RASH

RASH at Middlesex School

2012-02-04T21:00:00.002-05:00

This week I travelled twice to Concord, Massachusetts to speak and perform at Middlesex School - a highly regarded New England prep school. I have never visited a boarding school before and was fascinated by the experience in contrast to my own public school experience in Glasgow. On Tuesday I spoke at the morning assembly about the work of WITNESS and how the documentation of human rights abuses through video is changing the world. Today I performed RASH at the school's Annual Day of Diversity. I was amazed at how engaged and present 400 students could be at 10 in the morning! It was definitely one of my favourite audiences. On both occasions, students had the opportunity to ask questions which were smart and thoughtful, and many of them came up to speak to me afterwards. They were an impressive group in more ways than one and I really enjoyed meeting them. I am so looking forward to performing at other schools in the future. Thank you so much to Brian Smith, the Acting Dean of Students & Director of Diversity for inviting me to share my experiences at Middlesex. And thanks to Corinne Woods, our wonderful stage manager and to the team at All for One Theater Festival for helping to make this happen, especially Michael Wolk.
Here are some photos that I took whilst I was there.

Arriving at Middlesex

My first ever ride on a yellow school bus! Me with Corinne Woods, RASH stage manager

The dressing room.

This week at the All for One Theatre Festival

2011-11-17T17:50:00.000-05:00

It's been a great week so far at the All for One Theatre Festival. Today, JTA published a review of RASH and the background to the story. On Monday, I spoke on a great panel with RASH director Jen Nails, and two other performers and directors called Directing the Solo Show. Today I observed Matt Hoverman in action teaching a workshop called Telling Your Story: The Art of the Autobiographical Solo Show. Tomorrow RASH director Jen Nails teaches a workshop called Solo Show Boot Camp. You've got to click on that link just to see the great photo of Jen!

You have three more days to catch some of the other shows at AFOfest and of course, yours truly, will perform RASH a final time on closing night at 7pm on 20th November. Audience numbers are looking good and I'm really looking forward to it. Afterwards, I will see P.J. Walsh's solo play: Over There - Comedy is His Best Weapon if you want to join me. It will be an evening of war, although I know that Over There is supposed to be very funny and I'm sure having met P.J. that he will be wonderful to watch. Where will you be on Sunday night?

Pre-show preparations

2011-11-17T17:32:00.000-05:00

Chatting to Michael Wolk, Executive Director of the AFOfest before the show

Getting ready in the dressing room before the show

Talking to the tech team before the show

Warming up on stage before the show

Jen Nails, RASH director (Right), Patrick and Corinne, Tech team (Left)

Opening night at the All for One Theatre Festival for RASH

Thanks Coco for taking the pictures!

Before, during & after

2011-11-17T13:20:00.002-05:00

Thanks to Coco who came to the theatre to take photos of me as I was getting ready for the play, warming up on stage and greeting the crew last Sunday. See post above for a wee selection. Thanks also to Mari and Richard for filming the show - they will be sharing some of the material on the WITNESS facebook page. It was a great performance and I've been so touched by all the amazing emails I've received from people over the last few days, some who I know and some who I don't. Thank you! One down, one to go!

WITNESS Jenni Wolfson!

2011-11-11T21:54:00.000-05:00

Here's what the All for One Theater Festival blogged about yesterday.

An All For One shout-out to Jenni Wolfson, who tonight will be at her day job as Managing Director of Witness, which is throwing it's 7th Annual Focus For Change Benefit at Roseland. In this video, Jenni talks about her show RASH and gives us a shout-out.

Jenni Wolfson //// All For One Theater Festival from All For One on Vimeo.

RASH in the news

2011-10-30T16:08:00.000-04:00

Recently RASH got some press. Check out this interview in The Local East Village. Gabbi Lewin asks me some questions about how I ended up in human rights and Rwanda, and how the play came into being.

Michael Wolk, the Executive Director of the All for One Theater Festival I'm a part of wrote a blog post about my double life that sometimes melds into one.

Superstars of storytelling

2011-10-04T21:34:00.000-04:00

The All for One Theater Festival has just announced its launch on Broadway World. I'm thrilled to be counted amongst the "superstars of storytelling" and "the most acclaimed and heralded artists being presented in the Solo arena today".

"They are an intensely talented breed driven by the need to tell their stories to the world. Stories so dense in dramatic revelations as to require an unbroken trance-like connection to a willing audience. There is a heightened sense of courage at play here. These as are the rock stars of the theatrical world. On stage on their own, they can change your life in a riveting 70 minutes".

Read more here.

Buy tickets here.

Tickets now on sale for RASH at AFOfest

2011-10-02T10:59:00.002-04:00

Tickets are now on sale for RASH and all the other great shows, workshops and panels at the All for One Theater Festival.
Buy tickets here

When: November 13th @6pm & November 20th @7pm
Where: Theatre 80 St. Marks (80 St Marks Place & 1st Avenue), NY
How: Buy $20 tickets online (smartypants!) or day of show at the box office (at your peril!)

Spread the RASH!
For regular updates, "like" our facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/rashsolo

Meet the Change with Jenni Wolfson

2011-09-26T21:25:00.016-04:00

Last week I performed an extract of RASH at the legendary Nuyorican Poets Cafe in the East Village. I also spoke about my philosophy of change and the importance of networking and community. The audience was a group of young Jewish activists in their 20's and 30's that were brought together by Pursue, a partnership between AJWS and AVODAH.

