Andrea L. Hart
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Latest News from Hart-Land

Spoons--it's not just a cut-throat card game

9/11/2018

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I am excited to announce that I will be directing the amazingly talented Pascale Roger in her one-woman show: "The Ins and Outs of Fingers, Spoons and an Open Marriage."

I have been giving Pascale dramaturgical support on this piece since before I moved to San Diego. Just this week, after a very meaty and fruitful (heh heh) Skype session, we decided it would be possible to work together on it. In addition to more Skype time, she will be coming to San Diego for rehearsals and I will be traveling to SF for tech/performance.

I worked with Pascale on an initial draft of this piece that premiered at The Marsh SF last year. Pascale won an audience award for that performance, which is allowing her to do a longer, more fleshed out version this year. 

It is a one-night only performance: October 3. This play is steamy, sexy, awkward in the best kind of way, touching when you least expect it and ultimately so empowering. I hope you'll spread the word and come see it.
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Hello SoCal

9/1/2018

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So I moved to San Diego in July. After 18 years in the Bay. 14 years in my little Berkeley garden retreat.
My truck died. After 16 years and 220,000 miles.
All these numbers seem(ed) important. And I guess the main thing they might say is:

IT WAS TIME FOR A CHANGE.

My main squeeze, Ross, got a super dreamy job at Francis Parker School (middle and high school English teacher) and I grabbed Storm and said, "Let's do it!"
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Here is a bulletin board I helped him make for his new classroom. I drew all the characters. That comic-drawing lesson plan for RMDS really paid off!
First impressions of San Diego:

1.  Overall, people are incredibly friendly, warm and open.
2.  Everyone seems to know someone in San Diego, and it only takes an email introduction for those people to agree to meet with you and tell you wonderful tips about San Diego.
3.  There are so many delicious beers! And...You cannot drink delicious beer every day without gaining weight. 

​I saw an awesome show at Blindspot Collective that was beautifully acted. And that made me so happy! The audience was filled with students, which also made me happy. Beforehand, one of them asked me: "Is this going to be real people?" I assumed he meant, actors, since the play was based on actual words of immigrants interviewed over several months. I struck up a small conversation with him, noting that even the teenagers are open and friendly here!
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Ross and I in front of a mural in our neighborhood. Even the walls are filled with positive energy!
I've been hired as a teaching artist at California Center for the Arts, Escondido. So far I've done amazing training on restorative justice, arts integration and emotional intelligence in curriculum design. The more I learn, the more I realize how much I have to learn. So happy to continue what I started at the Sojourn Devising Institute this summer. It has been a year of learning so much.

Storm and I have been exploring a lot and there is still lots more to explore. I am missing my Bay Area family and I miss Berkeley Bowl more than I ever thought possible. But I am also continually reminded how much growth can come out of change and for that, I'm so happy to be here and can't wait to see what continues to unfold
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I still managed to go on year 5 of backpacking adventures with this crew. We did the southern half of the JMT. 125 miles! All that San Diego beer did not make these passes any easier. But 2 weeks was a great boot camp toward getting back into shape. Storm and I are keeping it up exploring Balboa park and surrounding areas.
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skinned

1/28/2018

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"Skinned" is one of those perfect collaboration experiences that I dream about. I sent some stage directions I'd been thinking about to Kim. I was surprised when she wrote back that she loved it. We met in a literal meat-locker in Omaha...(OK, it's a classroom where they teach culinary students how to cut meat. Notice the posters on the wall behind the audience?) We discussed a basic outline. I edited 10 minutes of Trump talking about women down to 8 skin-crawling minutes. We went from there. I honestly think an audience member shouting "You guys are f*#%^@** crazy!" after your performance is the highest praise I can think of currently.
We were exhilarated afterward. We wanted to perform it every day.

It was cathartic.
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​It was like saying everything we were feeling without speaking a word. 

