"Hair" with Goddesses

So, I watched this 30 min video of Eve Ensler (Vagina Monologue author, One Billion Rising founder) giving a talk at the Bioneer Conference.  She is intense!!!  At times, she shows her (what I call) "righteous anger" which can at times be a turn off unless you really understand she has been in the trenches with women around the world.  BUT if you hang in there to get the fullness of her message, it is so POWERFUL and the reason for the season. . ..no wait a minute. . . reason I feel passionate about this project and it's underlying message.  BUT make no mistake, Goddesspell is NOT heady or intense overall (there are a few moments ;-) - it is full of heart.  As I wrote to a friend just today: 

This is definitely not a traditional piece of theatre and it is very musically driven.  It's not very heady at all really(on the surface). . . it's meant to get to the heart via the experience- as a whole- via ALL the senses but not to the exclusion of thought provoking ideas via what dramatic action there is.  There is definitely an element of comedy- a must!!- but it's not a comedy and the end of the show is co-created with the audience- after a certain sense of community is established.  For me the bottom line is always seeking to be inspired by the divine and trusting that if I make choices from that place in guiding the creation of Goddesspell that others will be inspired by the work as well.

AND I LOVED his reply:

Okay, now I get it. It's Hair with goddesses instead of hippies.
Hair BTW changed my life. Never saw Godspell.
Yo go girl, 

I have never seen the musical Hair, but I'm pretty sure there is a DVD of it. . .so I guess that will be on my list of movies to watch this holiday season!

I hope you take the time to watch this video of Eve and that it helps you understand the importance of this work. . .maybe enough to help with our fundraising efforts (please click the fundraising campaign page above and help make it happen!)  DEEP thanks for your support - in whatever form it comes!!!

Friend Goddesspell on Facebook!

Interview #2- Jan Christiansen of GCADV

I was challenged to interview 10 people who I consider to be representative of the people I would be marketing this project to as part of the C4 course I took, AIM (Artists in the Marketplace).  For my interview process, I'm also including people who I believe will be helpful with the creative process as well which was the case with Sandra Hughes, who I interviewed first (see earlier blog!)

This past Thursday I had my second interview with Jan Christiansen, executive director of Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence (GCADV).  She is also my friend, having been my neighbor for over two years.  We have both been involved Eve Ensler's One Billion Rising movement as well.  Being someone who considers herself a feminist and who is also an active advocate for battered women, I felt she was a perfect candidate to get some feedback from.

I described to her my objectives with "Goddesspell"- that more than a piece of entertainment, I really wanted to help transform consciousness around the feminine, getting at some of the root issues around the suppression/oppression of women and around the pain and suffering that the world is experiencing in general as a result of the imbalance of masculine and feminine energies.  I expressed to her my belief that we still do not hold feminine attributes (also found in men) in equal esteem to masculine and that one of the results of this it that we don't put equal value on what women in general  have to offer our society as women.  In addition, our culture still objectifies women in many ways which is reflected in our entertainment media especially.   In other words, one of the main roots of our domestic violence issues is how we (both men and women) are taught in our culture to view women in general (which is so engrained that many are unconscious of it).  I wanted to know if she agreed and if she had any additional thoughts/ideas especially when it comes to marketing to people like herself. 

She agree wholeheartedly to my conclusions which was great to know from someone who has worked so closely and personally with battered women's issues.  She also re-iterated something I have had conversations with other women about- and that is the fact that women in our culture have to take on so much masculine energy to be "successful" in their careers in general.  I actually recently had a conversation with a woman who had suggested organizing a lunch for two different departments that work together so that they could get to know each other better.  Her boss derided her for this suggestion - in essence calling it unprofessional and too"touchy, feely" for a work environment.   

In terms of marketing Goddesspell to feminists in general, Jan and I  both agreed that the emphasis should not be on promoting the idea of the existence of a Goddess/God the Mother/feminine aspect of God.  We agreed that it would be more effective to put the emphasis on the fact that the show is about acknowledging, affirming, celebrating the feminine attributes via the goddess archetypes as a way of witnessing and reminding ourself of their value and importance in bringing healing and balance to the world.  YES!

Thanks Jan, for your time, your spirit and your support!

You can help to bring more balance to the world via Goddesspell, 
 by making a tax deductible donation,  

You can also help by "liking" the Goddesspell page on Facebook. 

(It helps potential producers/investors to see interest!)

THANKS!!! and LOVE!!!

Angela