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Reflections of the Red Room, September 2012

如果要問我這次Red room 活動對我來說有什麼不同的意義?
在我剛從高中升大學的這個過渡時期,很多事情都在轉變,周遭的環境改變了,朋友的感覺改變了,但Red room不變,也許我們每次[聚會活動]組成的成員都不盡相同,但一種熟悉的溫馨是不會改變,在橘黃色燈光灑落在地毯的剎那,印度風情式的音樂在耳朵旁刮 起陣陣微風,我知道活動即將開始,那時正忙著接待每位前來的成員
我喜歡觀察每位前來Red room的朋友們臉上的表情,一些帶著溫暖的微笑,一些帶著些微的害羞,但最近的新成員臉上忽然多了一種青春的羞澀,有著對未知事物的害怕和期待夾雜的心 情,這不禁讓我想起第一次受邀準備來Red room時,坐在前往台北的客運上,我幻想著各種對未知的可能,還要一方面說著英文,讓十七歲的我一直在冒著冷汗

但漸漸地,我從發現,喜歡,適應到愛上,現在的我,在Red room當一個工作人員,努力地介紹著Red room的一切給新加入的朋友們認識,跟著大家一起聆聽著台上的音樂,享受著彼此間的氛圍,我真心的希望,你們也能夠喜歡這裡並且常來拜訪這個朱平先生跟 Manav用心經營的好地方

~ by Henry Leu

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Red Room Radio Redux, September 2012

photoThis past weekend, the Learning Kitchen at Aveda was transformed into a theatre-space for the newly forming performing group: Red Room Radio Redux. Dedicated to the power of the spoken word, this new group consists of members of the Red Room community who have donated their time and talents over several months in preparation for four shows.

The room was comfortably populated, with an average attendance of 40, by Red Room-ers, TAS colleagues an friends from all walks of our lives.

The audience saw a representation of  the sound studios of the Golden Age of Radio Drama of the 1930s and 40s: voice actors at microphones and sound effects being produced.  As the play progressed the action became more and more dramatic and emphatic. The first act closed with a fully staged presentation of a scene from Shakespeare’s A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM and the second act with all the battles and magic we find in Shakespeare’s MACBETH. The show is designed to demonstrate the power of Shakespeare’s words.

photo 2Members of the group represent several countries and a wide range of stage experience. Co-creators, Peter and Ruth Giordano look forward to producing other works of literature in a similar format. Plans are already being made to read an adaption of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol at the December Red Room event.

Ruth Giordano
RRRR Director

RRRR at the Taipei Fringe Festival

The postcards are all over town; the press has been already touting the show. Only four weeks until the world premiere of Red Room Radio Redux’s play for the Taipei Fringe Festival. Get tickets at http://www.walkieticket.com/product.aspx?P1=0000001070
Rehearsals are about to get really busy and the company is starting to collect props and costumes.
There’s still time to get involved email ruth giordano <ruth.giordano@gmail.com> for more information.

https://www.facebook.com/TaipeiFringe

http://www.walkieticket.com/product.aspx?P1=0000001070

An Evening of Shakespeare

Red Room Radio Redux brings you

“An Evening of Shakespeare.”

Red Room Radio Redux is an offshoot of the Red Room and is designed to present great literature in a readers theater format.

The first production of Red Room Radio Redux is
“An Evening of Shakespeare.”

In Act One the audience is invited to consider Shakespeare as a man of the theater in love with the magic of words to tell a story and reveal character. Scenes from Hamlet, Henry the Fourth, Romeo and Juliet, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream demonstrate Shakespeare’s love of actors and acting.

Act Two is a stripped down version of Shakespeare’s Tragedy of Macbeth. The scene recreates a broadcast from the Golden Era of Radio Drama and demonstrates how Shakespeare’s words pull the audience into the action. This is a version of Macbeth played as a thriller.