Kim started talking it up in NYC and that's how we got to perform in the AmericanAF Festival at the New Ohio Theater in October 2018.
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I love this picture because it looks like we made the audience cry. Well, we did. And whether it was from the onions in a small space or the subject matter...who cares?
We performed 3 nights between an assemblage of other performance art, short pieces, films, one-acts--all "speaking through, at, and from within this vicious and incredibly alive moment in our history." We got to feel what it was like to recreate the intimacy in a larger space; the immediacy within repetition; the fervor even when half the audience walked out beforehand because they were there to see the piece before ours. All good. All juicy. All so necessary in this art-as-a-way-to-survive-crazy-times thing.

We played around with color more in the NYC performances.

Onions were red.
Shoes were yellow.
Slips were white.

20 pound bags of onions we carried in slung over our shoulders then dropped heavily onto the table. We got a lot of great feedback and responses that are factoring into next iterations of the piece.  
Here's a little mention of us in a Culturebot article about the festival.
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In other news: This May, I'll be moving on from the school I've taught at for the last three years. Until then, I'm exposing the students to my favorite--site-specific theatre--as we stage a production of "The Lion King" in the school courtyard. Some of them are still not convinced about how awesome it's going to be, but I'll win them over eventually.

​In the meantime, I'm enjoying taking Storm on hikes to see the ridiculous sunsets we've been blessed with pretty much nightly here in the Bay Area. Enjoy a slideshow of these #nofilter pictures!
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Busy Year Update

4/29/2017

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...not regime change...

In November, with the help of 6NewPlays, I produced "dark is a different beast." We opened one week before the election. Our 2nd weekend of performances was immediately after the results of that election. We closed just as the reality was really sinking in. I know I planned the production to coincide with the election, but I don't think I ever really anticipated how ridiculously relevant and devastating it would all feel. 
After every show we had a bonfire with wine and cheese where the audience could stay and chat. Each weekend's audience was in an entirely different emotional space, making each show its own pressure point on the pulse of what we were all experiencing. I learned so much from this production: about my own artistic practice, about engaging with an audience, about why I think this kind of theater needs to still exist. 6 months later, as I'm trying to decide what to work on next, I keep feeling I should just take everything I learned and mount this play again. It doesn't stop being relevant and maybe I can do it better the next time.
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Coming Up...

  • In Teaching Artist News: I directed "The Lion King" with 3rd, 4th and 5th graders. I just finished the all-school play, directing "Chateau La Roach" with K-8th graders. And I'm curating the Literary Arts Festival for the SFUSD Arts Festival again this year. 
  • I'm heading to the Great Plains Theatre Conference in a few weeks where I'll produce the 7th Annual Fringe Night. Looking forward to being inspired and energized by all the creative talent I'll get to soak up.
  • Summer is coming. 
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2016--Wowza

7/6/2016

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So much has happened in the YEAR since I last posted.
It's hard to know how to encapsulate it all in one, succinct blog post.
I'll use lots of pictures to try to make it interesting. 

First off, I started teaching full time at Ring Mountain Day School in Marin.
I taught K-8 drama AND art and directed the all-school play. It was (and is) an incredibly rewarding and educational experience with some of the best colleagues on the face of the planet. Mostly because they still want to work with me after being introduced to my Kansas childhood delicacy, Beer Butt Chicken (I was told that's the proper way to talk about it in polite company), and my interpretive dance skills.
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I can't believe I touched this chicken like that.
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This hat had magical properties. I swear.
I blame all my lack of "keeping up" with outside life on that. 

In Art-Land...Wonderful Things are Shaping Up.

PictureOne of China's initial design drawings.
I'll be producing "dark is a different beast" this fall with my playwright-producing collective 6NewPlays. Some of you may be thinking..."Wait a minute...didn't we hear a whole lot about this piece already?" And yes...I made a short film of segments of the script and that film got into a couple film festivals and you can even watch the whole film here if you'd like. However...I've always wanted to produce the whole play and I still was interested in the initial idea of using wearable kinetic sculpture to create the machine of the piece. 

Enter, China Tamblyn.

