"Rocks Karma Arrows," a multimedia theater piece that explores some of the disturbing history of race and class in Boulder, will open July 23 in the Black Box Studio at the University of Colorado at Boulder ATLAS Institute.
The piece focuses on the 150 years of history since Boulder was founded and is sponsored by the City of Boulder as part of the city's Sesquicentennial celebration. Kirsten Wilson, who holds the title of ATLAS Innovator through the ATLAS Center for Arts, Media and Performance, directs the production.
Figures such as Southern Arapaho Indian Chief Niwot tell their stories of the early founding of Boulder and, in Niwot's case, his death following the Sand Creek Massacre in 1864.
"Looking at the disturbing aspects of Boulder history encourages the reflection and understanding that can lead to a more economically and culturally diverse future in Boulder," said Wilson.
The production weaves interviews with local historians and Buddhist monks with historical photographs and film. Wilson said that at times the images take up over 180 degrees of the Black Box theater space so that actors appear immersed in the history. The actors come across as interacting with the photos, struggling with the voices of the past and trying to understand how the images echo in the present.
Wilson has a strong background in contemporary theater, as well as dance, improvisation, photography and academic research skills. She currently is a member of the Boulder Playback Theater West group and teaches Letting the Body Speak: the Autobiographical Monologue Class.
The cast includes 12 actors, dancers and improvisational musicians.
Performances will be at 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, July 23-July 25 and July 30-Aug. 1; and at 2 p.m. Sunday on July 26 and Aug. 2. Tickets are $18 for general admission, $13 for students and seniors, and $35 for the gala opening on Thursday, July 23. Tickets are available online at .
ATLAS is a University of Colorado at Boulder institute for undergraduate, graduate and outreach programs that supports technology education for people and programs that traditionally do not have access to equipment and resources.
More information about the production is at . More information about Boulder's Sesquicentennial celebration is available at .
-CU-