Book your tickets now!!!!! Tickets available at http://www.walkieticket.com

For more information please visit rrrrtw@blogspot.com

Production and Art Direction: The Artistic Director of Red Room Radio Redux, Ruth Giordano, has decades of experience in all aspects of theater production. She also works in media in Taiwan, and this production will be her directing debut in Taipei. She has adapted several works of literature for the stage, most recently “AESOP’S FABLES,” which was produced in Williamstown, Mass., USA.

Ms. Giordano is being assisted by Katie Partlow, a theater artist who has directed and performed in numerous plays in Taiwan, in both Chinese and English, and is the artistic director of Solo Taiwan Theatre Company; and by Sarah Brooks, who teaches courses in drama and readers theater in the English department of National Taiwan Tech University, and previously worked as a journalist and freelance writer focusing on the performing and visual arts in Taiwan. The rest of the company is drawn from the Red Room community and includes members of Taipei Players, the city’s premiere English-speaking theater company, and faculty from schools and universities in the area.

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February Red Room 2012, Ruth Giordano

A record breaking crowd. So many new faces and regulars returning. The room was humming. The word is out: Red Room is the place to be on the third Saturday of every month. A little bit of stage time & a little bit of wine. And last month, a special guest speaker:

Charles Shuttleworth, Explorer, Soldier, Safari Guide, Zoologist, Poet, Author of numerous books on the natural wonders of SE Asia, Taiwan representative of the International Primate Protection League.

Dedicated volunteers make every Red Room happen by setting out rugs and chairs and candles, chopping and cooking vegetables for the communal stew, preparing the fragrant chai, greeting our guests and pouring the wine. The spirit of acceptance keeps people coming back.

by Ruth Giordano
Photo courtesy of Terrance Shih

(c) Copyright 2012 Red Room.  Material on this site is the property of contributing members of the Red Room Community. Please do not copy any part of  this publication. Thank you.

Red Room XXVI January 2012

Red Room XXVI January 2012 assembled on the threshold of the New Lunar Year. The holiday may have affected the size of the crowd, but not the enthusiasm in the Room. First timers at the mic & veterans of the stage met, as on every third Saturday of every month, to celebrate creativity and compassionate listening. Original poetry and improvised music, passionate reading and revelatory reflections: the strength of our spirit resonated through the Room. Let it propel us on into this Year of the Dragon.

Ruth Giordano

 

(c) Copyright 2012 Red Room.  Material on this site is the property of contributing members of the Red Room Community. Please do not copy any part of  this publication. Thank you.

December Cento: at Red Room XXV December 17, 2011

Courage, social animals!
Make some noise!
Taiwan is a Story Island.
There’s lots of room up front…so:
Escape, artists!
Come out of hiding,
……………..Singing Christmas carols from love, actually:
…………………..the sweet sound of silver bells

by Ruth Giordano

November Cento: Heard at Red Room XXIV November 19, 2011

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Screams and shouts for the 24th month of Red Room!

Red Room!!

Happy Birthday: Ayesha (27), Leiven (43), Milton (99) and Red Room (2)!!

Red Room!!

You never know who you’re going to see here.
It’s a wonderful place to overcome your fear,

The bench is all yours!

Stop to listen to each other.
We need to learn how to treat each other as well as possible,
Glean the good
Choose to carry that
Without holding onto the pain.
Relinquish the power we have over each other.

Red Room!!

Let’s talk about exchanging value.
The Red Room is exchanging value – I want to talk about that.

Red Room!!

There’s something here for everyone.
Friends help friends.

by Ruth Giordano

Cento: Heard at Red Room XXIII: October 2011

by Ruth Giordano

Shhhh
Learn to listen
When the storm blows through
Unlock your heart
The water’s fine!
Please dive in.
Unblock your mind
We’re nervous because we want to be ourselves.
Say what you really want just because because because because
It’s a chance for all of us to shine
Build a community center
Be a world changer
Anything Goes!
All languages are welcome.
Feast on your life
Sit here. Eat

Why not?