China and I know each other from working with youth theater. After a few years of producing kids' shows, we realized we really liked each other on a personal level. And then I found out China is this bad-ass welder/sculptor/artist and I approached her about working together on something. She read a couple scripts and liked "dark." We applied for and got the Theater Bay Area CA$H Grant (whoop whooop). 6NewPlays had already received an organization-wide grant from the Venturous Fund that will help fund my piece. The wonderful Puffin Foundation West, who first funded this project back in 2012, has also offered additional support. And you will probably be hit up soon with a Kickstarter campaign. So--it's for real! 

I couldn't be more excited about the creative team that is shaping up. I won't post anything official until I've got it all down in writing, but let's just say, I feel like I'm going to be in heaven, surrounded by a bunch of amazing artists.

One of whom, is Heather Helinsky, from GPTC....

Have I ever Mentioned how much i love gPTC??

Ahh...my beloved annual spring sojourn to Omaha. This year I was fortunate enough to work alongside Heather as she dramaturged Bonnie Metzgar's play (in which I performed). Watching Heather support and guide her playwrights through a process is like watching a doula in the delivery room (which I have never done, but I'm imagining). So I asked Heather to help me fine-tune "dark." I feel so lucky to have her on board for this production. 

GPTC was again, filled with amazing work. Despite a nasty bout of strep throat (that allowed me to experience the compassion of the Charles Drew Health Center in Omaha), I had an awesome week.

I produced the 6th Annual Fringe Night in this amazing old theater, 40th Street Theater. ​
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My dearly beloved Kim Gambino performing in the lobby.
The building was purchased by a couple as an expansion to their instrument repair shop. As they started doing renovations, they discovered the history of a theater dating from the early 20th Century. (We're talking rooms full of artifacts that have been perfectly sealed away for 75 years!) They began to preserve it and are now opening it up to various artists in the community.

I wanted to perform a piece about the San Quentin execution chamber.
I asked if they had a gurney.
They had 4.
​This one is from a 1935 psychiatric hospital with matching lamp.*
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Mia Morris gave me 30 minutes of expert, spot-on direction that got me through my "performing my own work" nerves.
I feel so lucky I got to produce my 6th Fringe Night in this amazing space. And have so many old pals perform amazing new work there.
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Eliza Bent making us hysterical with her "Twain on a Plane."
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Kim and Brian Zealand gettin' steamy by some cool scaffolding.

And finally...i shot another film (Kinda)

Somewhere in the spring, I did a one-day film shoot. It was a continuation of the Nero piece I've been working on for a while. Kim was coming into town. Dave was here. Aidan hadn't moved to L.A. The time was right. Even if it felt like there was no time. I needed this new footage shot and lit by a professional. There was no other time we could do it.
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You know you're lucky when your cast and crew are still smiling like this at 5 a.m.
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Kim Gambino and Aidan Gavet in full 20/20 mode.
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That smile is conveying how comfortable Dave is in this very professional chair.
 Now for the time to go through the footage and continue the editing....
*Some numbers and dates may not be exactly right. Don't fact-check me please. Also, all photos from Fringe are taken by Tom Grady, who is his own kind of hero of GPTC.
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DDB Screens in Columbus!

12/9/2015

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I was honored to have "dark is a different beast" (film) screen on opening night of the 2015 Columbus International Film and Video Festival.

Dave was able to extend his time in the U.S. to make it to the screening.

We enjoyed chatting with Jeremy Henthorn who runs the festival at the super cool, site-specific experimental film showcase.




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Older sister, little brother. I love my family!
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OK, so not exactly a packed house, but hey! We got a talk-back in front of the big screen!
We loved meeting our funding angel, Java Kitrick, of the Puffin Foundation West. She showed us all over town and introduced us to film people. I shouldn't be surprised that there is an amazing post-production studio being built in Columbus and everyone was nice enough to interrupt their day to give us a tour and offer support on future projects. 
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​And...a bunch of my family, including my little brother, got to come see the show on the big screen. 
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Spring Sprang

6/9/2015

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I feel like everyone I talk to can't believe it's already June. Six months into 2015 and I'm still having trouble remembering to write '15 instead of '14 on my checks. (Yes, I still sometimes use checks.)