If you have ever wondered why I do what I do, then wonder no more. In preparation for the evening, I was interviewed by someone at Pursue and you can read it here
The evening was described as follows:

Meet the Change with Jenni Wolfson: What Happens Next is Up to You! (Click here for more info)

She speaks truth to power – on stage, in the field (from Haiti to Rwanda), and from her desk. When it comes to “fighting baddies,” you’ll want her in your corner.

Click here to see photos of the event.

It was a great audience. The folks asked lots of questions, and even the guy behind the bar asked a question! Then Audrey Sasson who heads up Pursue let a fun networking activity. I have since heard from almost half the audience which I think is a great sign that we achieved one of the goals of the evening - to encourage networking! If you want a more objective overview of the evening, read the Pursue blog post.

RASH featured in All for One Theater Festival

2011-08-21T16:56:00.002-04:00

RASH has been selected as part of the inaugural solo show theater festival All for One. I couldn't be more delighted. The festival's goal is to present "outstanding solo shows that inform and inspire, together with workshops and panels to enhance the development and appreciation of solo performance."

They have a very unique approach that I have never seen before. Their festival line up is entirely curated - they select the shows rather than putting out a call for applications. The festival is combined with workshops by some of the top names in solo performance. Their advisory board consists of an amazing array of talented people, including some of the top solo performers, such as Mike Daisey and Nilaja Sun. AFO also aims to act as a curated gateway to a network of performing and teaching opportunities beyond the festival.

Last but not least, the team at AFO, led by Michael Wolk, are already a dream to work with.

So mark your diaries for November 13th and November 20th for Theatre 80 St Marks in NY, and stay tuned for more. Tickets will be available soon.

X marks the spot: RASH extract up on YouTube TEDx Channel

2011-05-24T21:09:00.000-04:00

I was delighted to find my performance at TEDxEast on the TEDxTalks YouTube channel. It was an amazing experience to work with Julianna Wurm and the team, as well as to hear the other inspiring speakers and meet the TEDxEast Community. Warning: This video is a spoiler alert for those of you who haven't seen the full play. Enjoy!

TEDx catches RASH

2011-02-15T20:37:00.000-05:00

I'm very excited to be performing an extract of RASH at TEDxEast on May 9, 2011. It will be at the Time Center in the NYTimes building which is a fantastic space. And for those of you who won't be there, you can see it on Livestream.

As with most TED events, the conference goers are a cross-section of technology, entertainment, design, philanthropy, activist & other oddballers. If you're interested in attending this one-day conference, you need to apply.The full program for TEDxEast should be up in a few days.

Having been to the original TED and TEDWomen, they are experiences that are unparalleled in the conference world. If you've never watched a TED talk, you should definitely check it out. If you've watched them, feel free to share a link to your favourites.

RASH comes to its first high school - Trinity School

2010-12-13T20:42:00.001-05:00

I left the house at 6:30 am this morning to go from Brooklyn to the Upper West Side to perform an extract of RASH to the students and faculty of Trinity School. When I left home, it was dark and all the cafes were still closed. I never imagined I would be performing RASH at 8am before my first cup of coffee! But there I was on stage in a lovely theatre in front of 550 students aged 15-18 years and the faculty.

I only discovered after the performance (thankfully!) that the Trinity crowd is a tough one, but the feedback I received was overwhelmingly positive. I was fortunate to have pleased both the students and the teachers. Having gone to a pretty rubbish local high school, I was amazed and inspired to see a school like Trinity, both in terms of the students themselves, the faculty and the school program. Just an example, almost every day of the year, there is a speaker or performer that addresses the morning assembly. When I asked the Dean of Co-Curricular Learning if the students realize how privileged they are, I was pleased to hear a resounding yes.

After my performance, I shared some personal anecdotes about my life in the field and the transition to WITNESS. I showed a short video and talked about WITNESS, as well as my belief in the power of arts and human rights, whether it be theatre, video, photography etc to raise awareness and mobilize people to action. There was only time for one question. "Who are the most unlikely human rights abusers you have come across?" I talked about some of the abuses that WITNESS is confronting right here in the US, abuse against the elderly, the existence of child trafficking and treatment of child prostitutes.

I hope this is the first of many performances at schools. This confirmed my strong belief that high schools are an ideal setting for RASH performances. If any of you Trinity folks come across this blog post, please do let me know what you thought of the play. And thanks for being such a wonderful audience.

What's next for RASH?

2010-08-31T19:55:00.000-04:00

My 6th and last performance of RASH was only three days ago but already there are plans underway for future performances. We are in discussions with a theatre festival in NY, with universities in the US and the UK and with Microsoft HQ in Seattle. Over the next few months I will be contacting schools, colleges and universities in particular, to guage their interest in having RASH performed on their campuses followed by Q&A with the students. I have also decided that I will try and get RASH published as a play so I'll keep you posted on that front. I'll continue to update the blog and encourage you to "like" our Facebook page for faster updates too.

For now, and this will resonate more with those of you who have seen the show, I'm going to cycle in the park, go to outdoor musical concerts, spend more time with my family ....

The RASH audience - who are you?

