7pm
UIC Theater Lecture Hall L285*
1044 W. Harrison

Scenes or portions of prominent, over-produced, American plays are remixed and mashed up. A moderated discussion/Q&A will follow around themes of art and democracy, the canon and who determines it, subversion, collage, the aesthetic of sampling in other non music mediums, and other topics determined by the audience.

“The event is an exploration into art and accessibility. I was inspired by a quote from a prominent hip hop dj who said that his mother always told him "Whatever you do, DON’T TOUCH THE RECORD." He did and he didn't stop, now he has a thriving career. We're taught not to touch art, to absorb from a distance, to observe the orchestra with our hands in our laps and collars buttoned too tight. And we dare not try to enter once the opera has begun. We are taught to laud and cherish the classics but certainly not to mess around with them, despite the frequency at which they are presented to us.  DJs of the hip hop aesthetic freely touch, contort, interact and utilize classic material to re-contextualize, re-present, pay homage and in some cases improve upon. This event is inspired by the subversive dada joy of boldly drawing a mustache on Mona Lisa.”
–Idris Goodwin, curator/moderator.

BIOS

Kristiana Colon has been writing and performing for six years, and recently mounted her first original play But I CD Only Whisper directed by Tiffany Trent. She toured Chicago with Grammatical Era and London with the WordWide poetry slam team, which featured at London's first inner-city youth slam. She has been featured on Power 92, WBEZ Chicago Public Radio, WGN Radio, and WZRD. She has shared the stage with  highly acclaimed writers Marc Smith, the creator of the worldwide 'poetry slam' phenomenon, Kevin Coval, Luis Rodriguez, Tara Betts, Triple Blak, Malik Yusef, Anna West, Sonia Sanchez, and has opened for Grammy-nominated band Ozomatli and internationally-acclaimed comedian Damon Williams. In 2005, she released her independently produced spoken word CD entitled Who Haunts Eden and was featured on HBO's fifth season of Def Poetry Jam. She is pursuing a career in literary and performance art and arts education.

Performer, writer, and educator, VARRICK DOUGLAS holds an M.A. in Linguistics at the University of Illinois in Chicago. He has performed in "The Danger Face Trilogy" by Idris Goodwin of Hermit Arts Production. He has also performed in the hit Jeff recommended play "Hizzoner" by Neil Giuntolli of Prop Theatre. Under the pseudonym "Syntax" Varrick is a hip-hop recording artist and spoken word poet. Also, as an educator, Varrick teaches English classes at Harry Truman College and Anthropology classes at Columbia College. He is currently pursuing his PhD in English at Loyola University Chicago.

BRYN MAGNUS is an experienced playwright, screenwriter, novelist, researcher, and writing instructor.
He has been a vital part of the Chicago arts community for eighteen years, and has been writing
professionally since 1984. In his capacity as writing facilitator and Managing Director of Free Street
Programs, Magnus has participated in national and international forums addressing creative process
in the arts and humanities. He has also emulated the career path of many American writers by
traveling the country working odd and itinerant jobs.
In 2004, Magnus was commissioned to write A RIGHT TO YOUR FEELINGS for Steppenwolf Theater in
Chicago. WORLD SET FREE was commissioned by Steppenwolf Theater in 2002, and produced there
in 2003. He has also written seven pieces as part of the LOVE AND SIN series at Steppenwolf Theater
in 2003.
A member of Chicago's fringe stalwart Curious Theater Branch since 1989, Magnus has written and
produced the following plays: DON'T TELL US WE'RE HERE (2005), CREATURE WINDS (2001, arranged
and directed by Michael Zerang), LOVE HORSE (2001), JERICO THE FOOL (1997), NEIGHBORHOOD
STORIES (1997, with John Starrs), SMALL TOGETHER (1997), INVISIBLE SYMPATHIES (1995), CLASSIC
CATS (1994), THE JULIEANNES (1994), ILLUSTRIOUS BLOODSPILL (1994), LOSERS ALIAS (1991, 1996), NATURAL HOSTAGES (1990), THE WEIRDLY SISTERS (1989), PRAYERS FOR THE UNDOING OF SPELLS (1989).
In 1999, Magnus co-wrote and co-produced the independent feature film, OUR FATHER that
premiered at the IFFM in New York. Original screenplays include LOVE HORSE (2000), HIGH END
(2000), ECSTATIC AMORICA (1999, with Eric Kozial) and THE FOXY AND SEXY SHOW (1999, with Eric
Wright). AUN JNU (1998, with Tom Spieznewski).
Magnus was commissioned in 1998 to create DICTATOR LIGHT, a performance for the 'Something for
Nothing' exhibit at Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art.

Raina Sun is a student, playwright, and winner of the COPALA Drama Award and the University of Wisonsin Whitewater Creative Writing Festival Drama Award.  She likes to spend her spare time reading and lifting weights.  She can bench her entire library.