Past Projects
- From the Inside Out and Hidden Voices in Prison (2003)
With artists from Playmakers Repertory company and the North Carolina Women's Prison Project.
- Breaking Free (2004)
With artists and survivors of domestic violence, the show includes narrative, dance, dialogue, and original gospel. The piece "Escape Artist" won the NC Play Slam competition.
- Being the Exonerated (2005)
A collaboration between theatre artists from several universities in the Triad area and actual North Carolina exonerated.
- La Vida Local (2005-2006)
Named by The Independent Weekly in their "Best of What We Saw 2005," La Vida Local presents the view from Hispanic young adults who find themselves straddling two cultures, two languages, and one unexpected life in the U.S. Using traditional music, break dancing, and original rap within the play, the show speaks to the dreams and realities of our newest neighbors.
- Respect Has Seven Letters: Voices of the Newly Literate (2006)
Confronts the struggle to survive in a literate world. With reggae music, visual writing, and dialogue, the play explores the social dynamics of literacy and power.
- Not Your Mama's Home Cookin' (2006)
Recipes, music, dance, and photographs document the rural life and identity politics of Latino, Black, and White teens colliding against each other in a world their parents could never have envisioned. A book featuring conversations, writing, and photography documents life in a world their parents could never have envisioned.
- Rewind (2006-2007)
Using projections, narrative, voiceover, and fractured time/space elements, REWIND collages the gestalt that led an enthusiastic cheerleader and ballerina to life as NC prison inmate 0423358 and the tensions inherent in her release.
- Because We're Still Here (and Moving) (2007)
Mapping a World of Black History in Our Own Backyard. Local residents, artists, and performers bring to life 140 years of stories, histories, maps, images, and music from our own historically African-American communities.
About Hidden Voices
"Hidden Voices is a phenomenal project, based on work with local agencies and organizations to advance the stories/histories of communities buried within our own. Their last production was the stunning "Breaking Free," told by survivors of domestic violence. "La Vida Local" involves local Hispanic youth in representing their histories of immigration and life in and around the Carrboro area. This is an event not to be missed."
--Della Pollock
Director of the University Program in Cultural Studies at UNC-CH,
co-editor Cultural Studies;
editor Exceptional Spaces; author, Birth Story: A Cultural Politics of Performance.
Hidden Voices in Prison
"A great show (Hidden Voices in Prison) ... You have the kind of dedication to issues of value that you help make the world a better place."
--Bill Hendrickson, Orange County Human Relations Commission
Breaking Free: Survivors of Domestic Violence
Stories of life, love, loss, and renewal as performed by women and men who have experienced and overcome the legacy of domestic violence. Funny, poignant, and fresh, these survivors' experiences are translated into conversations, monologues, poems, music, and dance. Selections include "Boiling Point," "Escape Artist," "Pick Up Lines," and "Looking Down" and deal with the realities of trying to maintain a semblance of normalcy in the face of unpredictable violence.
A post-show discussion and reception offers the opportunity to meet the performers and find out more about local opportunities for service and support. With representatives from the NC Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Family Violence Prevention Center of Orange County.
"Breaking Free, the project and performance, was such an eye-opening experience for the audience, to see that in fact this violence exists and to realize that there are people around to help with this issue. What better way to educate people about domestic violence that to present something so vivid and powerful and in the moment? The audience was able to identify with these women, maybe for the first time, and understand not only that domestic violence exists but also to identify and understand the culture around it."
-- Cecilia Hernaine de Davis, Family Violence Prevention Center
Being the Exonerated
Imagine serving time, serious time, for someone else's crime. Imagine doing it for eighteen years of your life. Now, imagine doing it on death row.
North Carolina has its own Exonerated, and this Hidden Voices benefit presentation is a chance to hear the profound vision of one of these men and help initiate the Darryl Hunt Project for Freedom and Justice.
Darryl Hunt, one of the North Carolina exonerated, was wrongfully incarcerated for nineteen years, two trials, and a US Supreme Court appeal. Darryl will speak about his experience as the falsely-accused and about the extraordinary circumstances that led to his final pardon. Joining Darryl will be Jennifer Thompson, a mother and housewife whose experience with a brutal rape led her to a personal understanding of the unreliability of eyewitness testimony and to national recognition as a spokesperson on wrongful conviction.
Following the performances and talks, there will be a reception for audience, performers, and those working on behalf of the wrongfully-convicted. The Darryl Hunt Project for Freedom and Justice promotes fair and equal treatment for those wrongfully accused of a crime and to provide a venue in assisting with their freedom.
"Being the Exonerated" was a great beginning to our mission with the Project. But perhaps more importantly, you all were able to express artistically the problems and concerns within the judicial system and the heartbreaking aftermath when the system fails. Sadly, Darryl Hunt is one of over one hundred stories involving wrongful convictions. Thank you for all your hard work and for caring about the issues surrounding wrongful convictions."