2010-08-27T12:38:00.002-04:00

One of the most amazing personal aspects for me performing RASH at the NY Fringe has been the audience. The word seems to have spread amongst human rights and humanitarian workers and many of them have been coming to the show. I have received wonderful feedback from this group who are seeing a part of their lives and their stories on stage, and they are overjoyed that I am giving others a glimpse into our world.

Friends and colleagues have also been enormously supportive. It's wonderful to walk outside after the show and see my acting teacher; my doula; colleagues from WITNESS and other NGOs (thanks HRW!); the UN & UNICEF staff, even those with whom I worked in Rwanda and Haiti; neighbours; journalists; friends who were in my writing and acting classes; friends from my birthing and mum groups; friends of friends; other Fringe companies and of course the great Fringe audience. I think that even my dentist came to see the show. And a training dog. Thank you to all of you who have been so incredibly supportive.

There were several people who came to see RASH who have lost their loved ones to human rights and humanitarian tragedies, and I was humbled that they came, and relieved to hear from them how much they loved the show.

Who am I missing?

RASH named "Best Bet" and one of Fringe favourites by Theatre is Easy

2010-08-19T14:19:00.000-04:00

The latest RASH review is out from Theatre is Easy. The have named it one of their "Best Bets" and highlighted it as one of the best 6 shows to see at the Fringe. Their BOTTOM LINE: "A not-to-be-missed, riveting first-person account of a UN worker's three years in Rwanda."

"Jenni Wolfson isn't a professional actor. Not that I could tell. She has such a mix of natural intelligence and charisma that you can't help but hang on to every word she says. Wolfson's monologues are supported by an emotional depth that only real experiences can provide, and she delivers such a multilayered performance that any trained method actor would be jealous. Nor is she a professional playwright. Not that I could tell. Her writing is crisp, clean and nuanced. She manages to pack more meaning into a single line than most writers fit into entire scenes.

Jenni Wolfson is in fact the real deal. Born and raised in Scotland, she likes to drink tea and knit, and has worked for twelve years in the most extreme conditions imaginable as a human rights worker for the UN. Most notably, she spent three years in Rwanda in the mid-nineties during the height of the genocidal conflict and survived to tell of it, if just barely.

But Rash, playing at the HERE Arts Center as part of the NY Fringe Festival, isn't a story of murder, pain and despair. Sure, these aspects make an appearance, either as documentary photos, or as facts stated with a jaded coolness so that they seem surreal. You can tell that Wolfson has been witness to things most of us could only imagine, yet she decided to tell the story by instead focusing on life. Maybe that's the only way to approach the potentially soul-depriving subject of genocide. Wolfson talks of love the way a teenager talks of crushes, and of family conflicts as if they could be summarized by witty one-liners. Or kidnapping and threats of death as if they are something she saw on television instead of experiencing firsthand.

Rash, a show whose title refers to a reoccurring stress-induced skin affliction that acts as a barometer of a current situation, is not depressing. Although it has its moments. Nor is it ultimately uplifting, although it has those moments too. In the end it's essentially a story about life and how it unfolds mostly out of our control.

I urge everyone to see Rash before it is too late. The still young Wolfson is far from retired and is currently the managing director of WITNESS, a human rights organization that promotes the use of video to document and eradicate human rights abuses. There is a small window of opportunity to witness an authenticity that is unparalleled."

World Humanitarian Day

2010-08-19T07:19:00.002-04:00

Today is World Humanitarian Day. What does that mean?
It's a day to raise awareness of what it means to be a humanitarian aid worker and provide a window into that world. What better way to celebrate than to come and see RASH which is my autobiographical solo play about my experiences working in post-genocide Rwanda.

World Humanitarian Day also honours those who have been injured or killed in their work. Today I think about all the colleagues I have lost in the field. A portion of proceeds of RASH are being donated to Kenba La Foundation set up in memory of my friend Emmanuel Rejouis and his two young daughters Kofie & Zenzie who died in the Haiti Earthquake.

Watch this video and if you know a humanitarian aid worker, today is the day to give them a special hug.

RASH recommended as one of the great solo shows to see at Fringe

2010-08-17T06:50:00.000-04:00

The NY Theatre review says "If any theme has emerged so far, it’s this: there are some amazing solo performers in this year’s festival. Don’t let any preconceived notions about one-person plays keep you from sampling some of this unusual, enriching fare":

Bagabones (contortionist Jonathan Nosan)
Amsterdam Abortion Survivor (Dutch comic Micha Wertheim)
Daddy Day (unique site-specific work by Bert Hana)
The Height of the Eiffel Tower (New Zealander Morgana O’Reilly)
Headscarf and the Angry Bitch (Pakistani American Zehra Fazal)
William and the Tradesmen (Eli James channels a wannabe rock star and 3 real rock stars)
Rites of Privacy (chameleon David Rhodes as 6 different characters plus himself)
Rash (Jenni Wolfson on her work as a humanitarian aid worker)
Questions My Mother Can’t Answer (Andrea Caban interviews older women)

Hot off the Press

2010-08-16T14:53:00.000-04:00

Here's what the NYTheatre review has to say about RASH

"Jenni Wolfson spent three years in Rwanda during the Hutu-Tutsi genocide as a Humanitarian Aid worker for the UN. I didn't. Neither did anyone I know. This makes Jenni Wolfson worth listening to in almost any circumstance. It gives her strange, fascinating stories... Rash feels like I'm across a coffee table from an acquaintance who just returned from a long journey. She's casual and still confused about everything. One story moves to the next without logic as she continues to makes sense of it all. Her memories are vivid and random. Her body makes accidental gestures that indicate an entire life. If you've ever sat with someone in this unique state—when they're still processing their experience but haven't yet polished it into an "inspiring" memoir—then you may know that it can be magical. It's so unplanned. You get to watch the odd bits of life collect around them as they talk. This remembering in Rash is thrilling."

