<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div class=""><font face="tahoma, verdana, segoe, sans-serif" class="">Click </font><a href="http://us8.campaign-archive2.com/?u=64343e6dcb0e9abd6d2eb484c&id=b507b8707e" class="">HERE</a><font face="tahoma, verdana, segoe, sans-serif" class=""> to meet the team! </font></div><span style="font-family:tahoma,verdana,segoe,sans-serif" class=""><div class=""><span style="font-family:tahoma,verdana,segoe,sans-serif" class=""><br class=""></span></div>Wandering
Aesthetics seeks written submissions for our upcoming “Rest Stop
Political Theatre Project.” The “Rest Stop Political Theatre Project” is
a Joy of Voting Initiative funded by Citizen University with support
from <strong class=""><em class="">John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.</em></strong><br class="">
<br class="">
<strong class=""><u class="">ABOUT THE JOY OF VOTING</u></strong><br class="">
Through the Joy of Voting, Citizen University– a national nonprofit
based in Seattle– aims to help address a growing trend of lower voter
turnout in local elections. The project will create localized,
action-oriented projects in four cities across the country to foster a
stronger culture of voting.<br class="">
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In Akron, Citizen University is partnering with the Ray C. Bliss
Institute of Applied Politics at the University of Akron to help promote
the project. In addition to Akron, Joy of Voting projects are launching
in Miami, FL; Wichita, KS; and Philadelphia, PA. The Joy of Voting
project derives its vision from an article in “The Atlantic” written by
Citizen University founder and CEO Eric Liu, in which he asks that it’s
possible to revive 18th and 19th century practices of raucous,
participatory activity and pageantry around elections.<br class="">
<br class="">
Winning organizations in Akron include: The Big Love Network, artist
Megan Young, Wandering Aesthetics, Engaging to Excel with Excellence and
the Akron Beacon Journal in collaboration with the Jefferson Center.<br class="">
<br class="">
<strong class=""><u class="">ABOUT THE “REST STOP POLITICAL THEATRE PROJECT” </u></strong><br class="">
“Rest Stop Political Theatre” is a mobile performance– devised to take
place in the bed of a pickup truck– that will travel to five Akron
neighborhoods. Performances will take place outdoors in civic common
spaces in the weeks leading up to the October 11 voter registration
deadline. The goal: help get people registered while galvanizing an
informed electoral to participate in this quintessential civic duty. <br class="">
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“Rest Stop” builds on theatrical foundations established by Brecht,
Boal, the Living Newspaper, Bread & Puppet and Teatro Campesino to
use theatre to galvanize political discourse among everyday citizens.<br class="">
<br class="">
Using a variety of tools (ex: puppetry, physical comedy, folk music)
these live performances will be fun, educational, interactive AND
encourage civic participation. Performing on the back of a beat-up truck
allows us to challenge the notion that theatre (and voting) is a luxury
only relevant to some.<br class="">
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<strong class=""><u class="">CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS</u></strong><br class="">
Wandering Aesthetics is seeking writers of all ages, backgrounds,
experience levels and demographics. The goal is to showcase a wide
variety of voices and perspectives about voting, democracy and America’s
political history/present/future.<br class="">
<br class="">
We are an open, accepting and affirming company performing to diverse
communities. We are interested in exploring questions such as: “in the
face of political, economic, racial and social oppression/injustice,
what is the necessity of civic participation? When it increasingly seems
like your vote doesn’t count, why bother? Why do people care more about
Pokemon than exercising their hard-won rights? Is it possible to
overcome today’s fractious two-party politics? What does ‘freedom’
mean?” We seek to explore such questions in a fun, engaging and
participatory way.<br class="">
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Submissions may take almost any form as long as in can be spoken and/or
performed. This is including but not limited to: poetry, speeches,
comedic sketches, serious/dramatic scenes, puppetry, masked scenes,
improv scenarios and/or songs (Due to time constraints melody <em class="">must</em> be able to be played on guitar and based on folk songs in the public domain.) Performance times may range from 2 – 10 minutes.<br class="">
<br class="">
<strong class="">LIMITATIONS: </strong>All pieces must be simple enough to be
performed outside on or around a pickup truck. (I.E. No elaborate
costume changes in the middle of the piece or special stage
effects/lighting.) Our ensemble/cast involves 4 performers and a
musician. Submissions may be work that already exists or material
written specifically for this performance. However, applicants must be
