Joseph Chaikin

Reading ·. from The War in ...... ,...... by 7 Stages Sain Shepard and November 20 - 22 Joseph Chaikin 1987 and Selections from Ted Hughes Senecas Oedipus This evening•s performance is in two parts. Part One consists of selections from Ted Hughes • adaptation of Seneca•s Oedipus. Mr. Chaikin wi 11 read the slave•s monologue and Oedipus• monologue. Hughes• Oedipus was first produced at the Old Vic Theatre 1n 1968, directed by . Mr. Hughes was Poet Laureate in Great Brit ian in 1984.

11 11 Part Two is The \~ar In Heaven , written by Joseph Chaikin and . It was first produced as a radio play with music in October . 1984. This evening•s performance features Mr. Chaikin speaking the Angel •s monologue accompanied by Steven Kent on the percussive score originally performed by Sam Shepard. There is an i ntermi ssi on between Parts One and Two.

Support Staff for this performance Light Design Eric Jennings Light Operator Joe Siracusa Residency Coordinator Lane Whittemore Residency Assistant Kelly Hi 11 Musical Instruments Rodger French Chaikin/Shepard: A Ch rono 1ogy of the1r Co 11 abo ration 1964: New York Joseph Chaikin and · Sam Shepard meet at a dinner party. Chaikin had just formed the Open Theatre. Shepard was a young poet.

1973: Shepard contributes to the Open Theatre production NIGHTWALK. The production tours Europe, playing at the Roundhouse in London.

1977: Chaikin joins Shepard in San Francisco where they create TONGUES, a monologue to be performed by Chaikin with music by Shepard.

1978: Chaikin and Shepard create SAVAGE/LOVE, receiving a Theatre Critics Award.

1978: Chaikin performs TONGUES at the Public Theatre in New York, then tours Europe with it.

1983: Chaikin and Shepard begin a new monologue about a captured angel. The work is interrupted by their schedules. In May, heart trouble that had haunted Chaikin from childhood culminates in a severe stroke, followed by a ph asia - the di sabi 1 i ty to speak or recognise the spoken word. Chaikin begins a slow recovery, re-learning fundamental speech.

1985: Chaikin reads THE WAR IN HEAVEN to music by Shepard in WBAI radio produciton. "I died the day I was born and became an Angel on that day" (From THE WAR IN HEAVEN)

Reprinted. from the Royal Court program Joseph Chaikin was born in 1935 of Russian parents, and grew up in Des Moines, . He attended Drake University there and in 1959 joined . He received 11 11 Off-Broadway acting awards ( 0bi eS ) for several roles, among them Galy-Gay in Brecht•s Man is Man, and in 1963 Mr. Chaikin founded thellpen Theatre, which became a celebrated and seminal influence in the alternative theatre movement.

Steve Kent is Artistic Associate at Seven Stages where he directs one play each year and offers workshops for the theatre community. Founding member of L.A.•s Company Theatre and PROvisional Theatre, Steve has been a major figure in America•s alternative theatre movement during the 1ast two decades. At Seven Stages he has directed Deena Metzger•s Dreams Against the State and Jim Grimsley•s Mr. Oni verse. ~ecent ly has directed Brecht • s Motner Coura~e in Toronto, Hamlet and Macbeth in Nashv1lle, and Van Itall1e•s The Traveller at L.A.•s Mark Taper Forum. About · Joe Chaikin in Atlanta •••

This residency which brings Joe Chaikin and Steve Kent to Atlanta is part of 7 Stages• plan to enhance our programs by involving Atlanta artists and artists from elsewhere in performances and workshops. Over the years we have invited an impressive array of serious folk who have contributed immeasurably to our development. Artists we have sponsored include: Michael McClure, Allen Ginsburg, Peter Orlovski, Odetta, Mary Watkins, Sigrid Herzog, John 0 • Nea 1, The Road Company, June Jordon, Adrienne Torf, Marcel Keller, Nick Kazan, Kay Gardner, Ellen Stewart, Michael Merschmeier, and Deena Metzger. This impressive list continues to grow and our community reaps the benefits of intense, often intimate, encounters with these persons. Like many Americans in the theatre, I have followed Joe Chaikin•s career since the 60•s. r•ve been trying to involve him in our activities for many years, but scheduling and he a 1th matters have got in the way. In fact, on my wall at home is a four year old reminder of my efforts - a letter from Joe•s friend Jean Claude van Itallie, author of The Serpent and many other plays. Van Itallie--explains that Joe•s health is a limiting factor in working with others. Two years ago Steve, who has worked with Joe on· many projects, suggested that a residency rnay be possible. Then I heard more about current projects Joe was cooking up, and the 1 ong process of settling on dates, funding ·and other stuff began. All over the world, · Mr. Chaikin is acknowledged as a master-communicator. Those who have seen him on stage, even on · video documents of his work, are often stunned by the precision of his performance. Now he is aphasic due to a stroke during open heart surgery some years ago. Yet he receives awards and still performs everywhere. This sensitive individual, one of the world's most · expansive intellects, admired by Beckett, Grotowski, Brook, the American theatre community, is still reaching inside himself in order to reach others. De 1 Hamil ton Artistic Director