RASH is a SMASH

2010-08-14T21:43:00.000-04:00

Last night was the opening of RASH at the NY International Fringe Festival and my first performance in 2 1/2 years. Had a good turn out. Thanks to everyone who came. It was so wonderful to see so many people I hadn't seen in so long. Please do share your thoughts about the show.

Here's a quote from my first review from New York Theatre Review
"Telling her own true story about being a human rights and humanitarian worker in Rwanda after the genocide, Wolfson primarily focuses on the relationships that defined her time with the United Nations. Her style is personal and direct, and director Jen Nails helps to create a confessional atmosphere. Wolfson’s performance is engaging and personal".

Five more performances. Get your tickets HERE

Looking forward to seeing you HERE!

2010-08-13T08:02:00.000-04:00

Before and after HERE - noshing and boozing

2010-08-12T21:03:00.002-04:00

If you're coming to see RASH in the next couple of weeks at the HERE Arts Center in Soho I thought you might like to have a few recommendations of where to meet friends before and after the show. Remember that the entrance to HERE Arts Center is on Dominick St (between 6th Avenue and Varick st), one block south of Spring st. The closest train is C/E to Spring St.

Restaurants:
Cafe Noir - Spanish tapas, good for drinks and food, Cafe Noir
32 Grand St, (bet. Ave of the Americas & Thompson St)

Félix Restaurant - French bistro (probably quite crowded on weekends), Felix
340 West Broadway (Grande St)

Lucky Strike, French, Lucky Strike
59 Grand St (bet. W. B'way & Wooster St)

Novocento, Argentinean steakhouse, Novecentro
343 W. Broadway (bet. Broome & Grand Sts)

Bars
Ear Inn - Good for drinks, casual, Ear Inn
326 Spring Street between Greenwich and Washington St

Red Bench - Casual and moderately hip place for drinks
107 Sullivan St (bet. Prince & Spring Sts)

Blue ribbon Downing Street Bar, small and open late, Blue Ribbon
34 Downing St (bet. Bedford & Varick Sts)

Thom bar, inside Thompson Hotel - Posh place for drinks, Thompson Hotels
60 Thomson St, 2nd Fl (bet. Broome & Spring)

Grande bar - Another posh place for drinks, Soho Grand
Soho Grand Hotel, 310 W.Broadway, 2nd Floor (bet. Canal & Grand Sts)

Another sneak preview pic of today's tech reherasal at HERE

2010-08-11T21:10:00.000-04:00

Sneak preview pics from today's tech rehearsal at HERE Arts Center

2010-08-11T21:08:00.000-04:00

Venue prep for RASH at HERE Arts Center

2010-08-10T21:12:00.000-04:00

Yesterday we spent 8 hours with all the other productions preparing our venue - the Dorothy B Williams performance space - at the HERE Arts Center for the New York International Fringe Festival that opens this week. It was no surprise to me that I'm quite hopeless at climbing ladders and hanging lights but fortunately Taylor our stage manager and board operator was on hand with her tools! I would have happily skipped the day and just turned up for tech rehearsal, but it has give me a newfound admiration for all that goes into preparing a theatre space - I had no idea. Here's a photo of Taylor in action!

(UN)Natural Disaster at the NY Fringe

2010-08-09T16:42:00.002-04:00

Check out (UN)Natural Disaster at Fringe NYC

Terror Super Highway at the NY Fringe

2010-08-09T16:34:00.000-04:00

Check out this show at Fringe NY

RASH opens in one week

2010-08-06T06:41:00.000-04:00

RASH opens one week today! And we're in full swing, well kind of! That is, in between our full time jobs, families and other commitments. The logistics and tech side of things are pretty time consuming. We had a set back this week when we discovered our key prop - a comfortable armchair - didn't pass the flameproofing requirements. I'll spare you the details! But we found a lighting designer - yay for Mike Inwood. We've designed the PlayBill - yay for Antony!. I've got my new costume. We've improved the blog and got the show working on my laptop - yay for Mari! We began distributing postcards and doing some online marketing. Now we just have to sell out. Oh yeah, and I have to perform too! We can't wait to hear what you think of the show. Share your comments if you've already seen it.

RASH image - do you like it?

2010-07-28T21:35:00.000-04:00

RASH proceeds donated to Kenbe La Foundation

2010-07-24T09:40:00.002-04:00

As we all know, there was a terrible earthquake in Haiti in January 2010 where around 220,000 people were killed and there are still 1.5 million people homeless. These numbers are hard to comprehend. On a personal note, what was so hard for me to comprehend was the loss of my friend Emmanuel Rejouis and his two young girls Kofie-Jade (5) and Zenzie (3). His wife Emily and their daughter Alyahna (2) survived. Emmanuel and I worked together with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Rwanda. Emily has since created Kenbe La Foundation "to realise Emmanuel’s aspiration of providing inspirational educational opportunities for disadvantaged children of his birth-country Haiti, with an emphasis on sports, music, leadership and entrepreneurship".