A brief synopsis of my spring:
  • The SFUSD Arts Festival and Literary Arts Contest was a great success this year. The Asian Art museum hosted and I curated the Lit Fest. This year I went to each of the schools and audio recorded the winning students reading their piece. It added a lot of extra time, but the payoff was so worth it--getting to connect with each student personally before the awards ceremony. I am once again reminded how not only can writing save lives, but public commendation of writing at a young age can alter the course of a life. 
  • I completed my 10th (!!) year teaching the drama-integration program at White Hill Middle School. Leading every 8th grader through the process of writing and performing a monologue about the Civil War--It never gets old. There are always several students and monologues that blow my mind and give me hope in the future of the human race.
  • "dark is a different beast" was an official selection at the Seattle Transmedia and Independent Film Festival!! I went for the screening! It was a great experience. I have to say, my social networking skills were not where I wish they would've been that weekend.  But I'm happy and thrilled to have been selected and had a screening in Seattle.
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(Even my new, fancy high-heeled shoes couldn't transcend the apparent muteness I'd been stricken with. Maybe I got there too early...)

  • Great Plains Theatre Conference!! Year 6!! So much! So much!! I can't summarize it at all it is just too big. I am continually grateful to be a part of this amazing conference. I organized the Fringe Night for the 4th year and worked with some amazing people. Met so many awesome artists. Re-connected with many more. Sigh. Omaha, you have my heart.
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(A lot of important work gets done there, I promise. Oh...and I made that dress. I'm very proud. That last picture is me introducing the Fringe Night. I like it because people look happy. And like they are listening to me.)
  • And finally, I got to go to Ohio and spend some QT with my family and these two amazing lovelies. I'm not sure there is anything better than being an auntie. One learned to ride her bike and the other kept telling me to try not to get my "unders wet." She did a pretty good job of keeping hers dry as well.
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Ohio sky.
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Coming up this summer:
  • New Ochlos work being devised with Carol Ellis. Topic is still strictly under wraps (is that the phrase?) but I'm excited to dig in. We've had a few very cool brainstorm sessions and devising homework.
  • John Muir Trail!!! I will refrain from posting the insane picture of the blister I got on the Wonderland Trail last year...even though it is so crazy, I wish I had less restraint. But this year I am looking forward to healthier feet and just as much amazement.
  • Mia Morris and Kim Gambino are coming to the Bay and I'm hoping to work a bit more on "Cloud-Shaped Heart" while they are here. And laugh a lot. I'm sure we will do that.
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Oh yeah...I got a dog.
She's cool.
This is her on the quilt I made her.
I named her Storm. 

That's about it for now. I hope it's not another 4 months before I get to post again.
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Pre-Birthday Hibernation

2/10/2015

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If I am ever complaining about living in the Bay Area, please remind me that the cherry blossoms bloom in my birthday month here. There is nothing better than that.

This year started off with amazing news. The Puffin Foundation West, Ltd. offered me a grant for the remaining out-of-pocket expenses incurred in the making of "dark is a different beast." I had finally sent them my final report for the first grant I received way back in 2012.  I had applied for that initial grant with a slightly different concept. I still worked on the same project, but with an entirely different outcome, so I wanted it to be complete before I sent it in. Here is an excerpt from the email response from the Director, Java Kitrick:
I  have never seen a film like yours before. THAT IS AN INCREDIBLE THING!   I was so deeply engaged from the beginning.  The imagery, the words, the music, your actors, the set, the pace, every effect.
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Needless to say, I was elated and encouraged and thrilled and all that other stuff. I had been getting rejections from film festivals all winter, so her words of encouragement were really valuable. Enough so, that I bit the bullet and rented out the Oddball Films space for a private screening party for cast and crew.  I'm excited to let everyone see it. (If you haven't been to Oddball before, you should definitely get on their mailing list and check out one of their screenings. It's a real SF gem.)