Ahhasia, a fa' zha (from Greek: not speech, p as is) Loss of the faculty of speech, or of connecting words and ideas, resulting from damage to brain tissue, while the speech organs and general intelligence remain unaffected. Upcoming at Seven Stages January 28 - February 28

Black Cat Bones for Seven Sons, a new play by Robert -rar1 Price:- A moth~ her seven sons, their wives and a preacher perform a funeral rite. They find themselves caught in an eerie place where magic happens and women speak in ·tongues. Using African rituals and icons of the past, the characters in this play create a ceremony which gives new meaning to their family unit and to our fragmented society.

January 8 - 10

Robbie McCauley performs 11 My Father and the Wars .. , an installment in the serial performance Confessions of~ Working Black Woman written by Ms. McCauley. Monologues, visual projections and live music combined with personal history and social & political commentary are the roots of these performances.

Seven Stages wishes to acknowledge the Fulton County Arts Council for its special support in bringing this program to the theatre.

Special thanks to the Wyndham Hotel for accomodations for Mr. Chaikin & Mr. Kent.

TAKE THIS PROGRAM TO NEXUS CONTEMPORARY ARTS CENTER THIS WEEK AND RECEIVE $2 OFF ON A TICKET FO~ KEI TAKEI 1 S MOVING EARTH.

WYNDHAM MIDTOWN ATLANTA A TRAMMELL CROW HOTEL t?eneral t-'anager and Artistic Director ••••••••••• Del Hamilton Associate Director •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Faye Allen Director of Q:>er~tions •••••••••••••••••••••••W. Vi to M:mtone. Mninistrative Mangger •••••••• ~······ '., •••••••• Carol Colgate Facility Technical Director •• .-. ~ •••••• : •••••••• Eric Jennings Special Projects Coordinator .•• ~ •• ~ •• ; : ~ ...... Lane Whittemore Internati ona 1 Projects Coordinator •• -•.·;.; •••••••••.Joe Siracusa Playwright-In-Residence ••••••••••••••••••••••••• Jim Grimsley Artistic Associate ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Steven Kent Litera~ Manager •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Nancy Kearns New Play Deve l opnent Di rector ...... t?eorge Wren Resident Graphic Designer •••••••••••••••••••••• Irene L~th Front of House t-'anager ••••••••••••••••••••••••••Jenny Arillo Facility Graphics Consultant •••••••••••••••••••••• Kim Castle Resident Stage Manager •••••••••••••••••• Seifu Adanech Bishaw

The use of photographic or recording equi prent during this performance is strictly forbidden. Audience marbers with electronic beepers are requested to leave than with the House t-'anager. We 111 notify you if you get a call during the performance, ~ .. Seven Stages is a member of Alternate ROOTS (Regional Organization of Theatre South), a coa 1it ion of a1 ternat i ve theatres and artists 1ocated throughout the southeast, The Atlanta New Play Project, and the Atlanta Theatre Coalition. Seven Stages does not discriminate in any of its po 1i ci es on the basis of race, sex, age, creed, national origin, handicap or sexual preference. Seven Stages is funded through the support of i ndi vidual s, The Little Five Points Partnership, National End0t4llent for the Arts, t?eorgia Council for the Arts, City of Atlanta, Fulton County Arts Council, J. Arc Foundation, The Mary Ellenberger Camp Foundation, and our advertisers. MOTO~S ' Restaurant & Catering

Suving The Emory Arta And The Unil)u•e Since 500 a.a. 14 51 Oxford Road Atlanta, Georgia 30307 377-3129 ~

BREAKFAST - MON. -FRI. /:30 - 11:30 SAT. -9:00 3:00 pm. SUN. BRUNCH 10:30 - 3:00 pm.

LUNCH - MON. - FRI. 11:30 - 3:00 pm. DINNER -:- TUES. - SAT.- 6:00 pm. - 9 :·30 pm. COFFEE HOUSE TUES. - SAT.9:30 - MIDNITE

COUNTRY & CONTINENTAL CUISINE CARRY OUT SERVICE TABLE SERVICE -BREAKFAST & DINNER CAFETERIA -LUNCH ENTERTAINMENT TUES. - SAT. 9:30 - MIDNITE · CATERING FOR ALL TYPES & SI~ES OF FUNCTIONS

JOIN US FOR CAFE KOUKLA TUES. -SAT. 9: 30 - midn il ~ e