-- Jennifer Cannino, Board Chair, the Darryl Hunt Project for Freedom and Justice
La Vida Local
Check out the view from Hispanic young adults who find themselves straddling two cultures, two languages, and one unexpected life in the U.S. Using music, story, dance, and rap, the show speaks to the dreams and realities of our newest neighbors. Set in the waiting room at a train station, travelers arriving, departing, and possibly staying respond to ethnic jokes about jobs, intelligence, race, and athletic prowess. A blind guitarist from Mexico, a college student from Panama, a hopeful engineer from El Salvador, and a shy transplant from Puerto Rico, these and other new residents offer a view into a shared present that has little to do with their individual pasts.
A post-show discussion and reception offers the opportunity to meet the performers and find out more about local opportunities for service and support. Representatives from Pa'lante, El Centro Latino, and other local support groups will join the reception and discussion.
"I've got the perfect venue for a revival of La Vida Local , Hidden Voices' moving documentary play about the plight of bright, undocumented Latino high school students in North Carolina. It's 16 W. Jones St., Raleigh. . . . A show this good needs to hit the road."
--Byron Woods, The Independent Weekly
"By turns funny and moving, this year's new production of La Vida Local shares the losses and gains, frustrations and hopes, of this area's newest residents . . . While the play addresses hot-button issues and racist attitudes, it does so with humor . . . and dialogue that turns those stereotypes inside out."
--Rebecca Bailey, The Chapel Hill Herald
"The Hidden Voices experience was unparalleled. The audience response was so positive . . . One of the greatest challenges immigrants face is the general public's misunderstanding or ignorance of the reality of their lives and the issues they face. I believe that performances like this are a key way to change this."
--Laura Wenzel, Executive Director, Pa'lante
"The Hidden Voices project allowed these . . . young people to explore their ideas, beliefs and perspectives . . . They had never been asked their opinion and didn't believe that people wanted to hear what they thought . . . . Hidden Voices recognized their courage to stand up for what they believed; it showed them that you can challenge and question constructively by affirming your place as part of a dialogue. Most of all, I think Hidden Voices showed them that their voices mattered."
-- Beatriz Munoz Riefkohl, University Center for International Studies (UCIS)
Respect has Seven Letters: Voices of the Newly Literate
Respect Has Seven Letters deals with the struggle to survive in a literate world and the power of accessing the written word for one's own. These performers share their triumphs, failures, and life stories in a show that sheds a whole new light on the phrase "continuing education." Set on an unnamed island and underscored by live music, the show unveils a world seldom experienced by the lifelong literate. In this world apart, we meet men who can't leave the grid of streets they know by heart, because they cannot read the signs to find the way home. We meet women who struggle to read their children bedtime stories and residents who must rely on others to read their mail. We meet men and women whose willingness to tackle the real-life issues of literacy inspires a community of others to do the same. Amazing stories from the truly exceptional among us.
Lynden Harris, Artistic Director of ArtsCenter Stage and Director of Hidden Voices notes, "It requires great courage to take your place on stage in front of an audience. It takes even more courage to do so when it's your own story you're sharing. To do both those things in the context of developing a script, when reading itself is a challenge, is an almost unimaginable feat."
In conjunction with the Orange County Literacy Council and with assistance from Project Literacy, RB Fitch and Fearrington Village, The ArtsCenter, the Pittsboro Library, the Central Carolina Community College, and SCALE.
"The talent and tenacity of these individuals who share their personal stories never cease to amaze me. Through this performance, they not only take on a new personal challenge, they also actively shape our community by offering their unique insights and hard-earned wisdom."
--Allison Garren, Orange County Literacy Council
From the performers:
"This built up my confidence, a lot of things I never know I could do, I did. The first time I got the script I was nervous just to hold it, let alone read but anything you put your mind to and try you can succeed. The first time I realized I was going to be in show I was so nervous....now I would do it like every weekend - I'd do it for a living if you said you'd do it for America and I don't think I would be nervous again - so anytime you guys ready, I'm ready. This is what opened my eyes and let me see a little more light so I can go around and express myself to people. There's nothing to be ashamed about."
-- Copeland Andrews
"I truly appreciate you allowing me to be a part of the greatest family ever. It has changed my life totally. I am truly glad I could be a part of something so great for so little of my time. I'm so glad I could be heard with no laughter. Jokes (making fun of) . . . . RESPECT does have seven letters and I'm sure I can speak for the whole cast and say take us to the people so we can be heard and so we can make a difference in this world and touch and help a whole lot of lives."
--Wendy Williams
Not Yo' Mama's Home Cookin: the Changing Face of Rural North Carolina
Step inside the world of young Franklin County teens and encounter the new face of rural North Carolina: Latino, African-American, Euro-American and other. What is it like to live in a rural town? How do you interact with others whose cultural differences are as immediately apparent as the language they speak? What are your dreams, fears, and preconceptions? How would you change things if you could?