I am working on a new film experiment with actor, Aidan Gavet. He has done some amazing work. I'm trying to stick through the technical post production stuff. Definitely not my favorite part of the process.

I also finished a first full draft of a new piece. I don't want to say too much about it yet, except it's bloody and weird and will probably be the show I do with 6NewPlays in the spring of 2016. I think my current binge obsession with Sons of Anarchy is responsible for the bludgeoning death that just occurred in the script. What can I say?

And finally...my beloved sister-from-another-mother, Angie King, styled and shot me for a new round of headshots. I'm including one with this post, and using others on other pages of the site. She is so talented and hilarious and creative. I wish we lived closer and could make films together. 
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Fall is a feminist

11/11/2014

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It's already November.
The leaves are changing. As much as they do here.
I've got about 3 batches of Drunken Fig Jam made from the tree and persimmons from the neighbor's tree soaking in vermouth. (Supposed to be quite the fall cocktail. We shall see.)

In theater land: I just had the first reading of a new piece called "Heart-Shaped Cloud" or "Cloud-Shaped Heart." Haven't decided yet.
Need to work on it more.
But...it's new and that's exciting. It's been a while.

I took the fall off from teaching and this has proved great for my writing mind. I'll start again in January directing "Legally Blonde the Musical" with middle school students. You have to laugh. I'm actually looking forward to it. I've got a new feminist take on "Bend and Snap" that I'm excited to put into action.

And about that...funny this resurgence in the word (or fear of the word or defense of the word or just the IDEA of the word) feminism. Beyonce, the Harry Potter actress, bell hooks...everyone offering their take. I'm glad it's being discussed. I'm a bit sad it still needs to be discussed. I'm also a bit sad that everyone thought it was so revolutionary that the Harry Potter actress (shoot...what's her name??) specified that feminist does not mean "man hater." And that women's liberation equals everyone's liberation. I sometimes like to forget there are people out there who feel that way. Sigh.

Speaking of inadequate feminist discussions, I saw the production of "Party People" at Berkeley Rep last week. Overall I thought it was an invigorating performance that examined many angles to a complex historical moment. Very late in the play they brought up the issue of feminism and how women affected the party. Some in-your-face choreography ramped up and some great beats and then...stopped and wasn't discussed any more. Um....ok. Kudos to them for including it in the piece, but was it just so hard to figure out how to fully examine/include it? There were a couple moments like that for me in the piece, but overall, like I said, a piece I really appreciated and made me feel something. I wonder what it would be like to see it in a less stuffy venue...?

I've been meeting again with the 6NP playwrights. And we did photo-booth photos for our website. That's mine posted here. Can you guess the theme?

And finally, I'm working on a comic strip with a friend. Don't want to give away too much about the subject matter, but it should be premiering on KQED Pop sometime soon.

Here's to snuggling in and staying warm and creative through the winter months.
And to California getting some RAIN!
Let's all start dancing!
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"Unrest" put to Rest

9/9/2014

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"Unrest" has come to a close.

I'm exhausted and not sure what to do with all the time on my hands suddenly, and also incredibly grateful for what we were able to accomplish. I'm really proud of the entire team, including our amazing audiences each night.

Many people said, "I've never been to anything like this in my entire life."  I felt our audiences connected with the "call to action," whether personally or globally. I had amazing conversations each night about what's happening in the world and what our responsibility is around that. I feel our overarching goal of beginning to create a community around these topics was achieved, and for that I'm truly grateful.

More pictures will be posted soon at ochlostheatrelab.org. Check it out for more info and like us on Facebook to hear about upcoming projects.

(This picture is me as one of the Nahi dreamers, photographed by Krista Howell.)
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  • Home
  • About Me
  • Latest News
  • Directing Portfolio
  • Theater
    • dark is a different beast
    • best.worst.best
    • Cloud-Shaped Heart
    • Adore Me
    • ricochet
    • Splinters...and Other F-Words
  • Film
    • dark is a different beast
    • "nero"
    • City Seed
  • Devised
    • Ochlos Theatre Lab
  • Other Work
  • Teaching
  • Contact