all, appreciated and loved.  

People here in Paris ask me constantly about Word for Word.   They are very excited that "Two on A Party" comes to town (many towns all over France!) in March: I've warned of its "adult nature" and no one seems the least bit phased. In fact, they are thrilled to see a short story by the great American writer Tennessee Williams.   It is France, apres tout.   As for my immediate plans, I will be teaching in the Word for Word style, and have a wide range of workshops just waiting--from small children at the Ecole Bilingue where I've taught many a time with other Word for Word women, and which I love for it's creativity and joyful spirit, to high school students at BRIO, a special nation-wide program dedicated to bringing lyceens to the university, to a full-on 12-week acting workshop for adults.  Next stop, the Paris premiere of Tobias Wolff's Bullet in the Brain.  ( Credit to Stephanie Hunt. Remember the parachute?  It's here, waiting in a closet in an apartment in the 7eme for its next adventure. )

I miss San Francisco and our creative team and our new home at the Artaud more than you can imagine, but let's face it:  Paris is, after all, Paris.   As Mavis Gallant (author of Mlle. Dias de Corta, among many other stories, said when someone asked her why she moved from Montreal to Paris :  "Have you seen Paris?" )
And, of course, there are so many Parises to be seen.  I'm reading a great book by David Downie entitled "Paris, Paris" which is a fascinating look at and history of everything from the Luxembourg Gardens to the mess made by President Pompidou to Mme. X, a "seduction expert".  

Everything is fresh and new and a little overwhelming (not the least being my projected visit tomorrow tothe Prefecture de Police to get my working papers in order), but very exciting and full of promise.  I'll keep the Letters from Paris coming.

-Sue Harloe

Artistic Director, Word For Word

p.s.  Being in Europe brings an awareness of the weight of centuries of history.  To that end, I recommend that everyone go and see Word for Word's next Off the Page, "The Tumblers", and see the brilliant story that Nathan Englander has conjured out of a dark and desperate time.    October 14, JCCSF 8 pm.

Class tensions

Came across this headline today, just as part of my general perusal of news: "College student with sword kills burglary suspect". Ok, I'm intrigued. In a nutshell: a John Hopkins student who had a samurai sword on hand when his house was broken into killed a burglar in what seems like self-defense. But what got me most about the article was this quote:

Kenny Eaton, 20, a junior political science major at Hopkins who lives nearby, said there was some tension between students and lower-income residents of nearby communities. The private Johns Hopkins is known for its health and science research and has about 4,600 undergraduates on its main campus. "You take kids who are paying $50,000 a year (in tuition) and then put them out in a very dangerous city environment, it's almost like a clash of civilizations," he said.

What's interesting here - and serves reiterate the Class Divide Initiative at Dartmouth which was the impetus for You Can't Get There From Here - is the implied sense of status. The juxtaposition of a $50,000 education vs. a dangerous city environment makes me wonder - at what point does it not become a clash of civilizations? When it's only a $10,000 education? What about the students who are on Financial Aid? The article references tensions between students and low-income residents - but what about the low-income students? By putting that price tag on the students, it's as if they're meant to be something above and exclusive to the world around them.

Just my two cents. Feel free to add yours, or join us after the show tomorrow night or next Thursday for a session of cross-class dialogue led by Anne Galjour that explores the issues at hand!

-Reynaldi Lolong, Marketing Associate

Good times had by all

Thank you to all for joining us on Thursday evening for the opening night of our Preview Season at Theater Artaud! We're excited to share our future with the community. Courtesy of Cheryl Mazak, here's a smattering of photos from the first of what will surely be many open house events to come.

THEATER REVIEW: Class Struggle at Z Space

THEATER REVIEW: Class Struggle at Z Space, courtesy of MissionLocal

Also check out our review in the San Francisco Chronicle:
"Innate charm and sensitivity...as the people spring to life, their stories are well worth telling and told well."


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Starting the school year right

Greetings to you all from the program administrator for Youth Arts here at Z Space.  Specifically what we do are workshops and residencies with students from grade 3 through high school using Word for Word techniques to activate literature and bring stories to life.   Since school has just started, we don’t currently have any workshops running (although that will change in the next few weeks, so check back!), so I thought I’d let some of the classroom teachers we worked with last year have their say, and show you some photos from past workshops. - Valerie Weak, Youth Arts Program Administrator

 

“Students are engaged deeply by Word for Word approaches; several students who say they “hate” reading (because it is difficult) were completely engaged in this process”

-Bayside Elementary School

 

“I got to see shy students shining. I saw english language learners speaking loudly and proudly. I saw the students work together, speak positively about each other, and encourage each other.”

-San Pedro Elementary School

 

“I saw my students up on their feet interacting joyfully with one another while interpreting literature.  What’s not to love?”

-Ida B Wells Continuation High School