RASH is largely based on the 3 years I lived and worked in Rwanda and so it seems fitting to donate all proceeds from the NY Fringe performances to the Foundation in memory of Emmanuel and his girls. Here is a beautiful obituary of Emmanuel that describes him so poignantly. As a writer, I confess I still find it hard to put words to paper on this one. And recently, Emily spoke out about the tragedy and the Foundation for the first time on New Zealand television. She is very inspirational and I think of her and Alyahna so often.

Preparing for RASH

2010-07-21T09:14:00.000-04:00

Tick tock, tick tock. The New York Fringe Festival is fast approaching. As usual, I always underestimate how much work it is to get the play up and running again. The rare moments when I have the apartment to myself, it quickly gets rearranged into my performance space and I trip over lego and train tracks as I speed through rehearsing. I only have a few rehearsals with Jen Nails, the RASH director before she goes off on vacation so we're using that time wisely. Ashley, the play manager is amazing helping to organize all the details from marketing, press to tech. Huge thanks to Zach and Mari who have been helping us design the marketing materials and the blog. And we're thrilled that Taylor has joined our team as our stage manager/board operator. I'm still trying to find our lighting designer as well as a new costume. Fortunately I have some time off work this week to prepare. Last week we visited the HERE Arts Center with all the other productions performing in that space. It looks great and is an ideal intimate venue for RASH. Forthcoming we have venue prep (hours and hours of setting up the theatre for all the shows) and then our tech rehearsal. But there's still time, thank goodness. Although I can feel it ticking ...

RASH at the HERE Arts Center in August

2010-07-16T12:51:00.000-04:00

We recently learned that RASH will be performed at the HERE Arts Center - Dorothy B. Williams in Soho. We visited the space this week and we're thrilled that it's our venue. It's a great intimate space that is perfect for a play like RASH. The New York Times has called HERE “one of the most unusual arts spaces in New York and possibly the model for the cutting-edge arts spaces of tomorrow.” It's also where the Vagina Monologues was developed by Eve Ensler. We also got confirmation of the dates of the performances. There will be six performances between 13th & 28th August. Check out the Fringe Festival Website for details. Tickets go on sale on July 23rd and we're expecting to sell out! And it's $15 if you buy a ticket in advance and $18 at the door. There will also be a short talkback with the audience after the Friday August 27th show if you want to hear more about the story behind RASH.

RASH accepted into the New York International Fringe Festival

2010-06-09T21:05:00.001-04:00

I'm going to be performing RASH at the New York International Fringe Festival this August. I'm so happy. I think! When I told my mum, she said "you're a glutton for punishment". She knows that going on stage for me is much scarier than being locked in a prison cell with 500 detainees accused of genocide (yes, that's another story). She knows that I have a full-time job as Managing Director at WITNESS and that I'm a sleep deprived mum. But she also knows that we human rights activists and humanitarians have an adrenalin seeking streak to us. I'll let you know as soon as I do what the dates and exact location will be for the performances. In the meantime, become a fan of our Facebook page and get regular updates. And I will feel great to have so many friends and supporters!

Itchy again

2009-11-21T11:57:00.000-05:00

After a long absence, it seems the RASH is returning! Where did it go? Well after I performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August 2007, I returned to NY to discover that I was to become the Acting Executive Director at WITNESS. It was an exciting opportunity, it was all consuming and it lasted 9 months. The same time it took me to grow a beautiful wee baby! I actually did perform RASH in June 2008 when I was over 5 months pregnant at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis. What an amazing space. I performed RASH as part of the PUSH Conference in a very original format suggested by its Founder and Director Cecily Sommers. Each day of the conference, I performed a segment of the play which was weaved into the conference program. It worked and I was so moved to get a standing ovation from a full house. This year I also received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Strathclyde for both my human rights and arts work, but the seed was planted when someone from the University saw RASH at the Edinburgh Fringe. That's it in a nutshell. Now Ashley Patterson (RASH manager), Jen Nails (RASH director) and myself are getting RASH back up on its feet for 2010 so stay tuned for details, and do join our mailing list. And if you have any ideas for some interesting venues for RASH, let us know.

Week Two at the Fringe

2007-08-20T19:44:00.000-04:00

Seven more shows to go! It’s been a great week. RASH was shortlisted for the Amnesty International and the Big Issue Freedom of Expression Award alongside four other companies. The award ceremony is on August 23rd. I got another two great 4 star reviews from Three Weeks and the Fringe Review. I was featured in the Scotsman in Brief Encounters where Leslie Lewis Sword and I chatted about our one woman solo shows set in Rwanda. Ewan Spence interviewed me for the Edinburgh Fringe Show of The Podcast Network so check that out if you want to hear about the show. And I spoke about RASH on a panel at the Edinburgh Synagogue Open Day with Linda Marlowe and Iris Bahr who are both performing one woman shows too,. The best show I saw this week was Nina Conti doing a fantastic ventriloquist and character show – she is funny and talented. And I can’t thank Gordon, Deborah and Jessica enough for helping me flyer this week for the show. It’s hard work but rewarding. We meet some nice people along the way, and some of them do come to see the show as a result. Onto Week 3.

