About TennesseeProject
The
Tennessee Project, Inc
is
a collective-based performance ensemble that is committed to the development
of the artist as an individual while encouraging public interest and involvement
in the arts. Formed in 1986, the collective strives to strengthen and broaden
its individual voices in all areas of production. In order to enhance our
core
of multi-faceted performers, the Tennessee Project, inc. also currently serves
as an outreach production house for the Lower East Side Community. Through
our
presentation of both published and original work, we express our belief that
the individual is in constant metamorphoses in his relationship with himself,
his community and the times in which he lives. It is our conviction that the
resolution and will necessary to make this journey is the impetus of all
creativity.
Our exploration of one's struggle, to come to terms with one's personal and
societal responsibilities, celebrates the courage of the human spirit, and
is
the foundation of our commitment to the Artistic Community.
During our sixteen year history the company has presented over 35 productions to our community, including 25 full length shows (offering discussion groups after performance to students attending New York University's Tisch School of the Arts Summer Seminars), mounted five full length co-productions with youth community theater companies, showcased the works of 15 independent performing artists, served in the capacity of executive director for an independent film, and have supported the voices of several emerging playwrights through informal reading series performances and co-productions.
Continued audience support has made possible our past productions of original and scripted works including: William Shakespeare's Measure for Measure, Jean Paul Satre's No Exit, Don Nigro's Spectre, Doug Wright's Stonewater Rapture, Jim Leonard Jr's The Diviners, Sam Shepard's Action, Anton Chekov's A Marriage Proposal, Tennessee William's 27 Wagons Full of Cotton, Howard Richardson and William Berney's Dark of the Moon, William Inge's Summer Brave, Lisa Faith Phillip's The All Nude College Girl Revue (in co-production with Flip Productions), and The Tennessee Project's original works T Bone and Weasel it Ain't, Barrel of Monkeys, Pamplemousse, Rappelling Thoughts and Odious Moments, VIVA Don'cha Know?, La Belle et La Bete, Travelling and Going Nowhere and Ashira69: Collector's Edition Superheroines Collide, written by Catherine Castellani for The Tennessee Project, and the Ashira69 Series, including: Alley's Gorgeous Guide to Subterfuge and Etiquette, written by Paul Sapp for The Tennessee Project, and Cult to the Chase! Written by The Tennessee Project and Courtney Cunningham.
COMPANY MEMBER BIOS
Damaris Webb received her B.F.A. from New York University’s Experimental Theater Wing in 1989 with an honor award for greatest contribution to the student body. As Artistic Director and Founding Member of The Tennessee Project, Inc., her directing and acting credits are numerous; performance highlights include creating the characters of Ashira, Sangue Froid, Rita the Reckless, Candy Cain, and Sashimi for the company’s Continuing Adventures of Ashira69 Series. In addition to her six viewpoint and composition training at the Experimental Theater Wing, Damaris has studied with The BAD Actors, members if the Oregon Shakespearean Festival Association and Theatre du Soleil. She has performed several self-generated works, taught and directed school children in Washington D.C., Oregon and New York City, serving for five years on the board of a Lower East Side Community Theater Group, the MHC Players. She is a visiting teaching artist in the New York Public School system through the not-for profit organizations ENACT and City Lights, where she has collaborated with several teaching artists, notably Professor of Drama Therapy and Educational Theater at N.Y.U., DR. Robert Landy. In partnership with the Lower East Side’s Tenement Museum and City Lights, Damaris is currently the Director in Residence for the Origins Theater Summer Project (2002-2006). Performances outside of the Tennessee Project include originating the parts of Mary for Don Wilson Glenn’s American Menu (for which she received an AUDELCO Award nomination), and Princess Patra for Mr. Glenn’s American King Umps, and as a weekly Cast Member in Zero Boy’s 10-Spot/World War Zero. Damaris is a practicing black belt of Mkeka-Do Kickboxing/Karate.
Chris Caswell (playwright/actor) is a Baltimore native based in New York City and Burlington, VT with BA in theatre and fine art from Fordham University. She’s been a member of The Tennessee Project, Inc. since 1994 when she played Mrs. Potts in Summer Brave, William Inge’s revision of Picnic. Chris is one of the original cast and collaborators of The Continuing Adventures of ASHIRA69. She plans on playing characters Alley Class and The Poison Pixie until she is 100 years old.
In addition, Chris co-wrote the comedy/satire Girls On Top for Found In New York Productions which toured the Canadian Fringe Festival circuit. In October of the same year, she founded Poison Pixie Productions www.poisonpixieprods.com (named for the ASHIRA69 superhero) to produce her second play Circus Reject Peep Show which toured the US and Canada in 2000 and 2001 as well as the collaborative Red Hot Cabaret (Winnipeg Fringe 2001), and Escape (Thunder Bay Fringe 2004). In winter of 2005, Chris studied with avant-garde playwright Richard Caliban, and wrote MAUDLIN DEMENTIA Returns to the Stage, which toured the fringe festival circuit this past summer beginning in Orlando. Today, she is writing a new work for the stage – a graphic novel about time-travel entitled 2112, set to premiere in spring 2006.