Hear first-hand stories of life in a world their parents could never have envisioned, with poems, prose, dialogue, and dance. Photography by the students at Terrell Lane School and photographic portraits by Luis Velasco will show in the East End gallery during the month of May, along with Todd Drake's Give Me Eyes immigration table and Hidden Art Walk. A reception and book signing of their collected writings and conversations titled Not Yo Mama's Home Cooking will follow this performance of selected pieces.
The project was created with Student Action with Farmworkers and the Franklin County Schools and with support from the North Carolina Humanities Council.
"Want to start your own souse jar? First you cut off the horny parts of a pig's feet and toes, scrape, clean, and singe off any hairs. You'll need cider vinegar and a stone jar but to complete the breakfast dish, you'll have to buy the book . . . [which] includes photos, poems, and observations exploring race, class, gender, and ethnicity."
--Rebecca Bailey, Chapel Hill Herald
From the Participants:
"We everybody was really open to all the different stuff we talked about. I leaned a lot about other people in the group. It really surprised me that the Latino people had such a hard time getting into this country."
-- Erin May, Terrell Lane Middle School student
"It was interesting to know what blacks and whites think about Latinos. We're all people; everybody has feelings."
-- Marlenen Alejo-Mojica
Rewind: A Former Inmate's Look at Her Fractured Past and Uncertain Future
Hindsight beyond 20/20.
How do we frame the events of our lives? Do our past experiences and choices dictate our future? When faced with creating a place in the world, is it better to deny, ignore, or explore our past?
Using projections, narrative, music, and photographs, this newest Hidden Voices project traces the steps and missteps that led an enthusiastic cheerleader and ballerina to life as NC prison inmate 0423358. Recently released from prison, this former member of the North Carolina Prison Repertory Ensemble was incarcerated for 12 years. Regina's story is a frank look at the personal traumas and choices that landed her at 17 in a hotel room beside a body and a gun and at the daunting challenges and uncertainties of her new life outside and raises questions about race, abuse, poverty, and the criminal justice system.
"The brilliance of Lynden Harris' unflinching dissection of the sordid forces that put Regina Walters in prison and the spiritual turnabout that led to her parole and the power of director Kathryn Williams' provocative stagingplus compelling characterizations by Hope Hynes and Jeri Lynn Schulkevirtually dictate that this "Former Inmate's View of her Fractured Past and Uncertain Future," will be revived again and again as an eye-opening lesson, particularly for younger audience members growing up in similar high-risk environments."
--Robert McDowell, Robert's Reviews
"The show was incredible: the colors, the lights, the dramatic performance. I felt as if I was really watching her life as it happened . . . It was heartwarming, heart-wrenching, and in one word amazing. The end was an awesome touch because it was not expected and it to me at least, symbolized her entering her own life, the one she has always wanted."
--Culbreth Jones, Saint Mary's School student
"Hidden Voices has created the kind of theatre that must be shared with as broad an audience as possible. Why? Because of its message of redemption fused with the terrifying leap into self-awareness and of grappling with the consequences of our life choices."
--Madeleine Pabis, Saint Mary's School Drama Chair
“(Rewind) is truly a remarkable performance and a story that is inspirational and thought provoking for so many.”
--Beth Posner, Managing Attorney with Legal Aid & Adjunct professor at UNC School of Law
Because We're Still Here (and Moving)
“I was very moved by last night’s performance. I can’t stop thinking about it all. I feel as if I understand my community much better now. When I walk down the street I think about what and who was once there, contemplating the future of all the people in our community.”
--Brian Russell, Orange Politics Blog
“The whole performance was an experience of a lifetime -- telling the story of the past and having the people that you are talking about in the audience. It was unbelievable. It just brought back old memories, good and bad, but yet we are still pressing forward as a people. We laughed and we cried together, hearing our past told, a history that most people want to forget or pretend never happened or refuse to see that the present is not so far from yesterday.”
--Jennifer Evans, Resident and Performer
“The most powerful thing about this project was…seeing the actual people involved in these stories nodding their heads, laughing and crying and getting excited to see their lives and experiences in this community told to the next generation. This project has impacted the way I perceive Chapel Hill and how I view certain places and things now…It made me see how people held their stories and lives with so much pride, whether it was good or bad, and to be able to be part of this and tell these various stories was an opportunity I would never forget.”
--Louisa Appiah, Performer and High School Student
“The more I worked with this project, I felt like I was growing as a person… I have always taken advantage of every opportunity but ever since this project I have done even more now that I am trying to go to college. I have been asking questions, being open-minded, and trying to be the best that I can be as a person. I am an open-minded person. Their (the audience) response just helped me to be even more open-minded than before, especially when I had the opportunity to talk to some people from the audience.”
--Christi Ogu, Performer and High School Student