Week One at the Fringe

2007-08-16T08:57:00.000-04:00

Well I’m half-way through the Fringe today and on my way to a midnight Pleasance party to celebrate that! It’s been a great week. Wonderful audiences, lots more reviews (a 4 star from the Edinburgh Evening News), lots of waiting for reviews to come out (it can take over a week!) and a great double page spread in the Glasgow Evening Times. I also performed an extract of the show and was interviewed on Mervyn Stutter’s Pick of the Fringe at the Guilded Balloon. It’s always great to perform alongside others which is a rare occasion. There are quite a few audience members that come from Glasgow from my childhood days. My parents friends have some funny reactions. Sometimes I come on stage and I hear them whisper, “look there’s Jenni”. Who else were they expecting to see? ☺ A lot of people come out of the show and ask me if any of it was true and who the story is about. Some folks seem to walk in and don’t realize it’s my own true story. It’s been so lovely reconnecting with family and friends that I haven’t seen in so long. And this week I started to see lots more shows and meets lots of performers which is definitely one of the most enjoyable things about being part of the Fringe. The best thing I’ve seen so far is Traces, a French Canadian dance troupe who fly through the air and make you stop breathing. Onto Week 2.

Week Zero at the Fringe

2007-08-06T19:12:00.000-04:00

Well I’ve just survived Week 0 at the Fringe! I arrived here a day or two before my first preview on 1st August and watched the Fringe being built. Overnight parking lots were turned into courtyards, student unions becoming theatres, and plaza spaces transformed into massive party venues. Last night was the opening party of the Fringe – it had all the elements of a good Scottish party – great energy, lots of performances, alcohol, kilts and rain. I really felt like I had landed. I’ve been quite lucky getting a decent audience during week 0 and it’s great to bump into people who saw the show and tell me how much they loved it. My biggest find has been Kieran McLoughlin who has now become the
Associate Director of RASH. The director of RASH, Jen Nails is pregnant and so unfortunately couldn’t travel with me here. I can’t imagine what I would have done without Kieran who has performed and directed at the Fringe before and is showing me the ropes and making RASH more solid. We’ve spent the last few days in tech rehearsals with our tech crew (Mick and Cara), finding wonderful interns to flyer RASH (Gordon and Rebecca) and contacting the press. I spoke on BBC Radio Scotland live on Sunday morning, got a 4 star review from Broadway Baby and last week RASH was on the entire front cover of Sunday Times Ecosse. And an anonymous person left a donation for us at the Fringe Office – thank you! The hardest thing about Week 0 is waiting for the reviews to come about. RASH has been reviewed by 4 different press and all during previews!!! so it’s nerve wracking waiting for the verdict. Onto Week 1.

Fringe fiasco - opening show lasts 8 minutes!

2007-08-01T16:06:00.000-04:00

Loud and unexpected noises are key features of RASH, a solo play about my experiences working in Rwanda after the genocide. So when fire alarm bells rang loud today throughout the Pleasance Dome Theatre 8 minutes into my opening show, the audience stayed put thinking it was part of the play. The stage manager had to put on all the lights and convince people to leave. Twenty members of my family, and family friends, who had hired a bus from Glasgow to Edinburgh to support my first preview, stood outside for an hour until they were told the show was cancelled. Thank goodness it wasn't raining. They have ensured me that they are sufficiently enticed by the opening act and claim they will return!

RASH - 100 best things to see in Edinburgh

2007-07-29T19:12:00.000-04:00

The List magazine estimates there are "close to 20,000 performers vying for attention in some 30,000 shows in hundreds of venues across Edinburgh". Today the Sunday Times (Culture) named RASH as one of the 100 best things to see in Edinburgh. "When the city morphs into one big, crazy culture-fest, don't get overwhelmed. Just follow our critics' guide to the hottest shows this summer... RASH (Pleasance Dome) is a surprisingly funny portrait of life as a UN worker in Rwanda". In the Fringe Festival alone, there are 2050 shows. On top of that, there's the Art Festival, Book Festival, Film Festival, Jazz Festival and the Edinburgh International Festival. So it's amazing to be recommended amongst the top 100. If you haven't made your mind up yet whether to come to Edinburgh or not, now is the time!!! See you there.

The double life of a human rights activist/performer

2007-07-24T23:49:00.000-04:00

So whilst I would imagine most folks who are producing and performing a show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe are knee deep in preparations, rehearsals, press and marketing ploys, I am spending two weeks in Montreal, Canada helping to run the first ever Video Advocacy Institute run by WITNESS, the organisation I work for. Over 30 human rights defenders from around the world have gathered here to learn how to film, edit and use video and other technologies as a strategic tool to enhance their human rights advocacy campaigns, using the power of visual imagery to bring about change. It's an amazing group of people and the course is going really well. So from morning to night, I am wrapped up in this workshop, and carrying out lots of TV, radio and press interviews about our work. So in some ways, it's probably a good thing that I don't have time to worry about the fact that in a week's time my show opens at the Pleasance Theatre at the Edinburgh Fringe. On the other hand, it's hard not to be a wee bit concerned that I am not able to rehearse the play, contact press and sort out all the technical challenges that I'll be facing to make sure I get this show on the road. I am lucky to be surrounded by a bunch of wonderful friends and family who have been helping me out. And it reminds me of course that ultimately I am doing this show because I believe in the human rights work, and not because I am seeking to be the Fringe Queen of Scotland, although wouldn't that be sweet?

