Syzygy

Playwrights

John Tuttle

Nicola Waldron

Leasharn Hopkins

Terry Roueche

Chad Henderson

Dora Julia Vargas

Project Director

Patrick Michael Kelly

These two special activities are taking place in conjunction with the total solar eclipse that will run through Columbia on August 21, 2017 and the other events taking place as part of the Total Eclipse Weekend. Be sure to take advantage of all the other great activities by visiting http://totaleclipsecolumbiasc.com. 

Syzygy - The Poetry Invitational

Please join us for the first in The Jasper Project's two part celebration of the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse -- Syzygy - The Poetry Invitational -- when some of South Carolina's most elite poets share newly created work commemorating this auspicious occasion. The free reading will take place at Richland Library and will be followed by a brief reception.

Marjory Wentworth (SC poet laureate), Marcus Amaker (Charleston poet laureate), Ed Madden (Columbia poet laureate), Ray McManus, Jennifer Bartell, Cassie premo steele, Len Lawson, Vera Gomez, and Glenis Redmond all bring their unique interpretations of eclipse to the page and stage during this first of its kind reading and release of the bound poems in commemorative form.

Two new and previously unpublished poets selected from an open call by adjudicator Cassie Premo Steele will share both the page and stage with these veteran poets.
 

Syzygy - The Solar Eclipse Plays

Part two of the commemoration -- Syzygy - The Solar Eclipse Plays -- will be take place in two stagings later in the day at 7 pm and 10 pm at Tapp's Arts Center, with a public reception honoring the playwrights from 9 - 10 pm in the Tapp's lobby.

In Part II of The Jasper Project's celebration of the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse, Jasper invited six esteemed South Carolina playwrights to each create a 10 minute or less play with no more than 3 actors AND with 2 and a half minutes of darkness in the script. The resulting plays will be performed twice on Thursday August 17th at 7 and 10 pm with a public reception honoring the playwrights bridging the performances from 9 - 10 pm. 
 

The participants are as follows:

Project Direction by Patrick Michael Kelly

Production Stage Management by Rosalind Graverson

E-WHAT?

Written and directed by Leasharn Hopkins

Featuring Cristofher Griffin, Devon "Pierre" Wright, and Pat Yeary

ONE ANOTHER

by Jon Tuttle and Cynthia Outen

Directed by Bakari Lebby

Featuring Akida Lebby, Jason Stokes, and Avery Bateman

REESE AND JUNE

Written and directed by Chad Henderson

Featuring Libby Campbell, Marybeth Gorman Craig, and Bill Roberson

TWEETERS

by Terry Roueche

Directed by Paul Kaufmann

Featuring Hunter Boyle, Eric Bultman, and Tristan Pack

VISITATION

by Nicola Waldron

Directed by Lindsay Rae Taylor

Featuring Marybeth Gorman Craig, Andrea Coldwell, and Kelsie Hensley

VISITEMOS A LA ABUELA

by Julia Vargas

Directed by Rocio Zalba

Featuring Ysaul Flores, Jose Luis Gallardo, and Johanna Jaimes

This program is sponsored by South Carolina Humanities, a not-for-profit organization; inspiring, engaging and enriching South Carolinians with programs on literature, history, culture and heritage.

Poets

Ray McManus