The Forgotten Kingdom: A Radio-Theatre Performance
Weaving together late 19th/early 20th century women’s songs from Sephardic enclaves of the former Ottoman Empire, this enthralling program evokes a panorama of the unraveling of an older Mediterranean world in the wake of WWI- not as we see it today with the benefit of textbooks, but as ordinary people lived it, unaware of how the story would continue. With song lyrics in Ladino, an endangered blend of archaic Spanish with Turkish and Greek, beautiful music, and English narration, the show renders scenes of daily life from before WWI and the Ottoman Empire’s collapse to the glimmers of democratic hopes crushed by fascist regimes.
The show explores memory. If tomorrow our lives were severely disrupted, how would we recall today? What trivial moments would suddenly emerge as vital? What moments that once felt so important would wash away? The artist is also available to meet with smaller groups after the performance to explore these questions.
Remote Learning Adaptation: This program is available as a pre recorded video with an introduction by the artist, and beautiful sand animation to accompany the music and narration.
Program available in person, or as a pre recorded video including one virtual artist visit.
Audience Limit: 250
Curriculum Connection: World Cultures, Middle East, Ottoman Empire, Sephardic Judaism, Geography
Video: Sand Story program excerpt (virtual program)
Single Performance + Optional Workshop: $1,300
Additional Performances: $1,040
Travel: $150 per day
Video Program (one week access+ one virtual artist visit): $600
Additional Artist Visit (30 min): $150
Pricing may vary for weekends/out-of-school time
Processing Fee of $30 added to all contracts
Online Pre-Recorded
School has access to the video for one week unless otherwise stated in contract. Do not distribute video link outside of the agreed upon parties. Downloads are prohibited. Please introduce the performer as an Arts for Learning Massachusetts artist.
In-person:
Provisions:
- One or two lockable dressing rooms, close to a private bathroom, where possible
- Room temperature bottled water (for stage and for dressing room)
- Access to two electric outlets within 5 ft of stage area
- Lunch for three performers on days with multiple in-person performances (please inquire about dietary restrictions)
- Three parking spots, preferably near entrance or loading area
- Someone (could be a group of responsible students) to act as stage manager/time keeper, letting the artist know "10 minutes until showtime", "5 minutes until showtime" and a physical walk to "places."
Performance Area:
- Minimum stage dimensions: 10 ft wide x 8 ft deep, with 7 ft distance between performance and seating area
- Center aisle wide enough for two performers to walk side by side.
- Area must be clean and free of clutter, with the performance the only activity occurring in that space.
Arrival time before first performance: 150 minutes for amplified performances, 75 minutes for un-amplified performances
Strike time: 75 minutes
Time needed between performances: 20 minutes minimum.
Teachers are asked to model appropriate audience behavior for students.
Please introduce the performer as an Arts for Learning Massachusetts artist, using an introduction provided by the performer.