East to Edinburgh - New York’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe Preview

2007-07-22T23:35:00.000-04:00

I recently performed the new version of RASH at 59E59 Theaters in New York (July 10-13) as part of their East to Edinburgh festival, featuring NY based performers heading for the Edinburgh Fringe. It was a wonderful experience. It was like a mini trial run for the Fringe which is part of the objective of the festival. It gave me a chance to perform the show as it will be in the Fringe with a revised script, brand new sound, lighting and image cues and a new costume! I got a chance to set up and break down the stage in 30 minutes - which is 15 more minutes than I will get at the Fringe. I was reviewed by the press (at least 5 different press folks showed up) - check out the first review that has come out that I'm very happy about at http://www.nytheatre.com/nytheatre/prnn/495.htm. 59E59 Theaters is run by a fantastic group of folks and the support that I got with regard to production management, press and marketing, box office etc was the best I had ever received. I learned a lot about what it really means to produce a fully fledged show and it was such a pity I couldn't perform more nights as audience attendance was great. My biggest discovery was in my lovely dressing room where for the first time, I had a speaker in there that allowed me to hear what was going on inside the theatre. This was a bit nerve racking, hearing people taking their seats and the pre-show chit chat, but the weirdest thing was running back stage after the show and then realising that if I listened carefully enough I would be able to hear what people were saying about the show. But I closed my ears, honest! I also had to deal with my first major technical hitch. On opening night I spent the first 5 minutes in the dark as the board operator searched desperately for the stage lights. Many people thought it was done on purpose and added to the atmosphere of the play, some others were more suspect! But that's the joy of live theatre!

RASH nominated for Amnesty International & The Big Issue Freedom of Expression Award

2007-06-25T21:11:00.000-04:00

RASH has been nominated by Amnesty International and the Big Issue for the Freedom of Expression Award 2007 to be presented at this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The award highlights Fringe productions which raise human rights themes.

RASH image

2007-06-24T19:02:00.000-04:00

RASH and the designer team!

2007-06-23T20:48:00.000-04:00

RASH is now surrounded by a team of really talented designers. Patrick Boyer, is a graphic designer based in Montreal and the creative talent behind the new RASH image which you can see in the previous post. I met him through my friend Laura Hildebrandt who actually took the photograph that Pat used to develop the image. Check out Pat's website at www.urbancowboy.net. Bart Fasbender is the sound designer for RASH and he certainly kicked the play up a notch or two by designing some really spot-on sound cues which brings the piece even more alive. Paul Hudson is the lighting designer for RASH and we meet this week for the first time so he can work his magic. Derek Moreno is the costume designer and he is coming up with some wonderful ideas for costume. So all in all, really exciting to be working with such a talented and supportive group of people.

Performing RASH at Joe's Pub

2007-05-05T10:53:00.000-04:00

On May 6th I will be performing at Joe's Pub at the Public Theater, one of my all-time favourite venues in New York city, so that's a treat! I'm performing an extract of RASH as part of an evening of 7 performers on for 7 minutes at 7pm. The event is called Heeb Storytelling, organised by Heeb Magazine and hosted by comic Laurie Kilmartin. So if you catch this in time, and want to come along, here are the details:
Joe's Pub, The Public Theater, 425 Lafayette St, $15
For tickets, call 212-967-7555 ; http://tickets.publictheater.org/calendar/view.asp?id=2638
More info at www.heebmagazine.com

Political Theatre

2007-04-28T22:37:00.000-04:00

There seems to be no shortage of political theatre in New York for which I am grateful. During the last few months I have some really interesting and important work. Tonight I just saw "Miracle In Rwanda". I'm not the only one doing a solo show about Rwanda! I have seen "In Sudan", a play about Darfur, "Goodness" about genocide, "My Name is Rachel Corrie" and "Dai", two plays about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, "Stuff Happens" about the war in Iraq, "Speak Truth to Power" about human rights activists and so it goes on. I am grateful that there are many folks out there who are interested in seeing this kind of theatre. There could be many more. I think that some people relate to political theatre the same way they relate to documentaries. They really want to see the documentaries, but then it's a Sunday night and they decide to chose something lighter to just chill out and switch off. But people are often surprised when they do choose to see a documentary or political play as they can often be just as (if not more) gripping, entertaining (for want of a better word), and most likely more inspiring. If it's a good play or film, you are always so glad that you went. I have just finalised a 40-word description of my show and chosen an image. These are probably the most important marketing tools I have right now, and it was so hard to choose words and a picture that would entice people, but not make me feel like I'm compromising my integrity in how I sell the show. It took a while and a lot of input from a real mix of people. I'm really happy with how it turned out.

Sharing the stage

2007-04-25T22:31:00.000-04:00

This Thursday April 26th at 8pm I will be performing an extract of RASH alongside 6 other performers at the new Rapture cafe in the East Village. I am excited to finally share the stage with others. There will be poets, musicians and actors, and I think it's going to be a really great evening. I also recently learnt that I will be performing in a festival in July for New York-based performers on their way to this year's Edinburgh Fringe. I will be performing for 4 nights in a row in a format similar to the Fringe, where I'll get a chance to practice what it's like to have 15 minutes to set up my stage and do my thing. It's also in a great venue called 59E59 Theatre. They produce the annual Brits Off Broadway series. And I'm all set for this year's Edinburgh Fringe. I will be performing 26 shows from 1-27 August at the wonderful Pleasance Theatre. It will be great to perform in my home country. I have already begun briefing my parents! RASH is an honest portrayal of my life and of course my parents feature in that. They will surely like some bits and perhaps cringe at others. All in the name of art!