able to give Wandering Aesthetics <em class="">full</em> permission to use work– material under copyright protection may only be submitted by copyright holder.<br class="">
<br class="">
<strong class="">PAYMENT: </strong>Wandering Aesthetics will pay $25 - $50 for
permission to use material from August 15 – November 15. Final fee will
be dependent on the number of pieces selected. Payment will be made no
later than November 18. Author/copyright holder remains sole owner of
material and will be credited on <a href="http://www.watheatre.com" style="color: rgb(237, 94, 41);" class="">www.watheatre.com</a> and in any other press material we distribute.<br class="">
<br class="">
<strong class="">HOW TO SUBMIT:</strong> Please send entries via email to <a href="mailto:WATheatre@gmail.com?subject=Submission%3A%20%22Rest%20Stop%20Political%20Theatre%22" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(237, 94, 41);" class="">WATheatre@gmail.com</a> with<em class=""> Submission: “Rest Stop Political Theatre Project” </em>in subject. Questions may also be directed to this email. No phone calls please.<br class="">
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<strong class="">DEADLINE: </strong>Sunday, August 14 at 11:59 pm.<br class="">
<strong class="">NOTIFICATION:</strong> Selections and notification will be made by August, 23.<br class="">
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<span style="color: #FF0000;" class=""><strong class=""><em class=""><u class="">IMPORTANT:</u><u class=""> </u></em></strong><em class=""><u class="">All
entries must be nonpartisan. We are not supporting a particular party
or candidate– simply encouraging people to take part in the political
process. </u></em></span><br class="">
<br class="">
<strong class=""><u class="">IN ADDITION</u></strong><br class="">
Wandering Aesthetics seeks letters, quotes, postcards, drawings and/or
photographs that, in some way, serve as a response to the theme. Please
send entries via email to <a href="mailto:WATheatre@gmail.com?subject=Submisison%3A%20%22Joy%20of%20Voting%22" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(237, 94, 41);" class="">WATheatre@gmail.com</a> with<em class=""> Submission: “Joy of Voting” </em>in subject or, as a hardcopy, to:<br class="">
<br class="">
Wandering Aesthetics<br class="">
C/O Summit Artspace<br class="">
140 E. Market St.<br class="">
Akron, OH 44308<br class="">
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Questions may also be directed to this email. No phone calls please.<br class="">
<br class="">
We are collecting these items to better understand the myriad
perspectives around this complex and important topic. Pieces may be
incorporated as part of a scene devised by the cast, read between
segments or otherwise included. If you like to submit, but definitely
would <em class="">not</em> like your piece included, please indicate.<br class="">
<br class="">
These items will not be returned. Please send by Thursday, August 25.<br class="">
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<strong class=""><u class="">About Wandering Aesthetics</u></strong><br class="">
Dreamt into being on the mountains of Appalachia, where founders
Benjamin Rexroad and Kyle Jozsa completed a thru-hike of the
2,185.9-mile Appalachian Trail, Wandering Aesthetics rose (like an
overused cliché) from the ashes of Heads Up Productions. The
organization is an Akron, Ohio-based storytelling theatre company bent
on exploring our American roots and identity through the lens of
narrative. We build community through person-to-person contact,
connecting disparate peoples through events and performance,
investigating the human link in our diverse cultural heritage. For more,
visit <a href="http://www.watheatre.com" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(237, 94, 41);" class="">www.watheatre.com</a>.<br class="">
<br class="">
<strong class=""><u class="">About Citizen University</u></strong><br class="">
Citizen University is a national nonprofit based in Seattle that
promotes and teaches the art of powerful citizenship. In addition to the
Joy of Voting, programs and initiatives include the Civic
Collaboratory, a civic leadership network; Sworn-Again America, a
project on civic rituals; the Citizen University National Conference;
and programs and resources to teach civic power. For more, visit <a href="http://www.citizenuniversity.us" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(237, 94, 41);" class="">www.citizenuniversity.us</a>.<br class="">
<br class="">
<strong class=""><u class="">About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation</u></strong><br class="">
Knight Foundation supports transformational ideas that promote quality
journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities and foster the
arts. We believe that democracy thrives when people and communities are
informed and engaged. For more, visit <a href="http://www.knightfoundation.org" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(237, 94, 41);" class="">www.knightfoundation.org</a>.<br class=""> </span></body></html>