Minds Interrupted:  Stories of Lives Affected by Mental Illness
7:30 p.m. March 15, 2008, Armory for the Arts, Santa Fe

Project Life Stories presented an evening of monologues featuring stories of people affected by mental illness. The pieces included performances by people both with a diagnosis of mental illness as well as family members living with this disease.

The event was produced by the National Alliance on Mental Illness-Santa Fe (NAMI-SF).

Gender Bender
Queer Voices from Home and Abroad
United World College, Las Vegas, NM, November 16 at 8:00 p.m.
College of Santa Fe, Greer Garson Theater, November 18 at 8:00 p.m.

Tanya is teaming up with the College of Santa Fe and Armand Hammer United World College to showcase stories of American and International gay/lesbian/bi/trans students. It promises to be a fascinating journey as we explore identity and the effects of “living OUT” in this country and the implications of being gay in various parts of the world.
 

Solo Performances
October 25,26,27 at 7:30 p.m. Armory for the Arts, $25
An Evening of Solo Performance with Susana Guillaume and Michelle Vest

Two Solo Performances directed by Tanya Taylor Rubinstein:

The first, “Girl Facing West”, is an exploration of the journey from girl to woman, through five decades and on three continents. Written and performed by Susana Guillaume, it takes on universal themes of love and belonging, triumph and loss, what we run away from and what we eventually come home to. Humorous and poignant by turns, Susana’s performance embodies several distinctive, memorable characters – parents, spouses, children and lovers – and the complex, often harrowing interpersonal dynamics that can both enslave and liberate us.

The second, “Sole Survivors” is a four character show written and performed by Michelle Vest. Michelle spent the year collecting stories and interviewing immigrants from Mexico and El Salvador to create this amazing script that offers us a glimpse into the world of those who risk everything to leave their country for a hope of a better life in the United States. She brings to life the humanity and pain of a professor seeking political asylum, a cleaning woman from Chihuahua, as well as a “coyote”, one who gets paid to help the “illegals” across the border. An exploration of identity and belonging, the piece is both timely and critical as our nation grapples with borders and what a human life is worth.

 
October, 2007

October brought some fantastic new offerings, from a workshop on storytelling at the Bioneers Conference in California to solo and group performances in Santa Fe.

The Soul of Aging, September 15, 2007, James A. Little Theatre, Santa Fe
An evening of multi-media monologues honoring the stories and wisdom of Santa Fe Elders. A presentation of EGIS Foundation (Elders Getting Information and Service) in partnership with Project Life Stories. Portraits by Anna Hayunga.

Core Witness, 2006
Core Witness: Monologues with Veterans calling for U.S Pullout from Iraq, Lensic Theater, Santa Fe

Soul of Living and Dying, 2005
Monologues that delve into the heart of caregiving and dealing with illness.

Mothering Monologues, 2006
Teaming up with Mothering magazine, Project Life Stories created this event that supported the magazines 30th anniversary and Many Mothers oranization.