RASH outbreak

2007-04-01T18:45:00.000-04:00

Well it's going to be a busy week of performances for RASH and I'm really looking forward to trying out the new script for the first time. On Tuesday 3rd April I'm performing along side another amazing 25 women as part of the Emerging Artists Theatre solo show festival "One Woman Standing". There will be a talk back after the performance and folks will be able to share their thoughts on the play. On Wednesday 4th April I will be flying to Durham, North Carolina to perform at Duke University. I will also be speaking to their Arts and Human Rights class during the day. And last but definitely not least, on Sunday 8th April, I will be performing two shows on the same day as part of Tartan Week NY at American Theater of Actors. It's really exciting to be part of a festival promoting all good things Scottish in New York. So do come check out a show. And if you saw one of these shows, I would love to know what you think. RASH is going to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this August, and your thoughts and ideas will only make the play stronger.

A RASH rewrite

2007-03-07T12:09:00.000-05:00

I'm spending the month of March rewriting parts of RASH. I have now done 7 performances of RASH and received really great feedback from folks from all over. In fact, I can't thank enough friends, theatre folk and audience members who have been sharing their thoughts and ideas on the play. You are helping to make this play even stronger. I am realising the difficulties of performing a play to multiple audiences. The people coming to see my show are a mix of folks - from those who are just curious to see the play, to high school and university students, to human rights and humanitarian workers. And so the types of feedback I receive are often quite specific to the needs of the audience. The general public want to see more photos of Rwanda, aid workers prefer to see less images, students want more details about what the life of a human rights observer is like. And feedback varies according to cultural sensibilities. Americans want the gaps filled in, more clarity, a clear beginning, middle and end. Non-Americans like to fill in their own gaps, and are more comfortable with some things being left up in the air. So now, me the writer, I have to distill all of that, listen to the feedback and then ultimately decide what I want to say and how I want to say it. So that's what I'm doing now. It feels good to be writing again but I'm also looking forward to seeing the changes in action. If there are any other writers out there reading this, I am curious to know how you absorb the feedback you get on your material. Look out for the RASH outbreak in April, there are four performances scheduled.

The RASH is spreading

2007-02-02T21:19:00.000-05:00

RASH began as a vignette of short monologues based on my personal experience of living in countries in crises. As I began to read these stories to writers, colleagues, friends, family and strangers, I realised there is a thirst to know what it's like to live in conflict zones, to witness human rights abuses, to take risks. And for those who lead similar lives, they see a picture so rarely reflected back at them. So in writing RASH, my first solo play, I have tried not to create a mystique or a halo around this world, but to provide a small glimpse into the life of a human rights/humanitarian worker. RASH is the story of how I ended up in Rwanda after the genocide and how that experience changed my life. I would love to hear from all you folks who have seen it - what did you think? Even if you haven't seen it, do share any thoughts you might have. My eyes and ears are wide open ...

Associate Director

2007-02-01T18:58:00.000-05:00

Kieran McLoughlin is a director, writer, performer and movement specialist. As co- founder and co-director of Edinburgh’s performance collective Highway Diner he has made over 7 shows since 2003. Highway Diner was awarded a Fringe First in the Edinburgh 2004 Fringe for the site specific promenade performance ‘Works of Temporary Solace’. Kieran studied at Dartington College of Arts and at the School for New Dance Development in Amsterdam (1999-2002). Studying in Amsterdam he developed a methodology for looking at real-time composition using dancers and musicians, and taught this in universities and colleges in the UK. Alongside this he teaches for several organisations including Scottish Youth Theatre.

Retournees

2007-02-01T18:44:00.000-05:00

My mum is a really talented sculptor. She welded this sculpture out of a tin of beans, inspired by pictures I had taken of the mass return of refugees to Rwanda in 1996.

About Me

2007-02-01T18:37:00.003-05:00

Jenni Wolfson is a human rights activist, writer and performer. Since 2006 she has been the Managing Director of WITNESS, an international human rights organization founded by Peter Gabriel which uses the power of video to expose human rights abuses. Jenni worked for 12 years with the UN and UNICEF in over 25 countries, including three years in Rwanda and two years in Haiti. Her field work involved investigating human rights violations and training the military, police, judiciary and NGOs in human rights standards. Slightly different from Glasgow where Jenni grew up. She has an MA in Human Rights and an Honorary Doctorate, speaks six languages, and studied acting at the Deena Levy Theatre Studio. RASH marks her writing and acting debut.

About the director

2007-01-31T22:18:00.001-05:00

Jen Nails has directed dozens of solo plays, improvisation ensembles and sketch comedy groups in New York and across the States. As a writer, she’s worked for Nickelodeon, the Oxygen Network and she often writes book reviews for Time Out New York Kids. She teaches at New York Film Academy, the People’s Improv Theater, and Eastern International College in New Jersey. Jen’s first novel, Next to Mexico, was published in 2008.